The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1907-04-12
GOD GIVES JACOB
A NEW NAME
Sunday School Lesson for April Il. 1907

DRY verses -1.-r.
GOLDEN TEXT.-"Rcloico because
your names are written Do heaven. w.
Luke 1920
TINE. Jacob went 10 Padan-arau
about 1850 3 c.. when he was about s.
years old. Perhaps the best authoritic'
consider that he was in Iahau'a SERVED
for 20 years. but others. finding too littl'
space IN 90 years for ail che recorded
events. reckon It 80 years. understanding
the 40 years. twice mentioned in Gen
1881 90 Dee two periods OF ID years each
See Excursus on the chronology boz III.
iicott
PLACE.-The Jabbok Ghe modern
Wady Zerkaj Is one of ihs principal rive
ers OF eastern Palestine II flows Into
the Jordan from Che east nearly opposite
the city OF S4maria. Pencil or lonneI
was probably "a prominent ridge near
the Jabbok. o. George Adam Smith.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
Hints from Haran.--Jacob was 20
years or more In Haran. During that
time he had a good opportunity to
learn thoroughly a number of impor-
tant lessons: among them these:
l. That trickstors are likely to get
tricked in their turn.
2. That God can and will bring
prosperity to any child Of his without
the aid of sharp practice on the part
of the man whom God helps.
3. That Gods promises are TO be re-
lied upon implicitly. no matter how cir
cumstances may seem TO be opposing
the fulfllment Of them.
4. That Gods law assigns one wife
to one husband. and that any infringe
ment Of that law brings only unhalpi
ness.
Jacobs Troubled conscience.-Gen.
32:1-23. Jacob had accomplished a
large part Of his journey and was in
the northern part Of the land Of Gilead
when the angry Laban overlook him
From there he proceeded southwark
and soon came 10 Mahanaim IN Gilead,
where he had his second comforting
vision Of angels-two hosts Of them as
his guards on either hand-and from
the two hosts he named the place.
v. p. "And he rose up that night"
This praying and the disposal of the
caravan across the Jabbok must have
carried Jacob well into the night. And
then, I'm his loneliness, I'm the darkness,
the uncertainty. the great anxiety for
his loved ones, and the fruits
Of his long toll, Jacobs conscience.
that had gone to sleep during the two
decades IN Mesopotamia, woke mp with
a start.
An Aroused conseience.-Some men
seek to quiet their consciences. which
Is like buying an alarm clock and then
smothering IT'S sound 10 a feather pill
low.
II would be as foolish to pull up all
the danger signals where people are
skating on the ice, or smash all the
red lights in the semaphores.
What a strange thing Is an old
lead sin. laid away In a secret drawer
IF the SOUL Must It some time OF
other be moistened with tears, until
Il comes to life again. and begins TO
stir in our consciousness, as the dry
wheat animalcule, looking like a grain
IF dust, becomes alive If # is wet with
1 drop of water|-Holmes That is
Just what happened 10 Jacob
Wrestling in Prayer."-This strange
event is often used as a model for our
prayers, and rightly. if the terrible
sarnestness Of that midnight struggle
S alone considered. We are to come
boldly unto the throne of grace" with
III perseverance % IF you don't want
/ thing, don't ask for IT, Such asking
S the worst mockery Of your King you
an insult him with. '-Ruskin. We
ire to pray as Luther prayed I'm great
by the bedside of the
lying Melancthon for an hour, and re-
urned home, when the recovery of the
eformer for his splendid later years
vas assured, saying to his wife. God
ave me my brother Melancthon back
n answer to prayer"
Jacobs Reconciliation with Esau.-
ienesis 33. Jacob must have been
wonderfully strengthened I'm spirit. |
hough worn in body by his midnight |
truggle, and his fears must have,I
iven place TO a great peace. Never |
heless, he continued his wise prepara. |
ions to meet Esau He arranged his /
amily. putting in the rear as the
afest place. those whom be most
lved Rachel and Joseph. Then De
PAINFULLY went forward alone TO meet
is wronged brother Seven times he
owed to the ground before Esau. as #
acknowledging the superiority which
e had stolen from him; but If Esau
ad come in anger, the sight of Jacob
eemed TO bring back the happior
eriOd of their innocent b0yhOod I'm.
the injured brother ran 20
leet him, and IN an eager embrace as.
lred him of forgiveness. Esau even
fered generously 20 return Jacobs
resent, bat was prevailed upon 90
eep IT, lie urged Jacob TO ACCEPT an
rmed escort but this was firmly ne
lsed, perhaps with a lingering susf ic.
N of his brother but more likely be-
lse Jacob now felt God 90 be sum. |
ent protection. Jacob speedily found
good place for winter quarters. and
established himself in peace.
/. III you fear God and believe that
p is with you God will prosper your
ans and labor: but never make that
] excuse for saying IN your hearts
le Jacob. God intends that should
I'VE these good things; therefore I
ay take them for myself by unfair
cans The birthright IS yours Il is
M, the steady, prudent. Godfearine
les, who will prosper on the earth
ID not poor, wild. hotheaded Esau
2. God sees In every JACOB more
an Jacob sees in flmself"--Iosoph
lrker If the most crooked stick win
ly submit to the carpenter, he will
ing II out straight ~ last.
AV TVVFAEUH