The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-03-15
JACOB
AND ESAU
Sunday School Lesson for March IL. 1897


GOLDEN TEXT Lying lips are an
domination 20 the Lord. but they that
deal truly are his delight"-Prov ize
IlME.-AccordinE % Bible margin
ksau sold his birthrlght about l@r b. e..
n years after the death 81 Abraham. and
Jacob gained possession % il q years
later r. G.. 1850
PLACE--Jacoh's early home was AT
Beersheba- lie fed far 10 the north 10
Sharan near headwaters u Euphrates.
SCRIPTJRAL REFERENC Es.-Esau
despising his hirthright Heb. 1916. II.
Jacob chosen instead OF Esau. Rom.
s7-lf. Nal. -. obadiah 1913: Jer. ~ &
our birthrlght Rom si4-i7. John s.i6.
Rev. Ills Selling our birihright. Matt.
u ~ lsi6-22 E.2-s. Mark So Rev ls-S
Comment and Suggestive Thought
The Two Brothers.-The two broth
ers were twins. but Esau was the
elder They were born and reared at
Beersheba. They were as different
from one another as Isaac and Re-
bekah. but with a difference. Esau.
In whom Rebekah's nature was empha-
sized. was the favorite Of Isaac. while
Jacob. who grated the shrewdness
and business sharpness Of his moth
er's family upon the home-loving and
religious and thoughtful nature Of his
father. was the favorite Of Rebekah-
Esau failed because. though brought
up in a religious atmosphere. he chose
10 go with bad companions and marry
heather wives His fatal steps We're
not the passionate impulse OF mo-
ment no man sells his birthright
on the spot He who sells his birth
right sells il many times in his heart
before he takes il openly 10 the mar
ket. He belittles il and despises IL
and cheapens it. at any rate to him
self. before he sells il so cheaply 10
another" So "Esau had hunted for
years with the brothers OF Judith and
Bsshemath. He had eaten and drunk
en- and danced with the Hittite inhabi-
tants OF the land. He had sacrificed
and sworn and vowed TO their false
gods of the fields and the streams and
OF the unclean groyes-till az last. in
open definance of all decency and re
ligion. he brought home two Canaanite
wives 10 his fathers covenanted
camp. "-Alexander Whyte.
Jacobs career was a growth and
development We see his choice OF
the better things gradually overcom-
ing his faults and imperfections. His
progress is SLOW and difficult. with zig
gag motions. with reactions. like the
but it is moving on toward the sum
mer harvests and autumn fruits.
The 6irthrieht.-"The first-born Is
the head OF the patriarchal family. and
the right OF the frst-born includes
the representative privileges derived
from this exalted position. "-Delitzch-
"Esau was. by right OF birth. the
head OF the family. its prophet priest.
and king: and no man can renounce
such privileges. except as a sacrifice
required by God. without 'despising
God. who gave them But more than
this: he was the head of the chosen
family: on him deyolved the blessing
of Abraham that. in his seed all fam
lilies OF the earth should be blessed:
and. in despising his birthright. he put
himself out Of the sacred family. and
so became a profane person His sin
must not be overlooked in our indig
nation AT the fraud Of Jacob. which,
a. we shall see presently. brought its
own retTibution as well as its own
gain."-Wm. Smith.
The crafty Jacob. instead OF sharing
hts meal with the brother. who had
doubtless. often given him venison.
drove a hard bargain and Esau sold
his birthright for mess Of pottage.
And knowing well Esau's fickleness.
Jacob made him take solemn oath.
Il am dying Of hunger" said the elder
brother with Characteristic exaggera-
ton. and what is a birthright TO me -
Our 6irthright.-As children Of God
we all have birthright far more val
liable than Jacob or .Esau could dream
OF. We have promises beyond the
range OF their highest imaginations.
The child in a Christian home has
for his birthright the Sabbath day.
and the Lords table. and the society
az the best people in the city. and
first a youthhood. and then a man.
hood. Of purity and piety and the ser
vice OF Christ in His church: A birth
TiEHf OF TRUST u0AAFSAt aAA ARA@A
and chastity "-Alexander Whyte-
We are heirs OF God. OF his charac-
ter. his love and care. his heavenly
home. his JOY and peace Our souls
may be temples OF the Hely Ghost.
fun OF "the desirable things Of all ma
tons" We have an inheritance in
corruptible and indebted. and that
fadeth not away; "A far more ex-
ceeding and eternal weight of glory
Eve hath not seen. nor ear heard.
neither have entered into the heart Of
man. the things which God hath pre-
pared for them that love him"
Selling Our irthrieht.-Many
man sells his birthright for a mess OF
pottaee.-hss character. his conscience.
his usefulness. heaven itself, for pride.
for worldly gain. for honor. for pleas
ure
practiea al Points.
Never sell your birthright for any
i,ducement whatever. nor make light
OF religious things. or conscience. or