The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-04-15
RELIGIOUS
WORLD
n international Sunday school Les
son for April 20 l.: Jacobs Meet
ing With ESau." Gen. 5 2:3-33:I1.
tBy William T. Ellis.

ing With E>au." Gen. 3~2:3-3S:17. !,
(By William T. Enis.) i
There comes a time in nearly every
mans life when he is brought up sud
denly lace to face with his own past.
That is a decisive hour, a tremendous
experience for veal or woe. a recent
magazln poem recited how a young
man, who had "sown his wild oats"
underwent this experience when his
first child was born. and he was pun
lsned not only in his own soul but in
the lives Of his wife and baby for his
past. There are other pictures fairer
10 look upon, of men who in this hour
of crisis tind themselves free and hap
Ply because Of the integrity of their
past living has summoned up its ar
mics for reinforcement. 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 saw him from the Vengeance
he deserved. The brother whom he
mad foully wronged was able to strike
him a blow that neither wealth nor
SuDtlety could avert. In this extre-
nifty only God could help him. The
night OF wrestling that followed saw
the end Of the old Jacob. He won a
new character and a new name at
Jabbok. The story is like one of the
testimonies heard in a rescue mission,
OF q man made over by meeting with
COD. 1t is a 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 correct
relationships. with ones brother man
is really at center a matter of getting
right with the Father Of US all. Jacob
became recOnciled to ESau after he be-
came %reconciled to Jehovah. The
problems Of our time Is for men to
get on true terms with God. The
only abiding basis for the solution of
our days teeming p~erplexities is this.
New legislation may do much, out only
a sense of mans obligation to God will
hold men true to those ideals by
!, which alone society can be kept pure
: n strong and safe.
This is the meaning of Jacobs
crisis. His night of wrestling al
Jabbok is a dramatic rendering OF
the old lesson of getting right with
God. Jacob was torn by conflicting
t emotions. He was frankly scared
He had reached his limit. Messen.
gers reported that a little farther
: on his wronged brother Esau was
: approaching with a force Of -four
Citation be effected? The self-ex
e animation that ensued brought jacob
face to face with God.
e A Crafty Mans Education.
, That night Of wrestling. one o
!. the most memorable incidents in tn
q Bible, transformed Jacobs character
. He chung to h heavenly v~isitan1
, entreating a blessing. When h
IL ceased to struggle, and yielded him
render Of his proud and selfish will
y he was given the coveted blessing
The new man won a new name. Oh
Jacob was slain that night, and i
his body arose a new prince who's
name vas called Israel.
= There is one education which come
- from books, and thSre is a highe
Education which grows out Of a gres
:. spiritual experience. The Civil Wa
ST was a school Of manhood for myriad
g of American boys. In the experienc
of a great love many a man come
to his height. Conversion often doe
. for a persons character what TT
: schools have failed to do. Jacob fai
III ed to enc by the education of hon
land business. His real diploma VIZ
won at Jabbok. The lesson OF lii
which interprets all other lessons,
M that in submitting to God and
dependence upon Him victory is wo'
The Guile of the East.
We blunt and direct occidenta
~ find difficulties in this story of II
10 meeting of Jacob and Esau. "
rather revolt from the sychophant
to and guile of it all. That Jacob shou
,at fear the nan whom he had wrong
nv we clearly understand; it is east
to forgive the man who has wrong'
us thu the one TO whom We ha'
done an injury. Yet. somehow. '
- cannot understand Jacobs way Of 6
ing about reconciliation.
Be it remembered that the who
lis. EPISODE was orleHtai. me eihpord
ing gifts TO piaca,e ESau, me sesen-io
ad- prostratIons. lne no"erS coihpiilaeh
Inc all can be paralleled today almC
anywhere in Asia. Even in my limit
. xnor:enoe in the Orient T have kpOy