Delaware City press. (Delaware City, Del.) 1913-19??, 1913-04-04
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDMSGIOOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR APRIL 6
JACOB AND EsAU.
By q. o. SELLERS. Director Of Even
ing Department The Moody Bible In
stitute of Chicago.)

LESSON TExT-Gen. 2:22-S4
GOLDEN TExT-"Jehovah is a God or
Judgment; blessed are all they that wait
for him." lisa. so: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 20. /
and in chapter 81 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 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 a comforting thought to
US ALL who are sinners saved by
grace"
/. The Deceit, w. 1929. Lying, du
plicity, profanity. and compounded
felony, are presented in the preiimi'
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
circumyent Gods will; see oh. 1888,
! 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, a '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 rough man OF the
chase, cunning, clever and skillful az
hunter Jacob was a plain man.
viz, one who inclined to the conyen'
tionalities. He loved a 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 chosen race Fsau. mas
tered by hts appetite, governed by
selfish Instincts, gladly and aippantly
s--edespised"-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
I birthright at its supreme value. as of
the highest Importance.
From Bad Stock.
Subject as Jacob was to the rule Of
a seeking, scheming, mother, yet we
must remember that she, too, was
actuated by the same high estimate
1 of the value and the Importance OF
i 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 fly
= for his life. Let us look at Re5ekah.
She came from the same stock as
Laban, who was fraud, cheat, and
liar. She taught her son to follow
chose same methods and had to smart
: for it. for she lost his companfonship
through long years. and never saw
him again. Is it ever right to dc
+ 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. 25:2s)
Jacobs conscience was aroused as we
. see from v. TO- though 1t was prob
ably rot 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
ised blessing without the aid Of his
deceit. AS it was Jacob engendered
his brothers hatred, was separated
from his home and endured multiplied
suffering.
II. Esau's Sorrow, w. 1904. Esar
had sold his birthright and sought &c
regain it. Now he is too late to Sc
cure the blessing that should accom-
pany his birthright. The brothers
bartered Tor the birthright. One
brother secured the blessing and witt
it, Punishment. The other brother
lost both birthright and blessing ant
gave vent to bitter cry. tHeb. -;
III Esau was himself to blame
What wrecked home partialit,
and deceit brought forth. Rebekah'i
anticipation ". 45) was never full
filled and her conduct with that o
Jacob we'll deserves the censure ant
the punishment inflicted.
Because the Bible records no wor'
of censure some have asserted tina
God approved of Jacobs course. Ever
a casual reading of his life, of its de
lays, its disappointments and its mis-