The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-03-15
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON xI, FIRST QUARTER, iNTeRNA-
TloNAL SERIES, MARCH H.

en- Text, PFOy. xii, 22-COmmentary
Prepared by Rev. ID. NJ. stearns.
Copyright 1907, by American Press Association. j
This Is certainly a pitiful story of
human weakness and sin and unbelief
and scheming to help God carry out
His purpose. Isaac's 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 his
mother was his counselor to do wick
edly'' QI Chron. xii, 81, but she was
wicked woman and 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 Peter; 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 I'VE wres.
tie not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities. 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.
lib. 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, III. Turning to our lesson,
we must remember that the Lord had
told Rebekah that her younger son
would have the pre-eminence and that
the elder should serve the younger
txxv, 23). Faith would not have been
troubled by any suggestions as TO the
possibility of its. being otherwise: II
should be true of all believers as II
was Of Abraham that ''he staggered
not at the promise Of God through IN
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. 90, 21). 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
look like reason and common sense,
but 1t 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 III. II is about the worst kid
glove story on record verse 16). Soon
Jacob Is on his way TO bis father partly
clothed with some Of Esau's raiment
and partly fixed up otherwise and bear
ing the savory meat which his mother
had prepared oversees 15-10. Now see
him In the presence Of his father and
listen TO the lies that roll out Of him In
answer to his fathers questions. II am
Esau, thy firstborn." ''The Lord thy
God brought the venison to me-" II
am thy very son Esau' verses 10. 90.
"a. II Is written, Whatsoever u man
soweth that shall he also reap" (Gal.
vi, n, and. while nothing can palliate
the guilt Of Jacob and his mother. we
notice that Isaac Is doing a little reap
ing on the line Of lying. And what
abbuh Aut EthNAMN WI IAtOb MuGA HE |
sons so cruelty deceived him concern. |
ing his beloved JOsephf Is 1t not sug. |
gestive Of sowing the wind and reap |
ing the whirlwind? dTos. wifi. y. II |
pays to sow TO the spirit.
When Isaac was telling Esau that |
his brother had obtained the blessing |
and added. Yea, and he shall be bless
cd" (verse 33). II Is possible that be
the purpose Of God about
the elder serving the younger and per.
haps saw the folly Of his attempt to
thwart the purpose Of God. And yet
verse IS may indicate that he was
spiritually as we'll as physically blind.
for he speaks TO Esau of thy bless.
Ing"
In verse IL we see a proof Of John
III. Il. that hatred Is murder. And
now Rebekah begins 20 do little reap
Ing. for she is compelled 20 part with
her beloved son because Of the hatred
pr Esau. Sha says that he IL to tarry
with her brother I'm Haran d few days
until Esau's fury turn away. until he
should forget IL. and that then she
wonld send and fetch him verses 43-
81. but we never read Of her sending
ior him, and we do not know that she
4. /