Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-16

yielding the wells of water dug by his mer
to the herdsmen Of Gerar. Removing
hnally to Beersheba, he was allowed to
settle undisturbed. and there Abimelect
came and made covenant of friendship
Some time after his son Esau, then forty
years Of age, took Hittite woman to wife
contrary to Hebrew law and usage (Gen.
xxiv:30. This AGA greatly grieved the pa
rents (Gen., xxvi:35). Rebekah, his mother
plainly saw that her son, by this marriage
had made himself unworthy Of the birth
right of the first born to which he was en-.
titled. and she determined to transfer this
great blessing to Jacob, the younger SON
Later, as the years came on and Isaac's
infirmities increased, his vision gone, he
called Esau and directed him to prepare
savory meat. that the blessing might be
given. and all the fathers estate might de-
scend in regular order.
DECEPTION Oversees 15 IS, 1O.-It
was then that Rebekah entered into a
scheme, according to her purpose to sub
stitute Jacob for Esau in the bestowal OF
the blessing. She did not attempt to dis
suade her husband from his purpose. Pre-
sumably Isaac would not have yielded to
any argument. man was bound in those
days to adhere to the custom in regard to
the first born. To do otherwise would have
been considered serious offense, inasmuch
as in this descent were included Messianic
hopes. Hence. the end desired by Rebekah
could be gained only by deception. Ac-
cordtngly, she prepared savory meat, and
she took some of Esau's clothing and put
1t upon Jacob. and she covered the hands
with skins of goats. Thus this man of
gentler mold and bearing was made like his
brother, of coarser grain. 1t was a high
handed case of intrigue, practiced by a
woman in favor of one son against another,
to defeat the will of her husband. Was
the act justiliable? Rom.. iii:9.
INTERVIEW Verse 1S).-Jacob in
hefited much of his mothers disposition.
On a previous occasion he had purchased
from Esau Gen., xxv:3D, what now he ex-
pected to receive as a gift, showing that
he appreciated what the latter despised,
also that he was capable of overreaching
his own brother. Hence, he yielded readily
to his mothers suggestion and promptly
carried out her plans. With the new ap
parel which she furnished and the food
duly prepared he came into the presence of
his aged father, and an interview followed.
My father" was his brief and respectful
greeting, barely enough to make known his
presence, and all that he could prudently
say. The old man started up, bewildered.
The voice probably had affected some
change. Neither son was recognized. Here
fathers reply. anxious to Identify the WIS.,
itor and avoid any mistake. There may
have been some suspicion.
FALSEHOOD (verse 19).-There was
retire from the presence and abandon the
purpose Of the visit. He who begins
wrong course must persevere by other
wrong conduct. One sinful or even unwise
Esau, must profess himself to be Esau.
That involved falsehood, plain, blunt and
open. 1t Is surprising that he could speak
the words, but he did, Il am Esau, thy
hesitate to deceive his father or to rob
his brother. at a time when Divine pur-
poses were to be accomplished through the
blessing to be given to the first born. Hav-
Ing boldly and falsely represented himself
to be another he requested the father to
arise and partake of the food that he had
brought as directed, and then to give the
blessing that had been promised. Where
was Rebekah all this time? Within hearing
distance probably.
SURPRISE oversees 20 and 2D.-It was
expected that Esau would provide game
obtained by the hunt, and that would re-
quire time. and still more time would be
needed in Its preparation. Isaac was there
fore surprised at the speedy return, and he
told Jacob so. How is it that thou hast
found so quickly?" But the son was ready
with another lie. an answer that would ap-
peal to a patriarch who had for many
years trusted in God and who relied much
on Divine interpostion. THE Lord thy
God brought 1t to me- said this artful de-
ceiver. How dare he speak such words?
Immediately suspicion was awakened, per-
haps rekindled in Isaacs mind. He feared
some imposition. This might not be Esau.
The man was directed to come near that
he might be touched. This was the very
thing Jacob had feared Gen, xxvii:12),
and to provide for such contingency his
mother had given the clothing and the COW
ering.
BLESSING oversees % and 23).-Jacob
drew near, and the fathers trembling
hands were extended. Then came the con-
f1ict Of the senses. the touch against the
hearing. A solioquy tells the story of what
r9 9 in a mi n ad fat hor
THE voice is Jacobs voice." he said. The
words of the sons speech in their tones be-
lied their meaning. But the ears are not
always faithful, not always competent. Can
1t be that this sense with that of sight is
failing2 So might he have inquired of him
self. Then he added. The hands are the
hands Of Esau.'' They were hairy and not
smooth and delicate. The covering was
dismissed his doubts and fears, yielding to
the testimony of the sense Of touch. What
followed is omitted by the committee from
our study, but told that after further
questioning the blessing was given, and
there was then enacted scene of great
tenderness. In oriental fashion the kiss of
love was bestowed Gen, xlv:10.
HATRED oversees Al and 42).-Passng
over eighteen verses of the narrative, in
which Is recorded the lamentation Of Esau
after discovering his brothers perfidy, we
consider the influence upon the relations of
the two men. God has so constituted hui
man nature that every wrong sustained or
even fancied awakens resentment in the
heart of the injured party. This is the law
of spiritual retribution, and accordingly
Jacob was the object Of Esau's hatred. And
Esau meditated revenge He proposed to
himself and made known his purpose that
as soon as the father was decently buried
and the time of mourning had passed
Gen. l:3), he would slay Jacob. This MUIR
derous intent was reported to Rebekah, who
speedily adopted measures to prevent such
a calamity. We have here an exhibit in
strong colors of the life Of the times 1t Is
customary for some to disparage the social
conditions of our day, contrasting them
with a supposed better condition now pass
ed (Eccl. vii:1O). Homicides were common
In patriarchal history.
ESCAPE oversees 43, A, 45).-A way out
of the difficulty was easily found by this
shrewd woman. Her old home Haran, far
away to the northeast, would afford an asyl-
UNI. She had been absent from 1t ever since
she was borne away by the servant to be the
bride of Isaac Gen. xxiv:5Q. 1t Is proba-
BILE that her womanly heart turned with af-
lection for relatives, and with confidence
that they would befriend her. She propos-
ed, therefore, to send Jacob to her brother,
Laban, to tarry there until Esau's fury.
should be turned away. She did not say,
perhaps she did not think Of 1t, that this
preferred son might on this visit obtain
wife of the same race thereby making him
self more acceptable to the maternal heart,