The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-11-21
IMPROVED UNIP0RM INTERNATIONAL
SUNl6YS01O0L
LESSON
(By REV. =. b. FITZWATER, d. d.,
Teacher OF English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute OF Chicago)
Copyright, 1918, Western Newspaper
Union.)
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER "a
JACOB AND EsAU REcoNclLED.


GOLDEN TEXT-A soft answer turncth
away wrath.-Proverbs l5l.
DEVOTIONAL READING-Psalms 90.
ADDITIONAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT 81:
3-33:2S.
From Bethel, Jacob went to Padan-
i -am to his mothers people. Here he
served Laban for twenty years-four-
teen years for his wives and six years
70, certain wages. In his dealings
With Laban he finds his match-two
schemers get together-"dlamond cuts
diamond"
1. Jacob Departs for Canaan (31 ::
iI-2D.
The time had come for jacob to
60 back to his kindred In the land OF
Canaan. The Lord instructed him so
- do w. 13). Though going forward
u..der the direction Of God, his Jacob
nature caused him to take clandestlne
leave Of Laban. When Laban realized
the situation he went in hot pursuit,
bat God appeared unto him In dream
and warned him against any act or VI
nence toward Jacob. They formed a
compact and Laban returned home.
II. Jacob on the Way (chapter BY
Laban's return freed Jacob from
.he enemy who was pursuing him from
'efind, but he faced n more formida-
lie one in the person of Esau.
/, 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 sent deputaton with a
message of good cheer to Esau.
2, Jacob praying wv. o-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
n prayer. This Is fine specimen Of
effcctual prayer. It Is short, direct,
and earnest. (D He reminds God of
his command issued for his return,
ard also of the covenant promise
(31 :3). Surely God would not issue
u command and then leave him In such
a strait. (2) Pleads Gods promise
40 to his personal safety ". 8, cf
Genesis 2S 1915, 31-33). In our pray
Ing we should definitely plead Gods
promises In his word, on the ground
# covenant relationship in Christ.
6, Confesses unworthiness ". 10Y.
In this he shows the proper spirit OF
humility. (4) Presents definite peti-
t'Cns ". 1D. He lays before the Lord
the definite request to be delivered
from the wrath Of Esau.
3. The angel of Jehovah wrestling
With Jacob go :24-32).
In Gods school Of discipline, ia
cob is making some Improvement, but
stlll he is under the sway Of self
WI and self-trust. Though he had
hid 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
icUrneying along, man met him and
vrestled with him, hut Jacob knew not
Who he was. Perhaps he thought that
Fasu had pounced upon him in the
,'ark. He eXerted every ounce of
strength in what ne thought was the
struggle for his very life. The morn'
ing was approaching, and still the
wrestlers continued, Jacob not know
ing 1t was Jehovah manifest in hui
unn form. This Is the second crisis
in Jacobs life. He did not dare to
enter the promised land under the con-
tro. of his self.sunlclency; his selfish
VIII must be broken; his Jacob-nature
must he changed God humbled him
by dlslocatlng 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 a new name ". 2S).
He was no longer Jacob the sup
planter; but Israel, prince Of God.
His new name was given him after
he had new nature. He came face
to face with God, and face to face
with himself, and fought the battle to
finish We must have the new ma
iLre before we can enter the place of
blessing. Jacob came to realize that
he had been struggling with God, for
hn called the place 'Penlel," which
means face to face with God"
~. Jacob Meets Esau 33:1-1D.
God had evidently wrought with
ESau, for when Jacob approached him
The sting of bitterness was gone. 1t
vas 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 he met Esau it was an easy
matter to get right with him. When
We are right with God 1t Is an easy
matter to get right with our brother.
Tendency Toward Religion.