The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-05-12

GOLDEN TEXT-And, behold, ] am
with thee, and will keep thee in all
places whittier thou goest, and Will
bring thee again into this land; for I
VIII not leave thee. until I have done
that which have spoken to thee Of.
Strange Place.
JUNIOR ToPIc-Jacob Makes .
Great Discovery.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
1C-What Jacob Learned at Bethel.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
1C-Face to Face With God.
!. Jacobs Flight ". 10).
1. The occasion or :3446). Jacob
had by deceit and trickery secured
Isaac's blessing. Because Of this,
Esau determined to kill Jacob as soon
AZ his father was dead. When Re-
bekah realized that Esau's anger was
hot against Jacob, even to the point
where he was likely to kill him, she
urged him to flee to her brother
Laban. Rebekah had a mixed mo-
tive. She not only realized that re-
manning at home meant death, but she
realized that If Jacob remained in
that land, he would likely marry a
heather woman and thus defeat Gods
purpose regarding the covenant ma
ton. This latter she pressed upon
Isaac as a motive for sending Jacob
away. Isaac at once recognized the
wisdom Of her suggestion. Isaac, alive
to Jacobs destiny, issued his COM
mand as to marriage and bestowed
upon him the covenant blessing which
had come from God Almighty to
Abraham (Gen. IT'D. This covenant
(Gen. 2S:1-4) embraced:
a. A numerous offspring ". 81.
b. Possession of the promised land
". ~.
C. Everything included in the Abra-
hamic Covenant ". ~.
2. The journey ". 10). He went to-
ward Haran. He was fleeing from an
outraged brother In order to save his
own life.
a. Be sure your sin will find you
out. Jacob deceived his father. He,
in turn, was deceived by his children.
b. Wrong home life has its perils.
Isaac knew that the blessing was to
be Jacobs yet he planned for Esau to
have the place Of pre-eminence. He
was willing for the sake of little
venison to give to Esau that which
God had planned for Jacob.
II. Jacobs Vision wv. 11-15).
Jacobs soul was peculiarly tested.
He had to leave home and mother. On
the way to Haran night overlook him
and he was obliged to sleep in field
with a stone for his pillow and the
canopy Of heaven for a covering. It
was under such circumstances that
the Lord gave him the wonderful
vision at Bethel.
l. He saw q ladder reaching from
earth to heaven ". 12). This sug-
gests a means Of communication be-
tween earth and heaven, between man
and God. It showed Jacob that in
spite of his awful sin there was a
way to heaven for him. Jesus Christ
is the ladder connecting earth and
heaven for us John 1 81; 14-6; Heb.
1919, 2O).
2. He saw angels of God upon the
ladder ". 12). They were ascending
and descending upon this ladder.
These angels were the divine helpers
to render needed assistance along
life's way (Heb. 1:14). Though un-
seen, Gods angels guide and protect
us on our earthly pilgrimage.
8. He saw the Lord standing above
the ladder wv. 1910. To show
Jacob that the ladder did not merely
reach into space, the personal God ap-
peared and talked with him.
a. He declared that he was the God
Of Abraham and Isaac ". 13), thus
assuring Jacob that the same hand
that guided his fathers was over him.
b. He renewed the covenant as to
the land ". 49,. Though Jacob was
now fleeing from the land, and yet he
would return and his seed should yet
possess it.
c. He assured him Of numerous seed
". 14). His descendants would spread
abroad-north, south, east, west.
d. The divine presence to be with
Jacob ". 15). God promised not to
leave him till the covenant promise
should be fulfilled.
Ill. Jacobs Vow wv. 1929.
Gods gracious visitation provoked
Jacob to make vow. He set up as
a monument the stone which he had
had for pillow. He named the place
Bethel" which means "the house Of
God" His vow included:
i. The dedication of himself to God
". 2D.
2. The establishment of worship
wv. IS, 1917. He declared that this
stone should be Gods house.
3. The conservation of his posses
sions ". 22). He obligated himself
to give back to God one-tenth of all
that was given him.
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