Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1913-04-04
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNIYSC[lOOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR APRIL 6
JACOB AND EsAu.
By Il. o. SELLERS, Director OF Even
ing Department The Moody Bible In
stitute OF Chicago.)

for him.. 1Sa. o0.l6.
Jacob is one Of the great figures
presented to us in the book of Gene
sis. His birth and purchase of the
birthright are recorded in Chapter rs.
and in chapter az we have presented
his great sin.
It is absolutely necessary to read
carefully all of this chapter before we
can properly present this lesson.
Moses did not record Jacobs decep-
ton because he commended 1t, but
rather as warning to all who read
and ponder thereon. The Bible
spreads before us the sins of Gods
people as well as their virtues, which
ought to be comforting thought to
us all, who are sinners saved by
grace"
I. The Deceit, w. 22-2e. Lying, du.
plicity, profanity, and compounded
felony. are presented In the prelimi-
nary verses to that section selected
for our study. Jacobs conscience re-
belled ". 12), yet he gladly listened
to the voice OF his unwise mother
who thought she knew best how to
circumvent Gods will; see ch. 1928.
25, 28. This mothers foolish ambi-
ton and teaching had developed a
self-seeking, deceitful son. BY. nature
Jacob was unlovely and the greatest
lesson we can learn from his life is
that he, 'cheater," should by the
grace of God be transformed into
Israel" a prince, he that hath power
with God.
A Rough Man.
We first have presented the tenn
reramental difference between these
two brothers, then the story of the
birthright, and lastly the stolen bless
ing. Esau was rough man of the
chase, cunning, clever and skillrul as
q hunter. Jacob was plain man,
viz, one who inclined to the conven-
tionalities. He loved settled, quiet
home life, for he "dwelt in tents"
Again when we consider the episode
of the birthright we have set before
us another illustration of the great
contrast of these brothers. We do
not value birthrights as do the Orien-
tails, and further, we must remember
this Is the story of Gods develop
ment of a chosen race Esau, mas
tered by his appetite, governed by
selfish instincts. gladly and fippantly
ns-''despised"-his right. He
denied his responsibility to the flu
ture of that race Of whom Abraham
was the first, and virtually said that
nothing was of value that did not
serve this present lifetime. Jacob,
on the other hand, estimated this
birthright at Its supreme value, as OF
the highest Importance.
From Bad Stock.
Subject as Jacob was to the rule OF.
seeking, scheming. mother. yet we
must remember that she, too, was
actuated by the same high estimate
of the value and the Importance Of
the birthright! Her mean manner OF
seeking to accomplish her purpose
did not succeed. but, in fact, delayed
tho desired end for Jacob had to fly
for his life. Let us look at Rebekah.
She came from the same stock as
Laban, who was a fraud. cheat, and
a liar. She taught her son to follow
those same methods and had 60 smart
for it. for she lost his companionship
through long years, and never saw
him again. Is 1t ever right to do
wrong? Gods word tells US no. see
Rom 3:S. Rebekah was more con-
cerned with her partially than with
the purposes OF God. (Ch. 1929
Jacobs conscience was aroused as we
see from v. II. though it was prob
ably not SO much fear of the error OF
the act, but rather fear OF being
caught.
God would in his way and in his
own time have given Jacob the prom
Used blessing without the aid OF his
deceit. AS 1t was Jacob engendered
his brothers hatred, was separated
from his home and endured multiplied
suffering.
IL Esau's Sorrow, w. 3o-34. Esau
had sold his birthright and sought to
regain 1t. Now he is too late to ser
cure the blessing that should accom-
pany his birthright The brothers
battered for the birthright. One
brother secured the blessing and with
1t, Punishment. The other brother
lost both birthright and blessing and
gave vent to a bitter cry. (Heb. IL:
IT, Esau was himself to blame.
What wrecked home Partially
and deceit brought forth. Rebekah's
anticipation ". 49, was never full
filed and her conduct with that OF
Jacob well deserves the censure and
the punishment inflicted.
Because the Bible records no word
Of censure some hrve asserted that
God approved of Jacobs course. Even
casual reading OF his life, Of its de-
lays, its disappointments and its mis-
fortunes, reveals Gods vindicatiun OF
the moral law and that retribution