The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-04-09
The SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON II. SECOND QUARTER. INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, APRIL ~.
Text of the Lesson, Gen. xxxii, 9-I2,
22-3O-Memory Verses, 28-2s-GoId-
en- Text, Luke x, 20-Commentnry
Prepared by Rev. d. NJ. stearns.


22-3O-Memory Verses, 20-2S-Gold-
en- Text, Luke X, 20-commentary
Prepared by Rev. ID. NJ. stearns.
copyright. 1907, by American Press Association
Twenty years have passed since the
events OF last lesson when Jacob left
his home in search of a wife. Four
teen years he served Laban for his
two daughters, and six years he served
for the cattle he now possessed. BY
day and by might. in drought and in
frost, he served XXI, 3S-42l. God
watched over him, as He had said He
would, and increased him exceedingly
and suffered not Laban to hurt him or
to speak evil TO him Xxx, 43; XXI. Z,
-. %. m" story of his finding Rachel
by well and his welcome to Laban's
home, bringing tidings Of his mother,
who left that home forty years before,
is most fascinating. We are reminded
of Eliezer finding Rebekah at WELL
and also of the well stories in connec-
ton with Hagar, and the wells Of the
oath. and of him that liveth and seeth
me, by which Abraham and Isaac
dwelt (Gen. xvi, IA; xxi, 10, 81; xiv,
1851: XIV, ID. We cannot but think
also of the we'll by which Moses found
Zipporah lex. II, 15-21), and then of our
Lord. Jesus ut Jacobs well John ivl.
and the we'll Ct which He spake which
would be in the believer, carrying US
back again TO lisa. xii and Jer. II. IL.
So the unity of Scripture grows upon
US, and everywhere we see God.
At the final parting of Laban and
Jacob we have the heap OF witness,
most Familiarity known as NIizpah, by
which each called God to witness that
neither would ever pass that heap OF
stones TO do the other harm chapter
XXI. 1855, which is not quite the
thought now associated with the word
''Mizpah."
How near heaven seems to be as we
read the angel stories Of the Bible!
And this story of the angels Of God
meeting Jacob and the two hosts, the
heavenly and the earthly, makes me
believe that / never speak to con-
gregation upon whose faces look but
that there Is also present company
of intensely interested angels whom
I cannot see q Pet. 1-l2; Eph. III. 10I.
The weakness OF Jacob notwith-
standing all Gods care OF him Is seen
in his fear and distress when he heard
that Esau was coming to meet him
(verse q, but in him do we not see
ourselves and our own unbelief?
His prayer in verses 9-12 sounds all
right He takes the place OF humility
and unworthiness, acknowledges Gods
faithfulness and pleads His promises.
Having committed the whole matter to
God, he then did what seemed wise
to him In the matter Of proving his
faith by his works. somewhat like Ne
hemiah, who said, I'VE made our
| prayer unto our God and set a watch
against them day and night" (Neh. w.
%. Ezra would not accept a visible
escort when he went mp to Jerusalem
but Nehemiah did, yet both relied mp
on the Lord. We must each give &C
count Of himself 10 God and be care
ful not 10 judge others unless II Il
clearly a case Of wrongdolng. as when
Rebekah by deceit and lying sought
TO accomplish what God had said that
lie would do. do not say that there
was not a large piece Of Jacob In al
this plan to appease his brother. and
do believe that we must come TO tbs
end Of ourselves II we would see God
working as lie desires 10. All our wis
dom must be swallowed up ps. evil
q. marginl. and the rest Of our less0r
makes that plain. II might be en-
titled Gods way u blessing or ''Got
breaking Jacob down" or "heIplessnesl
clinging 10 oil power
Jacob. having made all arrangement
az seemed best 10 him. was left alon,
tverse 81. This Is essentIal-to b.
alone with God, 10 see no one say,
Jesus only Then we read that a maj
wrestIpd with him TIL the breaking d
the day. 0r. as IN the margin. ''the rs
cendlng Of the morning" II Is eyIden
that Jacob resisted the man. or tn
angel. for he prevailed not over Jacol
tlll he touched Jacobs thigh and pu
II ont Of joint C2j): then Jacob In con
sciOus weakness chung 10 the might,
one till the blessing was obtained
Not by striving. ngonizing. wrestling
but by clIngIng In our heiplessness I
Him who gIyeth power 10 the fain
and 10 them who have no might nst
ri. 90. this Is the way Of victory.
, In Jacob resisting till the mornln
there IL possibly a suggestion that ma
will never be thoroughly broken dow
TIL the morning % our Lords return
II win certainly be true 81 Israel a.
nation, for II II written. God shall hei
her when the morning appeareth" u'
> XVI. ,, marginl. In giving his nam
a. Jacob. or supplanter txxvli, 800. "
have another suggestion as 10 the wa
Of power. We must acknowledge Chs
we are sinners and nothing but ri
ners, having nothing 20 plead but o.
guilt and our need. Then. receivin
Christ, We OF once get new name
saint or saved sinner or child Of God
Il with the assurance that our names ri
written In feaven John 1, II: Luke
on, We think Of AhrHm'g new nam