The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-05-19
Lesson for May %
JACOB AND EsAu REcoNcILED

LESSON TEXT-Genesis S3:1-11.
GOLDEN TEXT-And be ye kind one
to another, tenderhearted, forglvlng
one another. even as God for Chrisrs
sake hath forgiven you.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Two Brothers
Mnd a Quarrel.
Brother.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP"
1C-Righting Wrong.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP.
1C-Cultivating Peace at Home ana
Abroad.
From Bethel, Jacob went to Padan-
aram to his mothers people. Here he
served Laban, his uncle, for twenty
years; fourteen year for his wives,
Leah and Rachel. and six years for
certain wages.
I. Jacob Departs for Canaan
81 :11-2D.
The time had come for Jacob to 60
back to his kindred in the Land OF
Canaan. This he did according to the
Lords instruction to him ". 13).
Though going forward under divine
direction, his Jacob nature caused him
to take clandestine leave Of Laban.
When Laban realized the situation, he
went in hot pursuit of him, but God
appeared unto him in a dream and
warned him against any act Of vio-
lence toward Jacob. They formed a
compact and Laban returned home.
II. Jacobs Experience on the Way
(ch. 32).
Laban's return freed Jacob from the
enemy who was pursuing him, but he
faced a more formidable enemy in the
person of Esau from whose wrath he
had fled twenty years before.
l. Jacob meeting the angels wv.
49,. Two camps of angels met him
to give him the assurance that God
would be with him according to prom
Use. Notwithstanding this, Jacob
continued to scheme. He sent depu-
tation before him with a message Of
good cheer to Esau.
2. Jacob praying wv. 9-12). Esau
made no reply to Jacobs message, but
went forward with an army of four
hundred strong to met Jacob. In his
distress, Jacob cast himself upon God
in prayer, short, direct, and earnest.
a. He reminded God of his command
issued for his return and also Of the
covenant promise (Gen. 81 :3).
b. He pleads Gods promise as to
his personal safety ". 9, ct. Gen.
28:13-15, 31-33). In praying to God we
should definitely plead his promises
in his Word on the ground Of covenant
relationship in Christ.
c. He confesses his unworthiness
". 10Y. In this is shown the proper
spirit of humility.
d. He presents definite petitions
". ~. He laid before the Lord the
definite request to be delivered from
the wrath of Esau.
8. The angel of the Lord wrestling
with Jacob wv. 2432, CT. Hos.
1913, ~.
In Gods school of discipline Jacob
was making some Improvement, but he
was still 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. Accord
ingly, he sent presents ahead to APP
pease the anger of Esau. While on
this journey man met him and wres-
tied with him, but Jacob knew not
who he was. 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 that 1t was the Lord manifest in
human form. He did not dare enter
the promised land under the control Of
his self-sufficiency. His self-will must
be broken-his Jacob nature must be
changed. He was humbled by the dis
location of his thigh. When thus hum
bled, he quit wrestling and chung to
Ged.
4. Jacob gets a new name ". 2S).
He was no longer Jacob the Sup
planter" but Israel, prince with
God" Jacob had an experience at the
,Jabbok which wrought mighty change
in him. His new name was given him
after he had a new nature. Jacob
came to realize that he had been
struggling with God, for he called the
place "Peniel," which means "face to
face with God" Jacob wrestled most
Of the night with God, but it was only
when he yielded and laid hold of God
that he got the blessing.
III. Jacob Meets Esau (33 lily.
God had evident wrought with Esau
for when Jacob approached him the
sting Of bitterness was gone. 1t was
not Jacobs scheming that removed
Esau's anger, but the action of God
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. 1t is easy to get right with
our brother when once we are right
with God.