Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1942-08-20

Deception, trickery, falsehood.
jealousy were all present in the FAM
lily of Isaac at the time of our les
son. A hopeless situation, one would
say: and so it was. apart from one
thirg the grace of God. We speak
that phrase SO easily. but in reality
it has an infinite depth of meaning.
Jacob shared the deception
planned by his mother, and thereby
he received the blessing of Esau.
Not willing to wait Gods time for
the carrying out of His purpose. they
sinned to gain an advantage. Then
to escape the wrath of Esau. he
had to fee The journey was os-
tensibly to find a wife, but in fact
a fight from an enraged brother.
Could such a journey bring man
to a place of blessing? 1t did. as
there was
1. A Revelation of Gods Grace
(vv. 1919.
The fugitive was overtaken by
darkness on the second night of his
journey, and made his bed in the
open. Then came the magnificent
vision of the ladder to heaven.
Heaven and earth are not separat
ed. There is a way to reach the
throne of God, and there is way
for God to reach and bless His peo-
pie. The vision of the ladder thus
treasured Jacob. We need only re-
member the Goodman Christ Jesus.
who came from glory and has re-
turned there to now appear as our
Advocate. to be assured of this fact
God renewed to Jacob the cove
nant with Abraham and with Isaac
He does not forget. Men make
treaties only to break them God
says, II will not leave thee. until !
have done that which have spoken
to thee Of ". l5).
In His matchless grace God re-
lieved Jacobs fear by. assuring him
of His protection; his loneliness by
His divine presence: and his uncer
tainty regarding the future by the
promise of blessing.
The response of Jacob was
n. A Reeli.atiop of Gods Great
ness tvv 1917
Fl.ll Of holy fear and of awe.
Jacob realized the presence of the
infinite God. 1t is a proper and
wholesome reaction when a man.
realizing himself to be in Gods pres
ence. is overcome by the awe-inspir-
ing experience.
Possibly the reason for our lack OF
reverence for holy things. for the
Lords day-yes, for God Himself.
is because He has become little
God, weak and uninspiring in our
thinking. Theologians, preachers.
and teachers have dared to speak
swelling words of disrespect con-
corning His miraculous power. have
denied the deity of His Son. have
questioned the authority of His
Word. Having sown the wind of I'M
belief, they have reaped from the
people the whirlwind of irreverence.
a belittling of God. and a rejection
of His authority (Hos. SD.
Jacob was reminded of Gods i'm
mediate presence the Lord is in
this place" The place of his vision
of heavenly things had special
meaning to Jacob.
But the underlying truth is that
God is everywhere. He is not only
in the church, or in the place Of
vision or of soul-struggle; He is also
in the place of trial, of suffering,
of sorrow, of loneliness-yes, even
of sin. The thing that Jacob found
out that night was not that God
visits man, but that God is with
man wherever he is. We expect to
meet Him in the sanctuary; but He
is near us in the market place :.
Not alone in the sanctuary, but
where the multitude gather in de-
fiance of His law, He is there" &C.
Campbell Morgan).
This rich experience led Jacob to-
III. A Recognition of Gods Good
ness (vv. 20-22).
The God who would supply his
every need. who would watch over
him and keep him, was recognized
by Jacob as being worthy of his de-
votion, and he made a vow that He
should be his God ". 81.
The grace and goodness OF God
are intended to bring men to faith,
in Him and devotion to His service
Yet men can go on year after year,
the beneficiaries of all His bounty,
and never so much as say Thank
you," let alone recognize Him as
Lord.
Jacob made very practical and
workable decision to demonstrate
the reality Of his vow. He promised
that one tenth Of all God gave him
should be given back.
We agree with Dr. W H. .Griffith
Thomas that 'if only some Of those
who are inclined to criticize Jacob
would do what he promised and
give tenth of their income to God.
a different state of affairs would
obtain in connection with Gods work
at home and abroad"
Trickery and deception were
changed to truthfulness and devo
tioy1 uhen Jacoh mot God fac<, -ss<I