The Jasper news., 1918-11-21
IMPROVED uNIroRM NTERNArloNAb
.SUNINYSC[lOOL
LESSON
(By REV. p. b. F1THWATER, d. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
Copyright, 1s1s,. Western Newspaper
Union.l
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER "a
JACOB AND EsAU REcoNcILEp.

s-as:28.
From Bethel, Jacob went to Padan-
Oram to his mothers people. Here he
served Laban for twenty years-four-
teen years for his wives and six years
for certain wages. In his dealings
with Laban he finds his match-two
schemers get together-"diamond cuts
diamond"
I. Jacob Departs for Canaan (31:
I121).
The time had come for Jacob to
go back to his kindred in the land OF
Canaan. The Lord instructed him so
to do ". 13). Though going forward
under 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,
but God appeared unto him in dream
and warned him against any act of vi
olence toward Jacob. They formed a
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
behind, but he faced more formida-
ble one In the person Of Esau.
1. Jacob meeting the angels ". -.
Two camps of angels met him to
give him the assurance that God would
be with him according to his promise.
Notwithstanding this, he continued to
scheme. He sent a. deputation with
message of good cheer to Esau.
2. Jacob praying wv. 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 a fine specimen of
effectual prayer. It is short, direct.
and earnest. (1) He reminds God OF
his command issued for his return,
and also Of the covenant promise
(31 :3). Surely God would not issue
| q command and then leave him in such
a strait. (2) Pleads Gods promise
as to his personal safety ". 8, cf.
Genesis % 1915, 31-33). In our pray
ing we should definitely plead Gods
promises in his word, on the ground
of covenant relationship in Christ.
| (3) Confesses unworthiness ". 10).
In this he shows the proper spirit Of
humility. (4) Presents definite petit
tions ". 11). he lays before the Lord
the definite request to be delivered
from the wrath Of Esau.
8. The angel of Jehovah wrestling
With Jacob (32 :24-32).
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 scheming
would render God some assistance.
Accordingly, he sent presents ahead
to appease the anger Of Esau. Whi!o
icurneying along, a man met him and
wrestled with him, but Jacob knew not
who he was. Perhaps he thought that
Easu had pounced upon him in the
tark. 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 1t was Jehovah manifest In hu-
man form. This is the second crisis
IN Jacobs life. He did not dare to
enter the promised land under the con-
troll of his self.sufficlency; his selfish
VIII must be 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, 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
tCre before we can enter the place Of
blessing. Jacob came to realize that
he had been struggling with God, for
he called the place "Peniel," which
means "face to face with God"
III. Jacob Meets Esau (S9:1-11).
God had evidently wrought with
Esau, for when Jacob approached him
the sting of bitterness was gone. It
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 he met. Esau 1t 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.