The Red Cloud chief., 1913-04-03
INTERNATIONAL,
SUNDGYSC[lO0L
LESSON
(By ID. o. SELLERS. Director Of Even
ing Department The Moody Bible In
stitute Of Chicago.)
LESSON FOR APRIL 6
JACOB AND EeAU.

GOLDEN TExT-"Jehovah Is God or
Judgment: blessed are all they that walt
for him." lisa. 30:1S.
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 25,
and in chapter ~ 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 It. but
rather as a warning to all who read
and ponder thereon. The Bible
spreads before US the sins Of Gods
people as we'll as their virtues. which
ought to be q comforting thought to
US all. who are sinners saved by
grace"
|. I. The Deceit, w. 22.2s. 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. 26:23.
rs. 2S. This mothers foolish ambi.
tion and teaching had developed .
self.seeking, deceitful son. BY nature
Jacob was unlovely and the greatest
lesson we can learn from his life Is
that he. q '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.
peramental difference between these
two brothers. then the story Of the
birthright, and lastly the stolen bless.
Ing Esau was a rough man Of the
chase. cunning, clever and skillful as
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 q chosen race. Esau. mas.
tered by his appetite. governed BY
selfish instincts. gladly and fllppantly
'despised"-his right. He
denied his responsibility to the fu.
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. a. 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
the desired end for Jacob had to fy
for his life. Let US look at Rebekah
She came from the same stock al
Laban, who was q fraud, q cheat, and
Q liar. She taught her son to follow
those same methods and had to smart
for It, for she lost his companionshir
through long years. and never saw
him ae ain. Is It ever right to dc
wrong? Gods word tells US no. set
Rom. 3:s. Rebekah was more con
, cerned with her partiality than will
the purposes of God. (Ch. 25:2S]
Jacobs conscience was aroused as We
see from v. 12, though It was prob
ably not so much fear Of the error o.
, the act, but rather fear Of beint
, caught.
God would in his way and in bill
own time have given Jacob the prom
ised blessing without the aid Of bill
. deceit. Az II was Jacob engenderet
| his brothers hatred. was separated
! from his home and endured multiplied
, suffering.
II. Esau's Sorrow, w. 3o-34. Esa'
9 had sold his birthright and sought Il
regain It. Now he is too late to "a
|. cure the blessing that should accom-
. pany his birthright. The brother
| OoIter0O IOr tuo Uutuia6nS W.
n brother secured the blessing and witt
i Il, banishment. The other brothe
lost both birthright and blessing an
{ gave vent to q bitter cry. (Heb. II
4 17.) Esau was himself to blame
y What q wrecked home partialit
Q and deceit brought forth. Rebekah'
k anticipation ". 45) was never fu
filled and her conduct with that q
9 Jacob we'll deserves the censure an
9 the punishment indicted.
n Because the Bible records no wor
d of censure some have asserted tha
" God approved Of Jacobs course. Eve
n q casual reading Of his life. Of its d
"a lays, its disappointments and its mil
n fortunes. reveals Gods vindication {
the moral law and that retributio
q follows wrong As much as we syn
q pathixe with Esau we are compelle
~ 4