Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-11-22
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SUND1YSQIOOL
LESSON
(By REV. P. B. FITZWATER, D. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
Copyright, 1918, Westex Newspaper
Union.)
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER "a
JACOB AND EsAu REcoNcILED.

LESSON TEXT-Genesis Sill.
GOLDEN TEXT-A soft answer turneth
away wrath. Proverbs 15:1.
DEVOTIONAL READING-Psalms 46.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Genesis3 80:
3-33:2S.
From Bethel, Jacob went to Padan-
& ram to his mothers people. Here he
served Laban for twenty years-four
teen years for his wives and SIX years
fo- certain wages. In his dealings
with Laban he finds his match-two
schemers get ogether-"diamond cuts
diamond"
1. Jacob Departs for Canaan (31:
11-2fy.
The time had come for Jacob to
go back to his kindred in the land of
Canaan. The Lord instructed him so
70 do ". 13). Though going forward
ul-der the direction of God, his Jacob
nature caused him to take clandestine
leave of Laban. When Laban realized
the situation he went in hot pursuit,
bat God appeared unto him in a dream
md warned him against any act of vi
olence toward Jacob. They formed
compact and Laban returned home.
II. Jacob on the Way (chapter 32)
Laban's return freed Jacob from
The enemy who was pursuing him from
t,ekind, but he faced a more formida-
tie one in the person of Esau.
i. Jacob meeting the angels ". u.
Two camps of angels met him to
J.; 4ho+
he with him according to his promise.
Notwithstandin this, he continued to
scheme. He sent deputation with
message Of good cheer to Esau.
2. Jacob praying wv. 9-l2).
! .Esau made no reply to Jacobs mes
sage, but went forward with an army
Of men, four hundred strong, to meet
Jacob. Jacob is in great distress.
/ therefore he casts himself upon God
III prayer. This is a fine specimen Of
effectual prayer. 1t is short, direct,
ard earnest. ~ He reminds God Of
his command issued for his return,
ard also of the covenant promise
i (3l :3). Surely God would not issue
a command and then leave him in such
a strait. ~ Pleads Gods promise
as to his personal safety ". 8, CT.
Genesis % 1915, 31-33). In our pray
ing we should definitely plead Gods
| promises in his word, on the ground
IF covenant relationship in Christ.
(3l Confesses unworthiness ". 10Y
In this he shows the proper spirit of
humility. az Presents definite petit
ttcns ". 11). He lays before the Lord
the definite request to be delivered
from the wrath of Esau.
3. The angel of Jehovah wrestling
With Jacob (32 2:24-s2). - =
In Gods school of discipline, ia
cob is making some Improvement, but
still he is under the sway of self.
Will and self-trust. Though he had
laid the matter definitely before the
Lord, he thought that his schemine
would render God some assistance
Accordingly, he sent presents ahead
to appease the anger of Esau. While
jcurneying along, a man met him ant
wrestled with him, but Jacob knew no
who he was. Perhaps he thought thai
Fasu had pouneed upon him in the
i'ark. He exerted every ounce O.
strength in what he thought was th'
struggle for his very life. The morn
ing was approaching, and still th'
wrestlers. continued, Jacob not know
ing it was Jehovah manifest in hu
nan form. This is the second crisi
IN Jacobs life. He did not dare t,
enter the promised land under the con
tro, of his self-sufficiency his selfisl
VIII must be broken; his Jacob-natur
! must be changed. God humbled hin
by disloeating his thigh. When thu
humhled, he quit wrestling and clun
: to God. He got the blessing when he
conscious of his weakness, laid hol
OF God
: 4. Jacob gets a new name ". 2S]
He was no longer Jacob, the sur
planter; but Israel, prince of Coo
: His new name was given him afte
he had q new nature. He came fac
to face with God, and face to fac
7 with himself, and fought the battle t
: a finish. We must have the new ms
, tlre before we can enter the place
7 blessing. Jacob came to realize tha
} he had been struggling with God, fO
5 he called the place "Peniel," whic
3 means 'tface to face with God"
III. Jacob Meets Esau (33 Ill
God had evidently wrought wit
Esau, for when Jacob approached hi
the sting Of bitterness was. gone.
was not Jacobs scheming that r
{ moved Esau's anger, but the action I
the Supernatural upon his heart. 4
Jabbok Jacob got right with God, s
: when he met Esau it was an eas
u matter to get right with him. Whe
0 we are right with God it is an eas
y natter to get right with our brother.