The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-04-18
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson HI.-Second Quarter, For
April 20, 1918.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text OF the Lesson Gen., %&%iiiy 1-75.
Memory Verses, 10, f1-Golden Text,
Eph. iv, 32-commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. stearns.
When Laban learned that Jacob had
fed he pursued after him In anger, but
God came to him in n dream by night
and said unto him. Take heed that
thou speak not to Jacob either good or
bad" XXI, "a, 29l, so they had only
some sharp words and parted, having
erected a heap of stones as a witness
that neither would pass that place to
do the other harm. Three different
names are recorded as having been
given to that witness. one Of which is
much used today CMizpah), but surely
much misunderstood (xxxi, 1855.
Although no lesson has been assigned
from chapter xxi. the latter part of
which is to me most profitable, the
committee suggests the perusal of it,
and surely no teacher will overlook it.
How suggestive is the first verse, "And
Jacob went on his way, and the angels
of God met him." Was ever such an
unworthy man so w~ondrously cared
for by God? He more than made up to
him the loss of wages from Laban. He
forbade Laban to harm him, and now.
on his way to meet Esau, He sends a
host Of angels to still further assure him
Of heavenly protection, yet when he
heard that Esau was coming to meet
him he was greatly afraid and dis
tressed (xxxii. y. 1t would have been
more honoring to God If he had said,
Though an host should encamp
against me, my heart shall not fear''
Cps. xvii, 81.
His prayer In verses 8 to IL sounds
well, most of it, for he acknowledges
Gods mercies and pleads His promises,
but his plans following his prayer do
look a little like his mothers plan Of
helping God out, though some might
consider it showing his faith by his
works. Yet the various droves of
focks and herds with which he hoped
to appease Esau Verse 20) hardly look
like faith working fearlessly.
The incident of xxi, 24-31, also looks
as II there was a great deal Of Jacob
instead of the Lord in the whole plan.
1t is with us all, as it was with him,
most difficult to put of our shoes, az
both Moses and Joshua were told to
do, and let the Lord manage all in His
own way. Yet the Lord is aver lead
ing us to this that He may bless and
use us more and more. This is q much
abused story and is made by many to
teach that Jacob prevailed by wres.
Ting, but careful attention to the rec
ord will show that the Lord wrestled
with Jacob to subdue him. He resist
ed until his thigh was put out of joint,
and then in conscious weakness he
chung to the Mighty One, saying, "I will
not let Thee go except Thou bless me-"
so it vas weakness clinging to strength
that prevailed. "By his strength he
had power with GOd-yea, he had pow
er over the angel and prevailed" (Hos.
xii, 8, A.. His conscious weakness was
the secret Of his power, even as the
Lord said to Paul, my strength is
made perfect in weakness" QI Cor.
xii. 81. -...
It was then that Jacobs name was
changed to Israel, a name applied to
him personally about fifty times and
to his descendants $500 times. Jacob
called the name of the place "Peniel,"
face Of God, for he realized that he
had been face to face with God, Him
whom we know as the Son Of God, for
mo man hath seen God at any time,
the only begotten Son. who is in the
bosom Of the Father, He hath declared
Him John i, 49,. He did not tell ia
cob His name, but He did say to Mano-
ah, the father of Samson, 'It is won
derful" (Judg. xiii, 49,. Jacob evident
~ did not expect that Esau would
meet him peacefully and cordially and
therefore took all possible care to pro-
vide for the safety Of his household,
putting the most loved ones hinder
most and the landmarks aud their chill.
dren foremost, preceded by the various
droves, saying, "If Esau come to the
one company and smite it then the
OIuCL SOllpduy WnICA 10 lS4L SAuh CO
cape txxxii, s; xxxiii. !, p.
After all Jacobs fears flor he re-
membered well his wrong done to his
brother twenty years before and the
anger from which he had fed how
beautiful 1t is to read that "Esau ran
to meet him and embraced him and
fell on his neck and kissed him, and
they wept'' (xxxiii, AZ.
Thus God has many surprises for us
when our fears are rebuked and we
find forgiveness and peace and Joy
where the devil had told us we would
find only trouble. There is forgive
ness with the Lord for all who turn to
Him, and He does abundantly pardon.
He, through Joseph, forgave all those
cruel brethren. When first He met His
disciples after they had all forsaken
Him and fed He said: peace be unto
you. Why are ye troubledg"
Uu. xiv. SO, 3a) Note carefully all
the brotherly kindness of this chapter
and think of Him who sticketh closer
than a brother. In verses 8, II, we
note that when Esau did not wish to
accept Jacobs gifts he said. Il have
enough. my brother" and when ia
cob pressed them upon him he also
said. Il have enough The express