The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-04-02
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON |. SECOND QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, APRIL 2.

AV-%~-MemOry verses, Id, l3-Gold-
en- Text. Gen. xviii, 15-Commen-
tary Prepared by Rev. ID. NJ. stearns
copyright, 1907. by American Press Association
This lesson follows closely the last
one we had in Genesis three weeks
ago and takes up the story just where
that lesson left it. We see Jacob leav.
ing home to go away into the land
from which his mother came full forty
years before (XXvi, 81 that he might
take wife from among the daughters
Of Laban, his mothers brother. 1t Is
written in Hos. xii, -, concerning this
Jacob fed into the country Of Syria
and Israel served for a wife, and for a
wife he kept sheep" In the story OF
Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel
Joseph and Asenath, Moses and Zip
porah, Boas and Ruth and others there
is much that is typical or at least sug
gestive of Christ and Israel or Christ
and the church, remembering always
that Israel and the church are never
the same.
The special blessing given to Abra.
ham, Isaac and Jacob centers in the
land and the people Verse A., and the
certainty of the fufillment of the
promises is the topic of all prophecy.
The name God Almighty-El Shad-
dai-the all sufficient One or the mighty
God who is enough for ALL by which
He revealed Himself to Abraham and
afterward TO Jacob xvii. l; xxxv, III,
seems to have taken hold of their
hearts, for Isaac uses it in verse of
our lesson, and Jacob uses it in his
blessing upon Joseph xix, 90. 1t is
associated with blessing and fruitful.
ness and separation unto God Himself
and is set forth in John XIV as abiding
in the vine that there may be much
fruit TO Gods glory. Not merely life,
but life abundantly, is His desire fol
us, and all hindrance is or our side
John X. 10; Ps Xxi, 1916.
We turn to Jacob on his lonely jour.
ney from Beersheba, almost the ex-
IRENE south, and we may imagine
that as he journeyed the enormity OF
his sin took hold of him and the good.
ness of God wrought true repentance
in his heart, so that on this night of
which our lesson tells US he was prob.
ably true penitent in Gods sight
The place was not far from the place
of Abrams second altar in the land
where he worshiped God. Compare
xii. s, and verse 10 of our lesson.
With the earth for his bed, stones for
his pillows and the sky for his canopy
he lay down to sleep, not knowing the
special interest that the God of his
fathers was taking in him because OF
His promises TO them. He slept and
he dreamed, and how beautiful his
dream-a ladder from earth to heaven
with the Lord above it and angels
ascending and descending upon II
verses Il. 49,, an assurance of the
Lords watchful care, of connection
between heaven and earth and q
prophecy of coming events yet to be
fulfilled. would not be surprised II
some day we shall be told by Ma.
thanael that ne was meditating upon
this very vision when Jesus saw him
under the fig tree. for Jesus Himself
evidently refers to 1t in connection
with the glory of the kingdom John
/. 80. 5ll.
Some helpful lessons are suggested
by the ladder as to the way from earth
TO heaven. There is no way but the
one God has provided, even He who
said. Il am the way" He came down
TO earth. took upon Him our nature,
died In our stead, rose from the dead
and returned TO the Father, where He
now is for us. The angels ministerei
TO Him while He was here. and we
are assured that they minister 10 Us
Heb. l. III. As there Is no possibility
OF mounting a ladder while one foot
Is on the earth. so there Is no posi-.
bility Of being saved without commit.
ting oneself wholly 10 Christ. The full
significance Of the ladder will be seen
only when the kingdom comes. and all
nations, 10 their great surprise. shall
see that God meant exactly what lie
said I'm reference TO the land and the
people and all the families of the
earth. The first promise TO Abram
concerning his seed was that II should
he as the dust of the earth. then as the
stars Of heaven: then both were com.
bined. After that they were divided
and the star promise given 10 Isaac
and the dust or sand to Jacob U;rn
Xiii. IL; Ky. ): xii. II: xvi. (: xviii.
10. There Is ut least a suggestion
here Of Abraham's two seeds. the
heavenly and the earthly. the church
and Israel. the new Jerusalem and Je.
rusalem ou tlic earth. all OF which will
he clearly seen IN the Kingdom.
We may always say. as Jacob said.
The Lord Is In this place" verse TO-.
but we need never say. Il knew Il
not" for we have Ills assurance. 10.
I am with you AWAY" hut. more
wonderful still. each individual beliry
cr Is now a Bethel. a house Of God.
according TO John xiv. -.
Taking verses 2O+22 just as they read
Il looks as IL Jacob was making a har.