The Yale expositor., 1913-04-17
INTERNATIONAL,
SlJNI(AYSC[IOOL
LESSON
Ing Department The Moody Bible In
Rtitute OF Chlcago.)
LESSON FOR APRIL 20
JACOBS MEETING WITH EsAu.
LESSON TEXT-Gen. Bills.

Nhtdt' dlu VIC budll nCFcdlleT con-
slider Israel. 80 prince" While Jacob
Is not so grand character as Abra-
ham nor go lovable as Isaac. yet no
! Is much more like the average man.
The story Of his days of willing serv-
ice for Rachel (29:2O); of Laban's
deception and of his prosperity in
spite Of Laban, can be found in chap
ters 20 and 30, while that OF his re-
turn to Canaan is contained in chap
ters 1885. Though not included inf
the selected portion OF Scripture, we
do not see how anyone can teach this
lesson and omit the consideration of
chapter 80. We therefore see before
MS D jacobs diplomacy, 32:1-S; (2)
Jacobs prayer. &2:9-12; go jacobs
present 10 Esau. 32:13-23, and "a
Jacobs wrestling. 32:2A32
4 finger tip OF Cod disabled Jacob,
yet vanquished ne is victorious for
God-the angel OF Jehovah-has tax.
en- from this double-deallng, crafty
child that which hindered all that
was trucst in his life. Not by com.
pelling but by yielding was Jacob on.
larged; by submitting he found the
throne of power SO much in prepa,
ration for the lesson of today.
Not a Coward.
l. The Approach-,'v. 10. jacob
had just had a vision of God (32:30); !
why, then, should he fear the face OF
his brother? Even so, however he
continued his measures OF precaution
and separated his children into Leah |
and Rachel and sent the landmarks !
and their children ahead Notice how
he places his most loved in the rear
OF the procession which he himself |
led. Jacob was not . coward and, in.
deed with his new-found power he !
had NO 1ead to be. Before he had |
fed from the face of his angry broth /
er, now with bcldness. and yet with /
humility, he enters the presence OF /
that Same brother even though he
had had no assurance as to the char /
Rcter o. that meeting.
IT, The Meeting-vv, 4-1f. TWEEN
tyona wears had passed. days Of
great testing but Of great blessing
before Jacob began this homewarc
journey. Jacob had learned the ''up
ward look" ". y and his prevailing
prayer brought Esau to him in haste
but not in anger. Now Esau lifts Ut
his eyes ". 81 and beholds not th(
fugitive Of old, but q transformed
prosperous and richly blessed broth
or "Who are those with thee?" III
asks. and Jacob at once acknowledges
God as the giver end the blesser
(See 1926; Jas. 1:17.) Jacob speakt
Of his children a. Gods gracious gifts
Although this is everywhere thu
teaching Of the Bible, yet how Otter
is it the modern view, ct least il
many circles OF eociety. Following
the children came the landmarks an6
their children. then Leah and heI
and last OF all Rachel an6
Joseph. At once Esau inquiries as tc
those gifts Jacob had sent ahead (32:
1920, and Jacob replies, "That
might find grace in the sight Of my
Lord" It is we'll TO notice that Esay
refused this gift ". ID as a purchase
price Of reconciliation.
Jacob Astute.
From the marginal reading we see
hat Jacobs words when urging Esau
to accept his gift were: Because
have ALL" Every child of God car
say as much. q Cor. 1921;
Phil. AIS. 10; Rom. 1891, 32.) Thus
we see tho astute Jacob who had sc
arranged his affairs as to make gifts
Or not as might be necessary Is sur
orised. not as at Bethel when he met
God, but 10 find that God had sc
moved upon the heart of his brother
is to remove for = time at least all |
LANCER
III. Tho Separation, w. 1915. We ]
nfer from a study of Esau's life that
Jacob did not deem It safe TO make
he proposed journey. Discretion lie {
he better part Of valor." God does
lot demand nor desire rashness and
leedless danger upon the part OF his q
children. q
There are three main teachings in b
his lesson. aside from those of the c
preceding chapter. % That In mat s
ers OF supreme importance in the {
ife OF any man God Is interested and e
eady to lend his assistance. Jacob 7
eady to lend his assistance. v
p There is the lesson that while c
hen with anxiety seek to make plans Q
Or the Kingdom II is only as they a
lilly commit themselves to him and
How him TO dominate and to guids b
I'll they spell success in their lives. Z,
CD And lastly. when God controls, I,
hen he has the victory In our Il
carts and our lives, he not only G
Ranges the attitude OF our enemies b
owards us but changes our attitude a
awards them. from. 1920, 21.)
The Golden Text embassies this n
ist thought. The only way we can G.
ossibly obey Paul's injunction viii L
e as we are "in Christ Jesus" AS p
e abide in, and recognizing the ex b
seding riches OF his grace, as we h
scognize Gods forgiveness as mani
'st in Christ Jesus; as we submit tc b.
I'm. we viii be able TO be kind one