The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-06-03

company moving across the plain.
Labon had reason to be suspicious
both from what he knew he would
himself have been doing and from
what he knew of his daughters. Jacob
faced him on the borders of Canaan
with an outburst of indignation that
seems to have completely cowed the
elder member and they covenanted to
keep apart in the future. On top of
this successful venture Jacob had an
other vision of angels-he was in the
mood to see Gods hosts comprising
him. But there was speedy distrust of
their efficiency. That old wrong arose
to plague him after twenty years of
silence. Esau was coming to meet
him with 400 warriors. When it came
to fight he had never been a match
for his brother of the sling and spear
and bow, and if the settlement was to
be upon the basis of that brothers
choosing, there was need indeed.
When it comes to a choice between
God and guns we are still prone to
take the guns as measure of de-
Tense, and Jacob lost sight completely
of Goods host" To be sure he pray
ed quite creditable prayer, but he
set to work to answer it by his old
shrewd tactics. He prayed for deliv-
erance but expected attack. Didn't he
divide the company so he would save
part of it any way? Then he ar
ranged his gift in the most attractive
way for making its impression upon
the mind of Esau who would see more
fat cattle than sterile Edom had pro-
duced in all his years of ranging over
it. And after his planning was done
he sent his dearest over the brook to-
ward Esau-he hadn't a doubt in his
mind that his scheme would work.
Staying behind that nothing might
be untouched and left in the darkness
he had the battle of his life. Was
this the road to the headship of the
spirit? Would God accept its gaining
by guile? Like the man in Hall
Gaines story who fought the pursu-
ing Troll until he had him at his
mercy, and through a rift of cloud
beam fell upon the features of his
antagonist and he saw his own face,
so Jacobs struggle was with the God
in his own soul, and when dawn came
and "tripper up" went down before
Israel" who yielded all to his Lord,
there dawned a new day for the peo-
pie of promise.
THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN.
Having mastered himself, all other
conquests were easy. The hold of the
material was broken, the physical
side limped, but the spirit strobe to
the meeting with his wronged brother
with acknowledgment of his rights
and the Punishment of the old spirit
of family feudism. Esau makes a
fine figure, too, in this new day of
reconciliation, and Canaan has new
start in the cementing of the old
unions. And later they Joined hands
at the grave of their wronged father.
Gods love, like the tide upon the
beach, washes out all the filth and
covers all inequalities. Differences
die when He enters the heart.
But Jacob had long journey be-
fore attaining the heights of life.
Coming into the rich valleys about
Shechem there was increase of focks
and business opportunity too tempt
ing to be passed and the caravan tar
ried for many day. Trouble and sin
drove them out at last and he set his
face once more toward his place of
dreams, Bethel. And then to his sur
prise he found that in his home were
the clinging idolatries that he had
supposed discarded with Jabbok. He
had to carry his family with him if he