The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-11-22
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER ~
JACOB AND EsAu REcoNciLED.

LESSON TEXT-Genesis BILL.
GOLDEN TExT-A soft answer turneth
away wrath.-Proverbs 1s:L
DEVOTIONAL READlNG-Psalms g.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Genesis3 q:
s-3s2s tF
From Bethel. Jacob went to Padan-
Gram to his mothers people. Here he
served Laban for twenty yea.s-fOur'
teen years for his wives and SIX years
for certain wages. In his dealings
with Laban he finds his match-two
schemers get observation-disclosures cuts
diamond"
I. jacob Departs for Canaan t31:
l1-2D.
The time had come for Jacob to
60 back to his kindred in the land or
Canaan. The Lord instructed him so
to do ". 13). Though going forwnro
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.
but God appeared unto him In dream
ana warned him against any act Of VI
clence toward Jacob. They formed
compact and Laban returned home.
u. Jacob on the Way tchapter 32.)
Laban's return freed Jacob from
the enemy who was pursuing him from
behind, but he faced more formida-
tie one in the person of Esau.
I. Jacob meeting the angels ". ~.
Two camps of angels met him to
give him the assurance that God would
he with him according to his promise.
Notwithstanding this. he continued to
scheme. He seht a. deputatiOn with q
message Of good cheer to Esau.
.. Jacob praying tvv. 9-12).
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
IN prayer. This is fine specimen OF
effectual prayer. 1t is short. Greet.
and earnest. (1) He reminds God CT
his command issued for his return.
ard also Of the covenant promise
(31 :3). Surely God would not issue
command and then leave him in such
strait. (2) Pleads Gods promise
as to his personal safety ". O. CT.
Genesis 90 1915. 31-S3). In our pray
Ing we should definitely plead Gods
promises In his word, on the ground
NJ covenant relationship in Christ.
(3) Confesses unworthiness ". 1O.
In this he shows the proper spirit OF
humility. ~ Presents definite peti-
tons ". 11). He lays before the Lord
the definite request to be delivered
from the wrath Of Esau.
g. The angel Of Jehovah wrestling
With Jacob (32 :24-3o).
In Gods school Of discfiiioa ~.
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 scheming
would render God some assistance.
Accordingly. he sent presents ahead
to appease the anger Of Esau. While
jcurneying along, a man met him and
wrestled with him. but jacob knew not
who he was. Perhaps he thought that
Fasu had pounced upon him In the
rark. He exerted every ounce OF
strength in what he thought was the
struggle for his very life. The morn
ing was approaching, and still the
wrestlers continued. Jacob not know
ing it was Jehovah manifest in hui
nan form. This is the second crisis
in Jacobs life. He did not dare to
| enter the promised land nnder the con-
| troll of his self-sufficiency; his selfish
VIII must he broken: his Jacob-nature
must be changed God humbled him
by dislocating his thigh. When thus
humbled, he quit wrestling and clung
to God. He got the blessing when he.
conscious of his weakness, laid hold
OF God.
4. Jacob gets new name ". 2S).
He was no longer Jacob, the sup
PLANTER; but Israel, a prince Of God
| His new name was given him after
he had a new nature. He came face
to face with God, and face to face
with himself, and fought the battle to
q finish. We must have the new M
irre before we can enter the place OF
blessing. Jacob came to renlize that
he had been struggling with God, for
he called the place "Peniel," which
means ''face to face with God"
III. Jacob Meets Esau f33:1-11).
God had evidently wrought with
Esau, for when Jacob approached him
the sting of bitterness was seat. 1t
was not Jacobs scheming that re
moved Esau's anger, but the action OF
the Supernatural upon his heart. At
Jabbok Jacob got right with God. so
when hc met Esau 1t was an easy
matter to get right Wit him. When
We are right with God 1t Is an eass
1 uatter to get right with our brother