T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
159
right; in marrying a heathen woman; and in hating his brother. Isaac sinned in the way in which he raised his family; in drifting into a sensuous, selfish life; in violating God’s or
(5 ) Is the presence of God always comforting or con demning? (6) Why did Jacob pledge a tenth to God? (7 ) What proportion of Christians do you think give God a tenth? A careful study of the chapter will reveal that the four parties engaged in the transaction were all of them in the wrong in some point or other: 1 Isaac, the father, should have remembered that at the time of the birth of the children the COMMENTS blessing was promised to Jacob. He FROM THu should not, therefore, have made pre- COMMENTARIES paration to give it to Esau. Isaac was V. V. Morgan evidently also wrong in assuming that the time of his death had come, which, in point of fact, did not come until forty years afterwards, —William Evans. Isaac’s part in the history here recorded is sometimes overlooked, and yet it is evident that he was in large meas ure responsible for the sad results. It is perfectly clear that he knew of the purposes of God concerning his younger son1 (25 :23 ), and yet here we find him endeavoring to thwart that purpose by transferring the blessing from the one for whom it was evidently designed. This partiality for Esau, combined with his own fleshly ap petite led the patriarch into grievous sin, and we cannot but observe how his action set fire to the whole train of evils that followed in the wake of his proposal.—W. H Griffith Thomas. Rebekah, the mother, was in the wrong in the deceitful and hypocritical means she resorted to in order to bring about the result which she desired; namely, the bestowal of the birthright blessing upon her favorite son.—William Evans. Her object was to preserve for Jacob the blessing that God intended for him. Her design, therefore, was perfectly legitimate, and there can be very little doubt that it was inspired by a truly religious motive. She thought that the purpose of God was in danger, and that there was no other way of preventing a great wrong being done. It was a crisis in her life and in that of Jacob, and she was pre pared to go the entire length of enduring the Divine curse so long as her favourite son could retain the blessing that God intended for him. Yet when all this is said, and it should be continually borne in mind, the sin of Rebekah’c act was utterly inexcusable. We may account for it, but we cannot justify it.—W. H. Griffith Thomas. Esau was grievously wrong in this transaction in that he had despised this birthright, and hence had forfeited the right to the birthright blessing. It was not until ha saw the unhappy results that came from the light estimate he had put upon divine blessing that he was sorry for what' he had done. The New Testament (Hebrews 12: 16. 17) makes use of this incident to warn us against treating lightly the blessings of God. The “repentance” spoken of in Hebrews 12 is not gospel repentance, and no argument that a man may sometimes in life desire to repent but will not be able to do so should be based on this incident. What Esau failed to do was not to find true repentance, but to find any way by which he might change his father’s mind and get him to transfer the blessing, which he had already given to Jacob, to him. Jacob’s wrong in this transaction consisted in the fact that he took advantage of his brother’s weakness, and used wrong means to bring about a right end. Further, he should have waited God’s time for the bringing about of the fulfillment of the promise of the birthright blessing—Will iam Evans.
der and allowing his wife to dominate him. (B ) THE PILGRIM LIFE, Ch. 28:1-22.
Jacob cannot stay in the home, so his mother pleads with Isaac and with Jacob, both selfish pleas (27 :41 -46 ). It is decided that Jacob is to go to Laban’s home and secure a wife, staying there until the coast is clear for his return. Jacob has showed the seed of deceit and must pay the pen alty. He deceived his father and is to be deceived by his father-in-law. He has before him years of hardship and suffering for his sin. Jacob departed, taking nothing but his staff. Contrast the departure of Jacob with that of Eliezer when he went to get a wife for Isaac. Jacob goes alone,— a despised, friendless wanderer— homeless and helpless. His sin is bearing its first fruit. He had bought a birth right for a mess of pottage, procured a blessing by deceit, but neither of them proved to be a blessing now. He is weary and distressed. When night comes he makes a' bed on Mother Earth, with a stone for a pillow. Tossing upon his hard bed, conscience-striken, sore at heart, he is getting the a, b, c, of the lessons which await him before he can be called a prince. Those who seek soft snaps are likely to have tough times. Jacob cannot get beyond God’s vision. He knows it all. He saw the sleeping wanderer, knows his sorrow, and— as He has promised— will bless him. Jacob is undeserving, but God is observing. Jacob is a sinner; God is a Saviour.' Jacob is guilty, but God is gracious. Jacob sleeps, but God is sleepless. He dreams, and there are four things in that dream which are worthy of note: (1 ) “Behold, a ladder”— a means of communication— planted on the earth (where man is) and reaching to Heaven (where God is). Earth and Heaven are united. Man did not set the ladder up. It typifies Christ,— the hu manity of Christ on earth; the Deity of Christ, heavenly. John 1:51 illustrates this. The one thing essential for man is a means of access to heaven. (2 ) “Behold, angels,” using the ladder (Jesus) as the means of bringing blessing to men (Psa. 103:20; 34 :7 ). (3 ) “Behold, the Lord.” He is there— above. From above is the source of mercy. Below is the object of mercy. Here is the first intimation we have that .Heaven is to be the home of man. A five-fold promise Is given to Jacob: “The land— yours.” “The land— thy seed’s.” “Thy seed as the dust.” “Thou shall spread abroad.” “In thee shall all be blessed." (4) “Behold, I am with thee.” (Matt. 28:20; Josh. 1 :5 ). Jacob awakened to the consciousness of God’s presence. His conscience is sin-burdened. Any place is dreadful where sin is. He recognized God’s claims, turned the pillow of stone into a pillar of memorial. The oil was a type of the Holy Spirit. The promise of God to all believers is Companionship__ Protection— Sustenance and Favor. Topics for Study (1 ) Is there danger in trifling with God’s offers of Heaven? (2 ) Is the doctrine of the Roman church that “The end justifies the means” false, and can you prove it? (3 ) Who was the greatest sinner of these four? (4) Are God’s laws unchangeable? And is there any ex ception?
Made with FlippingBook HTML5