The Topeka state journal., 1913-04-19

ing with Esau." Gen. 32:S-3S:17.
CBY WILLIAM T. ELLIs.)
There comes a time in nearly every
mans life when he is brought up
suddenly face to face with his own
past. That is decisive hour, ire
mendous experience for veal or woe.
a recent magazine poem reclted now
a young man, who had "sown his wild
oats underwent this experience
when his first child was born
and he was punished not only
in his own soul but in the lives OF
his wife and baby for his past. There
are other pictures, fairer to look upon,
of men who in this hour of crisis fnd
themselves free and happy, because
the integrity of their past living mas
summoned up its armies for reinforce
ment. Some time or other, everybody
will be sustained or smitten by the
life he has lived.
The most eventful hour in the life
of the patriarch Jacob was when his
once victorious cunning confronted
him and he saw that it had become his
enemy. All his guile was then futile to
save him from the vengeance he de-
served. The brother whom he had
fouIIy wronged was able to strike him
a blow that neither wealth nor sub
only God could help him. The night
OF wrestling that followed saw the END
of old Jacob. He won a new character
and a new name atJabbOk. The story
in a rescue mission, of a man mace
over by meeting with God. 1t is
study in human nature, as well as IN
divine providence.
Getting Right With the World.
The great business of human ad-
justment, the establishment of cor
rect relationships with ones brother
man, is really at center a matter OF
getting right with the Father or us
all. Jacob became reconciled to ESau
after he had been reconciled to Jeho-
vah. The shortest way to clear up the
social problems of our time is for men
to get on true terms with God The
only abiding basis for the solution or
our days teeming perpleXities is this
New legislation may do much, but
only a sense of mans obligation to
by which alone society can be Kept
pure and strong and safe.
This is the meaning of Jacobs
crisis. His night of wrestling at Jab-
box is a dramatic rendering of the
old lesson of getting right with God.
Jacob was torn by conflicting emo
tions. He was frankly scared. He had
reached his limit Messengers report
ed that a little farther on his wrong
ed brother Esau was approaching with
a. force of four hundred men. How
could a reconciliation be effected?
The self-examination that ensued
brought Jacob face to face with God.
A Crafty Mans Education.
That night of wrestling. one of the
most memorable incidents in the
Bible, transformed Jacobs character.
He clung to the heavenly visitant. en-
treating a blessing. When he ceased
to struggle, and yielded himself to
the angel, in token of surrender of
his proud and selfish will, he was
given the coveted blessing. The new
man won a new name. Old Jacob
was slain that night, and in his body
arose a new prince whose name was
called Isreal.
There is one education which comes
from books, and there is a higher edu-
cation which grows out of great spir-
itual experience. The Civil war was a
school of manhood for myriads of
American boys. In the experience of a
great love many a man comes to his
height. Conversion often does for a
PERSONS character what the schools have
failed to do. Jacob failed to benefit by
the education of home and business.
His real diploma was won at Jabbok.
The lesson of life. which interprets all
other lessons, is that in submitting to
God and in dependence upon Him vic
tory is won.
The Guile of the East
We blunt and direct occidentals find
difficulties in this story of the meet
ing of Jacob and Esau. We rather -e-
volt from the sychophancy and guilt
of it all. That Jacob should fear the
man whom he had wronged We clearly
understand; 1t is easier to forgive the
man who has wronged us than the one
to whom We have done an INJURY Yet
somehow, We cannot understand JAG
obs way of going about reconciliation.
Be it remembered that the whole epi-
sode was oriental. The elaborate gifts
TO placate Esau. the seven-fold pros
trations. the flowery compliments, all
can be paralleled today almost any
where in Asia Even in my limited
experience in the Orient, 1 have known
- h;
self on his face and clasp my feet. |
Again and again Chinese have knocked
their heads on the ground before ms. |
An Indian Mohammedan, seeking help
to get to Mecca. bowed low and kissed
the hem of my overcoat The ways
niums, and Jacob was but following the
recognized usage of his land and time
when he sought favor by gifts and by
humility.
Winning Over an Enemy.
Jacob sent rich presents to meet his
brother, dividing them into five INSTALL !
ments, each better than the one that
had gone before The cumulative effect |
of this upon Esau's mind needs no
psychologist for its explanation Then |
Jacob divided his company and his
possessions into two parties, with his
favorite wife and son in the most pro- |
tected place. When finally he came |
up with Esau, and had Frustrated him |
self seven times before his brother, he |
pressed upon him the gifts. The in |
cident illustrates the Masters word, |
Make to yourself friends by means |
of the mammon of unrighteousness."
True to his younger nature, Esau |
the impulsive, the needless, the gen. |
erous, readily forgave his brother. He
could be wheedled out of his vengeance
as easily as he had been wheedled out |
of his birthright- The two were recon- |
ciIed. Jacobs danger was safely past. |
He was at peace to settle in the home |
of his fathers, in the land of promise. |
Thenceforth we see no more of the
-Irorrrrl r,.a ffrr selfish Iacnh He had q