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

cept thou bless me-" 1t was not the visitov
| that he wanted-it was the visitors blessing,
But what resolve was that Was II q
piece or audacity or blasphemy? May a man
presume pr to demand and refuse to yield un.
III the demand is needed? Is that faith OF
stuobornness? Is II virtue to he come
mended or fault to be Stunned?
VICTORY Oversees % and 2H-Up to
thls point the parties in this contest were
known only in part. Somewhat aclUaint ed
| they must have been, or there would have
been no wrestling. But now they seek d
| more intimate acquaintance with the be-
| stowal OF what was demanded. What ia
thy manner" inquired the angel. Speak Il
| that we may have a basis OF a.rcement.
Jacob said the man, that is. snppianter
one VINO overcomes another by ou Nitt.ng
him. That name must be abandoned as no
longer appropriate. He who had openly ana
manfully struggled the night through for q
blessing deserved a new name and hetteg
| name That the method in those days
of marking important events IN PERSONAL
history Gen. Xvii:ot. The name jacob shall
be lost The name Israel shall be- substi-
tuted, power with God and man. The end
sought the blessing. was gained.
REMEMBRANCE oversees - and COZ
Jacob was not yet satisfied Tho victory
gained he would make double entry of it,
first. in his own mind. and second. in tho
history of his people. Turning 10 the visitor,
who had yielded, he asked for his ma sc Why
should he desire 1t? 1t seemed curious
question. and no answer was given. Which
of the angelic host had been present? Which
of them had so long denied and then so
grandly granted his request? The informa.
ton would be helpful to Jacobs faith. hut
failing to obtain il the grip of tn" mighty
man was released and the angel d parted
But Jacob stayed long enough 10 give the
place of his victory the name of 'Peniel."
Il have seen God face to face, and my life
Is preserved" he remarked. He came nearer
to the Almighty than any man after Moses
Gen. Ill :2p.
CONCLUSION. - God had appointed
Tar to tab tJ. Ia ia. hraL
ham and Isaac and to become the father
and leader OF the chosen people. But that
involved a preliminary spiritual preparation.
The conduct of this future leader was
marked by falsehood and dishonesty ali
through the early years. His course with
Esau and Laban cannot be approved. When
he left on his return home he was by no
means a pattern man. At the brook Of
Jabbok he came face to face with himsef
and destiny. Humbled under sense OF hia
sin, he sought and obtained a blessing ana
began a new career. Jacob remained al
Pencil Israel crossed over and lived and
wrought for God. There are turning points
in the life of every man, times when he
may leave his old dead past and turn to-
ward a better future. Happy the man who
knows his opportunity and enters into his
high privilege.
Questions Answered
Any person may send any biblical ques.
lions to Dr. Gilbert. 1903 r street norths
west this city, and receive answer in The
Star.
237-Is the mere possession of riches dee
basng? How about those who Use it in
the very best causes?
Answer-The scriptures do not oondemn
the possession of large material wealth.
There is of course a danger that by it
ones heart may be turned away from God
to a life of self-gratification. duke. Ni:l9)
We are therefore cautioned not to rogard
possessions as treasures, but 10 holo
spiritual good as of chief value. Matt,
vi:19-21) We are also directed concerning
the use of your property. that 1t may prove
a blessing. The very good may be very rich.
Job Xl11,12)
23a-If II be true that Christ is not in
the promises as joint inheritor of Canaan,
but that the promises were fulfilled in tho
possession of the land by the twelve tribes,
how is 1t that Canaan is now Turkish
province?
Answer.-Ths question IS one of a series
from the same person who makes IN al OF
them one fatal mistake, suppoSlnS thac
Gods promise to Abraham was limited to
a landed estate. Whereas that pro Mise in-
cluded two other items-a mighty nation
who should live in that land, and spiritual
blessings extending to all other nations.
The questioner also forgets that tn" three
items were merely promised by the Al.
mighty as his gifts to Israel, but that the
first and second, limited to the posterity on
Israel by the flesh. were forfeited through
national apostasy. Hence the country.
given at first to the chosen people. was
taken from them and given. even accord-
ing to Gods word. in succession To tho
Persians. the Asyrians, the Greeks, tho
Romans and the Turks. But the third Item
of the promise has been realized in christ
through the worldwide preaching OF the
gospel.