The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1913-04-09

fold reason of going back to the rela-
tons of his mother to find wife, and
to escape from the wrath of Esau,
who swore vengeance upon him for
securing the blessing from the father,
Jacob set forth from the home of his
childhood. Up to this time he had been
content and happy, the special delight
OF his mother. Now with guilty
conscience he departed alone, not
knowing which way he went, except as
to general direction. He is not the
| first boy whose life has been happy
at home who has gone away with fear,
| all because of some wrong he has
committed. Jacob never looks upon
| the face of his mother again for it is
years after before he returns to his
| fathers house.
1t is we'll that God saw in Jacob the
making of great man, one worthy
to be ranked with Abraham and his
father Isaac. From our point of view,
such a young man would only be fit
for crafty and underhanded dealings,
and certainly not of the material for
an example of Godliness. But can
didly, there are few of us who would
want to be judged for life on the deeds
we are guilty of in any one single day
or year. Many of us have two-fold
nature, at times the better has the
power, and again the wrong seems to
control. In the heart of Jacob there
was capacity for great things when it
was deeply touched by the hand of
God.
Many have read that wonderful
book, "The Bonny Brier Bush" One
incident recounted in the book sheds
light on the treatment of Jacob by
his Father in heaven. 1t is told how
a daughter left the home of her faith
err who had been unloving and stern
to her. He made no move to reach
her, although he knew where she was
In his hardness of heart he crossed
her name from the family record in
the bible Not long after he showed
the bible to a neighbor woman of
sound, motherly, religious mind. She
was indignant and speaking her opin-
ion to the father said in effect, What
if our heavenly Father should blot out
our names from His book for one or
even many sins, as you have that OF
your own daughter for leaving your
home? Instead He has sent the
blessed Jesus to bring us back to the
fold and is ready to forgive and help
us for the future The self-righteous
father was shot through the heart by
these words, sent for his child and
was a changed man from that day on
ward.
On that first night away from home
Jacob must have lain upon the bare
ground; at any rate the record says
he had stone for pillow. During
the night hours he had a vision or
dream and God spoke to him telling
him that He was to be with him, make
of him great nation and renewed the
promises which had been made to
Abraham and Isaac. When Jacob
awoke he was much effected by what
he had been told. He had the faith
to believe what God told him was true.
He sat up by the stone which had
been his pillow and poured oil on it
and fixed it for a permanent monu-
ment to the fact that he had had a
vision from God. He gave name to
the place of Bethel"
On facing the great promises made
him by God that night Jacob made
certain VOWS or pledges on his side.
These were to the effect that if God
would be with him giving food, raj
ment, protection so that he came again
to his fathers house in safety, he
would chose the Lord for his master
and give onetenth to Him of all he
possessed 1t is certainty that God
fulfilled His part of the covenant, and
the record shows that Jacob did not
fail in his allegiance during the re-
mainder of his lifetime.
The practical question faces you
and l whether We at all times keep
our agreements with God. Many peo-
pie when very sick, in great danger,
needing some much desired thing
from the hand of God, make pledges