The Arvada enterprise., 1918-11-14
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER II
JACOB FLEEING FROM HIS ANGRY
BROTHER.


to send Jacob away was mixed one.
She realized that Esnu's anger was hot
against Jacob. even to the point where
he was likely to kill him. She further
knew that justice would have to be
meted out to him. and thus she would
be bereft of them both. Then. too,
she realized that II Jacob remained
In that land he would likely marry n
heather woman and thus defeat Gods
purpose regarding the covenant nation.
This latter she pressed upon Isaac as
q motive for sending him away.
.. Jacobs Flight ". 10).
He was fleeing from his outraged
brother. His flight was necessary to
save his life. He seems not to have
gone the common rond. so us to be less
likely overtaken by Esau, should he
pursue him. Through forced march he
reaches Bethel. u spot nearly fifty
miles away. by nightfall.
II. Jacobs Vision wv. HID.
Jacobs soul was peculiarly tested.
He had to leave home and mother. On
the way to Hnran night Overtakes him.
and he Is obliged to sleep In field
with stone for his pillow and the
canopy of heaven for a covering. 1t
was under such circumstances that the
Lord gave him the wonderful vision Mt
Bethel. Many times the rough expert
ences and severe trials Of life help us
on toward God. Luxury and heavenly
visions do not usually 20 together.
This finds Illustration In John on Put
mos; Stephen looking into heaven
while being stoned, and John Bunyan
in Bedford jail.
1. He saw ladder reaching from
earth to henven ". 12).
This suggests means Of cOmmuni-
cation between earth and heaven, be.
tween man and God. 1t showed Jacob
TINT In spite of his awful SIN there
was way to heaven for him. Jesus
Christ Is the ladder connecting earth
and heaven for us (John l :5l; 14:0;
Hebrews 1O:l0. 2O). In the incarna
tion Jesus Christ descended to earth,
lowest depth and made way upon
which human feet might climb tC
heaven. Fortunate are they who In
the times Of carth's trials discern this
ladder!
2. He saw angels Of God upon thu
ladder ". 12).
They were ascending and descending
upon this ladder. These angels were
the divine helpers to render needed A.
sistance along life's why. Though un
seen. Gods angels guide and prOtec,
US on our earthly pilgrimage. They
ascend unto the Father with our needs
and descend unto US with Gods reply
Christ In real man. md no Gun idcn
tify himself with us: he IN the yer,
God. really divine. and NO is able to M
US to God and secure our recOncilia
tiOn with him.
3. lie saw the Lord standing above
the lndder (vv. 1870.
To show Jacob that the ladtcr did
not merely rcnch into space. the per
sonal God appeared and talked with
| him. His message IL filled with inn
mite grace. ~ He declared the God
Of Abraham and Isnnc ". I3).
thus assuring Jacob that the same
hand TINT guided his fathers was over
him. (2) He renewed the covenant ns
to the lnnd ". 13). Though jacob was
now fleeing from the land. yet the
covenant would not fall. for Jacob nnd
his seed should possess II. (3) As.
surcd him Of u numerous seed ". 10.
They would sprcnd abroad to the
north, md south. and cast. ind west
D The divine presence with the wan.
dcring Jnc0b ". 1S). Though he hnd
sInned md wns rcnpIng whnt he hnd
sown, yet God wns with him.
~. Jacobs Vow wv. 1922.
Gods grncl0us visitation provoked
jacob To mike n vow. Ench sight of
God should cniisc us to renew our oh.
ligniIon to him. His vow included three
things: % Dedication Of himself 10
God ". 12). This is the first thing TO
do. our gifts nrc nm nbomlnntiOn while
the life Is withheld from God. (2) wor.
ship established wv. 1s. 1g. "This
stone shall be Gods house" Worship
nlwnys follows dedication Of ones self
to God. There In personal communion
between God and those who Worship
him. CO Conservation OF his sub.
finncc. OF his possessions ". 22).
Those who have fellowship with Gcd
recognize Gods clnlm upon their pos.
sessions. Gods grace should c0DstrnIn
nssto CIV" Of our substance 10 him.