Evening star., 1918-11-16
SCHOOL LESSON
BY REV. HUGH t. STEVENSON.

1t IL no wonder that the family re-
latfons between the sons Of Isaac and
Rebekah became seriously strained to
the point where Jacob found 1t neces
sary to leave his home to escape the
vengeance threatened BY Esau. From
the worlds viewpoint. Esau had good
grounds for his feeling OF bitterness
toward his younger brother. Jacob
had, In an hour Of his weakness. driv-
en- a hard. shrewd bargain. taking
away his birthright. Later. with the
connivance Of the mother. Jacob had
supplanted him and secured the spir-
itual blessing of the aged and blind
father. In such family circle. with
brother against brother, and with
parents taking Sides happiness ana
the feeling that Esau bore against his
brother became stronger and more re-
sentful until he even contemplated
numbering Jacob when the death of
the father had taken place.
With her usual resourcefulness. Re-
bekah became aware of these pur-
poses, and Immediately she set about
to checkmate them. It was her idea
that Jacob should go to Haran and
there remainuntil his brothers wrath
had cooled and a reconciliation could
be effected. But it was impossible
straightforward manner with the
problem, for we read in the chapter
proceeding the scriptural reference
for the lesson that she suggested the
visit to Isaac in order that Jacob
might not marry a Hittite woman,
agreed to the suggestion and accord
inEly sent for Jacob and commits
stoned him to visit Haran as a guest
of Laban. his mothers brother. to Sc
lect wife.
It was while upon this journey that
physical basis for the dream may have
been a cluster of remarkable rocks.
which in the twilight would resemble
a pair of steps.
The circumstances surrounding his
fight certainly furnish q sufficient
thoughts, There in the wilderness.
with his head upon a rock pillow. ia
cob had dream or vision. He beheld
a ladder reaching up to heaven, and
upon it the angels Of God ascending
and descending. But stranger still.
the Lord stood above it and spoke
unto the fugitive. not, as might be
supposed, with words Of condemna-
ton for his deceit and trickery, but
with words of cheer and promises Of
future greatness.
When Jacob left his home and start
ed his trip. he must have believed
himself to be alone in the world Nat
uraily a home-loving man, he must
have had some misgivings in his soul.
Perhaps he had begun to wonder
whether it had really paid him to be-
tray his father and brother. At any
rate. it is probable that his thoughts
were selfish and devoted only to his
az
He was unaware Of God by his side as
he trod the dusty roads and as he
placed his weary head upon the stone
pillow.
Here: upon the road to Paddan-
ery-that the Lord was there, just as
He had been present at the old family
altar. It is probable that he had
never doubted the theory Of Gods ON
nipresence. In the abstract he had
believed it. But it had not occurred
to him to apply his belief to the par
he awakes from his dream his first
thought is, Surely Jehovah is in this
place. and I knew it not" Why should
Jacob need this direct reminder of
Gods presence? Sometimes we are so
occupied with our daily tasks that
to forget Jacob had sinned against
his God as well as his brother. and the
idea Of God being with him was not
altogether pleasant.
But is is not uncommon for the hu-
man soul to fail to make concrete that
which in the abstract is very plain.
Jonah made the same blunder later
on He knew God was everywhere.
that he was in Joppa, and God in q
unique way taught him that He was
on the Mediterrnean. that he could
not escape from His presence. And
today we all believe in the sinfulness
of humanity. but we are quite hesi-
Etant to make the application a direct
and personal one. Yet what would it
mean to the world to live as if we
were truly aware Of the divine pres
ence? Would it not develop a greater
feeling Of caref9lness and personal
could steal. who could be profane in
His prfsence? As one writer has said.
The fool says In his heart there is
no God: Where we are most apt to
worst atheism Of tSay e that which
believes in God - . matter of creed,
and denies Him ais matter Of char