The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-03-13
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON CON-
MENTS FOR MARCH II BY
THE REV. 1. w. HENDERSON.
Subject: Jacob and Esau, Gen. %:
1928, 41-45 - Golden Text,
Prov. 12:22-Memory Verses,

Prov. 12:22-Memory Verses,
Fl, 23-Commentary.
This is a lesson concerning Re
bekah, the partial mother; Isaac, the
partial father; Jacob, the liar; the
consequences of their sin; and the
folly of trying to help the plans of
God by committing sin.
Jacob and Esau were twins. Jacob
was p]rophesied as the successor to
Gods promise to Abraham and Isaac.
Isaac's heart was bound up in Esau.
In spite of Gods declaration he de-
cided to place his blessing on Esau.
But Rebekah loved Jacob more than
she did Esau. In her lineage and in
her partially lay the secret of much
trouble that befell the house of Isaac.
Rebekah was of the same parentage
as Laban. the man who deceived
Jacob and who treated him so shah
billy. Laban was the brother of Re-
bekah and afterward became the
father-in-law of Jacob, through the
| marriage of Jacob to Leah and
Rachel. The Partially and decep-
| ton, which the lesson shows to have
been characteristic of Rebekah, was
| the source of the unholy lie which
Jacob both told and acted before
Isaac and of the vicious enmity which
was engendered in the heart of Esau
| against his brother Jacob. If Re-
bekah had been a sensible woman she
never would have shown her partial
lily for one of her sons over the other,
no matter how much she may have
felt it in her heart. In her desire to
secure the supremacy Of Jacob she
taught him his first lessons in decep-
ton, she planned for him plausible
and easily contrived deceits. She
even went to the length Of promising
to bear upon her W shoulders what
ever condemnation might be visited
upon Jacob for the evil she had
planned for him to do. If she had
maintained a position of strict i'm
partially in her family life the story
Of Jacobs sin might never have been
written. If her unwise love for Jacob
had not overruled her wisdom, Esau
might never have threatened to take
his brothers life. But Rebekah was
foolish rather than fair. Therefore,
when Isaac planned to bless his first
born, Esau, she contrived, knowing
The age and the visual infrmity of the
old man, to secure, by fraud, for
Jacob, the blessing which was the
portion of Esau.
Let us glance for a moment at the
circumstances surrounding the lie
that Jacob, at his mothers bidding,
told to Isaac. Isaac was aged. Be-
fore his days should be ended he
wishes to taste the fresh venison and
bestow his blessing upon his first
born. He sends Esad to secure the
provision. Rebekah dresses Jacob
with the skins of young goats, that,
in handling Jacob, Isaac might be led
more readily to believe that he was
indeed Esau the hairy. Isaac Is sur
prised at the speed with which the
;venison is secured. He makes in
luiries by word OF mouth and by the
sense of touch. His suspicious are
aroused. 1.-THE voice is Jacobs voice."
he says, "but the hands are the hands
Of Esau." With no thought Of de-
ception he trusts his hands rather
than his ears. And the sin of Jacob
is completed.
Naturally, Esau was angry when
he discovered the low trick hat had
been played at his expense. 1t would
have been surprising if he had not felt
some resentment. There was no ex-
cuse for the crime that had been COM
mitted against him. His mother had
forgotten her dignity and his brother
had forgotten the obligations Of his
close relationship. The pair had con-
trived to rob him. And he would not
have been human had he not resented
it. But Esau in his rage also forgot
himself. He forgot that Jacob, thief
and liar that he was, was still his
brother. He swears vengeance
against him, even the vengeance Of
death. And that his fathers inherit
ance may without question fall to him
he plans to kill Jacob after Isaac is
dead. Had he killed him before the
death Of Isaac much sorrow would
have been brought into the life of the
old man and his own plans might
haze gone awry.
The lesson shows US that it Is not
wise to allow partially in family life.
That sin leaves a trail of evil behind
it. That lies and deceit never do one
any good, in the long run. That no
matter what is done against us we
ought not to permit ourselves to seek
revenge. God had designated Jacob
as the successor of Isaac. Isaac loved
Esau. Rebekah loved Jacob. Pre-
maturely Isaac decided to bless Esau.
This aroused the fires Of Rebekah's
partially for Jacob. She tricks Isaac
and secures his blessing upon Jacob.
When Isaac finds out what he has
done he sees that in spite of his own
sin and Rebekah's, the plan and the
prediction of Jehovah has been con-
summated. Therefore he lets bis
blessing stand. Gods will is secured
in spite of human sin. Neither Isaac
nor Rebekah nor Esau nor Jacob Sc
cured any immediate satisfaction
from this unholy family fight. 1t
brought sorrow to Isaac, the loss OF
her two sons to Rebekah, suffering; to
Esau, Punishment from friends and
family and his fathers house to
Jacob.
VS.. IS. "Goodly raiment." Fest
clothes.
VS.. 20. Quickly" They had to
run the risk of being premature. IN
order to escape Esau. God" This
was a blasphemous falsehood. But IT
is likely that Jacob believed he did
God favor by uttering it. Worse
things have been done in the name OF
and for the sake of religion.
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