THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NE S S
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For the Children T w o B rothers M ake U p G enesis 33: 1-4, 8-11
Points and Problems 1. "And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost" (Gen. 33:2). Jacob had but recently looked into the face of God (32:30), but now he feared to look into the face of Esau. His name, had been changed at Peniel (32:28), but after that experience we discover that the old name “Jacob” is used more often than his new name “Israel.” Why is this? Doubtless because Jacob went back from the new spiritual position gained at Peniel. Now, as he plans to meet his brother Esau, his scheming is evidence that he is living too much in the energy of the flesh and not enough in the power of the Spirit. There is solemn warning in Jacob’s action here. After conversion (Bethel) and dedication of life, (Peniel), it is still possible for a child of God to be come disobedient to the heavenly vision. 2. "What meanest thou by all this drove which I met?” (v. 8). In verses eight to eleven we have a beautiful illustration of the nature of God’s grace. Jacob had thought to obtain favor from his brother by a gift from his own hands. Esau informed him that his gift was not needed; he had enough without it. Favor was not to be paid for that way; it was granted freely^ Then Jacob, realizing that he had found grace with his brother, in sisted upon giving a present in ap preciation of the blessings of that grace. This Esau received. It is the same as far as God’s grace is con cerned. No gift or work can purchase it. Nothing in his hands can the sin ner bring to merit it. It comes al together out of the heart of God. But when once the sinner has received the free grace of God, God delights to receive his offerings of praise and service and substance. Never must this order be reversed. 3. "He came . . . and pitched his tent before the city" (v. 18). Like Lot be fore him, Jacob pitched his tent in the wrong direction. He became too closely identified with the wicked in habitants of the land. The succeeding chapter tells the sad result. He should have pitched his tent closer to Bethel. No individual or home will achieve spiritual victory unless the “tent” of life is pitched toward the house of God.
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MEMORY VERSE: “Be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another” (Eph. 4:32). AIM: To teach that those who love the Lord J e s u s will be willing to quickly forgive t h o s e who have wronged them. APPROACH: Do you know some boy or girl whose friend did something to make him or her a n g r y many months ago? Perhaps that child has never spoken to the friend since, when they should have forgiven one another and been happy together all this time. A boy or girl who belongs to the Lord Jesus will be willing to forgive- one who has wronged him, for this is God’s command to His children. LESSON STORY: Isaac, the peace maker, had two sons who had been very angry with one another. Jacob, the son who dreamed about the lad der reaching into heaven, had left home because he f e a r e d that his brother Esau would kill him. For many years the two brothers had not seen one another. At last Jacob and his family and flocks decided to re turn home. Before they arrived, Jacob saw Esau coming toward them with four hun dred men. He t h o u g h t that his biother was coming to punish him and became frightened. Quickly he ran ahead of his family and bowed before Esau seven times to show that he was willing to obey him. Rather than being a n g r y as Jacob had thought he would be, Esau ran to meet him and threw his arms around him and kissed him. The brothers were so happy to see one another that they wept for joy. Jacob had sent many animals from his h e r d s and flocks as a gift to Esau to keep him from being angry. Esau did not want any gift; he wanted to make peace just because he loved his brother. Jacob was so glad that Esau was willing to forgive him that he insisted that his brother take the gift. Would it not have been sad if one of the brothers had refused to make up'? Boys and girls who love the Lord Jesus Christ will be willing to for give their enemies and to forget the wrong things that they have done.
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