The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-09
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- BIBLE" "STuDToN ~
The Gate of Heaven


81 am with thee and will keep thee,
whithersoever thou goest."-verse IT,
Jacob was over 40 years of age when
he left home, forsaking the family
possessions, which belonged to his pur-
chased birthright He counted all
earthly possessions as insignificant
compared with the great promise made
to Abraham. of which he had become
heir That Esau cared nothing for
the spiritual promise and was quite
content to get the earthly Inheritance
of Isaac, is manifest from the subse-
quent story of his life.
In his journey toward Haran, Jacob
lighted upon the little town of Luz
Following the custom of many In Pal
estine today, he did not ask for lodg-
ings, but placing a stone for his pill
low, wrapped himself in his outer man.
tie and lay down In a quiet place to
sleep. Although he was now a man of
years, we are to remember that the
race was longer lived at that time and
slower of maturity, by about one half.
Practically he was Just entering man
hood. His deep religious convictions,
MS faith in the God of his father and
his grandfather, his desire for a share
OF the divine blessing, had made him
an outcast. Doubtless he felt lonesome
and heartsick. He was leaving the only
friends he had and going forth, prac-
tically penniless, to find some kind OF
service.
Jacob Have | Loved
Int,
by the Lords dealings with jacob. He
had shown his courage, his devotion,
his faith. At this time he needed en-
coura cement. and therefore was given
dream of beautiful import. In the
cream ne saw ladder extending from
his side clear rp into heaven, and
| crowded with al els coming and go
| ing.
AT Its further end, in his mind he
saw the God of glory and heard Him
| speak; and the words were full of en-
couragement. God here gave Jacob the
assurance that He recognized him as
the legal heir to the great Abrahamic
promise, which is the basis of all
hopes, Jewish and Christian. for them
selves and all the kindreds of the
earth.
me phraseology of Gods message is
much the same that was given to Alb
| ''h anu confirmed TO Isaac. NOW 1t
was confirmed to Jacob. He was thence
| lofth IN covenant relationship to God.
Better than he knew, all his efforts
would be so supervised that they would
work together for his highest welfare.
Neither Jew Nor Christian
JACOB was not Christian; and we
are not to think for a moment that
the, Lords providences over him were
OF the same kind as those of the
! church OF this gospel age He was not
invited 10 be sharer of the "hign
calling He was not promised a change
| OF nature to heavenly condition. All
OF the promises To him were earthly,
as We're those made to Abraham.
! Neither was Jacob a Jew. The ma
| tion subsequently called Israel and ar
terwards known as the Jews were ia
cobs children; hut they were not vet
born. They became distinctive nation
not merely by being Jacobs children.
hut by being brought into covenant re-
lationship with God through Moses and
the law covenant of Sinai
Thus We see that the patrjarchs-Ab-
raham, Isaac and Jacob-not under the
law and not under the gospel, con-
stituted a class by themselves. To them
especially Tin conjunction with some of
the noble prophets and WORTHLESS of the
Jewish age) belonged certain great
promises of God respecting Canaan and
the blessing of mankind Not being a