The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1918-10-30
oUNDAN SCHOOL. NOTES
Side Lights On Next Sundays
Lesson fer Teachers and Pup,iss
Edited oy Charles K. Meyers.

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Nov. 3. Weakness of Esau. Gen. Is,
27.34. '".
Our lesson of last Sunday told of
the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah.
Today we consider as to their two
sons, Jacob and Esau The boys were
twins, Esau, however, being the older
and as such entitled by the laws of
custom to become the head Of the
tribe on the death Of his father. When
the boys grew up Esau was the hap
Ply gO-lucky" kind, liking the excite
ment Of the hunt and the chase in
tent on having good time. On his
return from a long hunting eXpedi-
ton Esau was naturally as hungry
as a bear" and On reaching home
found Jacob the owner of pot OF eat
ables which seemed exceedingly good.
Esau announced that if he didnt~haVe
something to eat he would die. Jacob
told his brother that he would feed
him plenty il he would first swear to
turn over the right as the first born
in the family to him. Esau replied,
Il am at point to die and what profit
shall this birthright be to me?' He
then parted with his precious birth
right for the sweet smelling contents
of pot Of food. Later he regretted
his foolishness and begged his father
not to cut him off from future bless
! ings after his death, but the affair
could not be undone.t The record
shows that later on he had no anger
against Jacob, but was content with
life Of present pleasures, little bother
ing as to the future of tomorrow, next
week, next year and all time.
Throwing Away Ones Precious Birth
right
When one stops to think what this
conduct OF Esau teaches there is no
trouble to see a host of things to be
said. Men and women are selling
their birthright before US every day.
There was the man who was ready to
sell out for glass of beer or wiliskey.
He knew as well as anyone the re-
for the excitement and jolly feelings
Of an hour he threw love of family,
father, mother wife, babes, to earth,
and pursued his way to the saloon
and places where liquor was given
out and drank. We all know that he
4 sold out his future birthright mighty
cheap. %
Another fellow who sells out is he
who believes that sensual living is
all there is In life worth having. He
will bring disgrace on himself and
all his loved ones for qualification
along these lines. You may tell him
Of fearful, diseases, his sins visited |
on children for generations, but ne |,
would rather die of filthy rot than |
live clean life. Such as he certainly !
sell their birthright to good health,
respect Of associates, of wife, sister,
friends at a very low figure. l have
said he, but the same considerations
hold for the women and girls who
scorn good advice and end up the
subject of jeers and disgrace, all for
what seems for the present good |
time .-s.
There Is the person in the business
life who sells out his right to great
success for the mess of eats of idle
ness and lack of incentive to work.
In the schools, at his work, as young
person he lives only for the present |
hour, not learning his lessons, not
trying to have trade or paying
means of gaining a livelihood, not
ready to pay the price of self denial !
to accomplish anything in this world.
Such as he have the birthright to
fne education, good trade, and fine
professional life and business expert I
ence which will win success, but all /
these are laughed at and happy indo
lence OF today takes the place of prep |
aration for the morrow. ,.
The great Apostle Paul thus sizes
UP the conduct of Esau in Hebrews |
1916. He is urging his fellow chris. |
tians to beware of losing their relig- |
Ion for trivial things and then illus |
trates the case of Esau, who for one !
morsel of meat sold his birthright, for |,
we know how afterwards when he'll
would have inherited the blessings, |
he.was rejected; for he found no place |
for repentance; though he sought it |
carefully with tears" Note just now
as to the seeking for repentance in |
vain. The drunkard, the nasty fell !
low, the indolent men, all come to see !
the time when they would arouse !
themselves, turn over new leaf, see !
the awful plight they are in, but alas
how often too late to be of any effect. |
There is another case of losing the
birthright, and that is from a life. de- I
void Of religion and trust in Jesus for
salvation. In that famous eight of !
Romans Paul tells you and me that |,
we are ''j0int heirs with Christ" to |;
the blessings of heaven and the re-
wards from God for faithful service. |
Here is certainly birthright worth !,
taking possession Of. 1t is said that |
eye hath not seen, ear heard or en- I
ARE YOUR KIDNEYS WELL?