Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-13

God cannot give the land: Jacob cannot re-
ceive IT, He is only thinking Of winning
and which would, in fact have annulled
all the covenant and lowered Jacob and
his people to the level simply OF other ma
lions who had to win and keep their ter
ritories at their risk and not as the blessed
Of God It was God who came and
laid hold on Jacob to prevent him from
entering the land in the temper he was In,
and as Jacob. He was to be taught that
it was not only Esau's appeased wrath. or
his own skillful smoothing down Of his
brothers ruff1ed temper, that gave him en-
trance: but nameless Being. who came
out upon him from the darkness, guarded
could be find entrance . = Year after
year Jacob had still retained confidence in
humbled, but had always felt himself able
to regain the land he had lost by his SIN.
And in this struggle he shows the same
determination and self-confidence.
AS the first faint dawn appears and he be-
gins dimly to make out the face. the man
with whom he wrestles touches the strong
est sinew in Jacobs body, and the muscles
on which the wrestler most depends shriv-
as he falls, Jacob sees how it Is with him,
and who it is that has met him thus. AS
the hard, stiff corded muscle shriveled, so
shriveled his obdurate, persistent self-con-
f1dence. And as he Is thrown yet cleaves
with the natural tenacity of wrestler to
his conqueror; SO utterly humbled before
this Mighty One. whom now he recognizes
and owns, he yet cleaves to Him and en-
treats His blessing. In making this
transition from the boldness and persist
ence of self-confidence to the boldness of
faith and humility, Jacob becomes Israel
the supplanter, being baff1ed by his con-
queror, rises prince. Disarmed Of all
other weapons he at last finds and uses
the weapons wherewith God is conquered,
and with the simplicity and guilelessness
now of an Israelite indeed. face to face with
God. hanging helpless with his arms around
Him, he duplicates the blessing he could
not win"
And this was Jacobs Introduction to the
higher Christian life.
Applied Truth.
A gentleman once came to DR.. Moffat and
asked him if he remembered how two little
boys were brought to him once at the close
Of one of his lectures in Exeter Hall and
placed upon his knee by their father for
DIR. Moffats blessing. II and my brother
came and stood at your knee" said the
gentleman to the missionary, land you laid
your hands on our heads, breathed
prayer, gave us counsel and said you hoped
We would both become missionaries or
ministers. l am a minister and my brother
is missionary.
How to Help the Leader.
Select the incident in Jacobs life which
has been most helpful to you and speak Of
IL, uken1ng II TO your own NE + OF III
stance, the courage you have derived from
the fact that God could finally make Jacob
into man worthy to have the blessing.
Parallel passages-Isaiah, i:16; Isaiah.
iv:7: Deuteronomy, Wis; Psalms. vi;
Psalms. xxxvii3; Proverbs, XXI; Proverbs,
xxiii:23; Psalms lxxxix:11.
Hints to the leader-The Endeavor Hymn
nal r. IA, 80, II, 112. 1S1.
Have some one give a brief sketch OF
Jacobs life up to the time of his meeting
with God on the hillside during his journey
to Padan-Aram. Ask another to take the
vision of the ladder, or Jacobs first meet
ing with God, and the effect 1t had upon
his life. Let another sketch very briefly
the story Of Jacob during his stay in Pa
dan, and another take up the narrative
after Jacob has sent his family on the
way in the dark and early morning, when
God detained him and he went through the
struggle of his life and submitted his big
will to Gods. Ask all members to tell
briefly what point in Jacobs life most i'm
presses them. Close with season Of
prayer for Gods blessing" and the right
spirit to receive it.
Come, thou traveller unknown,
Whom still hold but cannot see!
Nv cnYppo 1afp 10