The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1913-04-16

guidance. with
his flocks, herds and servants, to the
land of his father Naturally. he felt
timidity respecting Esau. and pray
ed to the Lord upon the subject, re-
he trusted. Then he sent word to
Esau that he was coming. Next he
prepared a gift of considerable value
for those times-sheep, goats. camels,
cattle and asses.
This gift represented long years of
toll on Jacobs part. These earthly
things, however. Jacob valued as moth
ing compared with the great Abraham
ic Covenant He could give this good
ly portion of earthly mammon to pur-
chase Esau's good will, although he
was under no obligations to his broth
er. He had purchased the tirst-born's
portion, which included the major por-
ton of Isaac's worldly riches. Jacob
had left these in Esau's hands. The
latter might suspect that Jacob was
coming to claim his inheritance.
Had Jacob laid no claim to the es-
tate. Esau would have judged him &C.
cording to his own standards. and mis-
trusted that at an opportune moment
Jacob would attack him. Thus a feud
would have been established between
the two families. This would have
interfered with Jacobs hopes in con-
nection with the Covenant.
Jacob insisted upon Esau's accept
ance Of the present 1t would stand
as a pledge of good faith between
them. Esau would all the more will
ingly see Jacobs prosperity; for he
realized that he had gotten the better
Of his brother, first by getting the pat
rimony. and secondly, by receiving so
rich a present. Evidently Jacobs
course was wise He still had plenty.
and God could give him more. His
chief concern would be the Abrahamic
Promise. the fulfilment of which lay
beyond the present life.
The Lesson of Generosity.
One lesson which we as Christians
may draw from Jacobs course is that
of generosity toward the world-those
who have no interest in Heavenly
promises. AS Jacob was willing to
set aside all earthly rights and privi-
leges In favor of the Abrahamic Prom
ise so the Spiritual Heirs should do
likewise.
AS Jacob left his fathers house,
leaving all to his brother without con-
tention. trusting only to the Heavenly
Promise, so must we Spiritual Israel
ties forsake all earthly hopes, to obtain
joint-heirship with Christ in the Mes
sianic Kingdom. AS Jacob gladly gave
presents to Esau for the sake of peace
In carrying out Gods arrangements
under this Promise, so we as Chris
tians should willingly give to our part
ners in life, our neighbors, friends and
brethren, the larger share of earth's
good things, II thereby we may for
ward the Lords Cause in connection
with the Abrahamic Promise. in which
we trust.
Mankind have their hearts set upon
earthly good things-they know moth
ing higher. Christians, on the contra
ry. appreciate Heavenly things. es-
teeming earthly things as unworthy Of
comparison. We. like st. Paul. esteem
all earthly things but loss and dross
that we may win Christ-that we may
win joint-heirship with Jesus in the
great blessing Of God by becoming
members of the Spiritual Seed of Abra-
ham. that we may participate in the
glorious work of blessing all the fami-
lies of the earth.
Finally, Our Golden Text.
Our Golden Text seems at first not
closely related to