Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-03-17
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON XII, FIRST QUARTER, tNTERNA-
TiONAL SERIES, MARCH IT.

LESSON xi, FIRST QUARTER, INTERNAL
TIoNAL SERIES, MARCH II.
Text of the Lesson, Gen. xvii. 1928,
41-45-Memory Verses, 21-23-GoId-
en- Text, Prov. xii, 22-Commentary
Prepared by Rev. ID. Nj. Stearns.
Copyright, 1907, by American Press Association
This is certainly a pitiful story of
human weakness and sin and unbelief
and scheming to help God carry out
His purpose. Isaacs desire for a mess
Of savory meat that he might bless
Esau before he died seems like weak
ness, but what shall be said of Re
bekah teaching Jacob to lie and willing
to take the consequences upon herself?
Verse 49, We know that it is written
of Ahaziah, king of Judah, that Ibis
mother was his counselor to do wick
edly' 0I Chron. xxi, -, but she was a
wicked woman and a murderess. We
know also that Herodias told her
daughter to ask for the head of John
the Baptist, but we could expect moth
ing better from such a one. Both Ath-
allah and Herodias were the devils
own property, and he did as he pleased
with them, but both Rebekah and ia
cob were of Gods chosen people, and
better things are expected of such.
The devil seems to take special
pains to get hold of the Lords
property. for thus he brings great
dishonor On the name of the Lord.
We have already seen him gain
ing an advantage over Abraham and
Isaac and Lot and Noah, and later he
takes David and Solomon and Jehosha-
phat and others. He asked for Job and
Simon Pete:: he instilled unbelief and
doubt and fear into the minds even OF
those who were nearest to our Lord.
Let us lay it to heart that eve wres-
tie not against flesh and blood, but
against municipalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness Of
this world, against wicked spirits in
heavenly places, and that we need
nothing less than the whole armor of
God that we may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil Eph. vi.
11-13) We may always overcome him
by the blood of the Lamb and the
! word of our testimony and by not
counting our lives dear to ourselves
(Rev. xii, ID Turning to our lesson,
we must remember that the Lord had
told Rebekah that her younger son
would have the pre-eminence and that
i no chn1TJ1 fhn
i (xxv, 49, Faith would not have been
troubled by any suggestions as to the
possibility of it's being otherwise. 1t
should be true OF all believers as it
| was of Abraham that she staggered
not at the promise of God through I'M
belief, but was strong in faith, giving
glory to God, and fully persuaded that
/ what He had promised He was able
also to perform" Rom. iv, 20, 2D. See
| also the comfort of lisa. xiv, "a
Rebekah, not having her mind stayed
upon Jehovah, no sooner hears the
words Of Isaac to Esau than she feels
, that something must be done - and
that quickly-if her favorite son (xxv
2S) is to have the blessing. This may
/ 1OOh llhC ICdSOA anu COL4AhOA oNA0V
but it certainly was not faith in God
The father of lies, the great deceiver
/ seems at once to have taken possession
| of her and to fill her with plans to de
! ceive her husband and to transform
! the smooth man into a hairy man
| (verse I'D. 1t is about the worst kid
glove story on record verse 16). Soor
Jacob is on his way to his father partly
| clothed with some Of Esau's raiment
and partly fixed up otherwise and bear
ing the savory meat which his m0thel
! had prepared verses 15-1D. Now see
| him III the presence of his father and
listen to the lies that roll out of him IL
answer to his fathers questions. Il an
Esau, thy firstborn," 1.-THE Lord thy
God brought the venison to me-" q
am thy very son Esau" verses 10, 20
"a. 1t is written, whatsoever mar
soweth that shall he also reap" (Gal
vi. Y, and, while nothing can palliatt
the guilt of Jacob and his mother, We
notice that Isaac is doing little reap
ing on the line Of lying. And what
about the reaping of Jacob when his
sons SO cruelty deceived him concern
ing his beloved Joseph? Is it not sug
gestive of sowing the wind and reap
ing the whirlwind? CLOS. viii, D. L
| paws to SOW to the spirit,
When Isaac was telling Esau tha'
his brother had obtained the blessing
| and added, "Yea, and he shall be bless
ed" (verse 33l, it is possible that ht
remembered the purpose of God abou
the elder serving the younger and per
haps saw the folly Of his attempt tx
thwart the purpose of God. And ye
! verse 80 may indicate that he wa:
spiritually as well as physically blind
for he speaks to Esau of 'thy bless
ing"
In verse II we see a proof of Johr
iii. Is, that hatred is murder. AND