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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
other, to show that hereafter, they would keep the peace with each other. They called the stone a watch-tower to remind them of their promise to each other. Memory Verso: “The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.” Gen. 31:49.
“My Lord, Esau,” and spoke of himself as “Thy servant, Jacob.” In doing this, he recognized Esau as the elder brother and the possessor of the birthright, and himself as Esau’s servant. Fear possessed him. He remembered his sin against Esau and knew that Esau had just cause against him. His conscience (that silent messenger) was at work with him. j “Conscience doth make cowards of us all” is a true saying. Jacob knew that Esau and 400 men were coming towards him, and could not believe that he meant anything but harm. He judged Esau by himself, and so planned to outwit him. He divided his company into two parties, so that if the first was smitten the other could escape. After planning, he prayed. He was a very human man. Most of our mistakes come from planning before praying. Jacob plead with God as the “covenant-keeping God, the God of Abraham and Isaac” (Gen. 28:13; 31:3-13) and in these verses we have the true elements of prayer: The covenant name, the promises of God, confession of un worthiness, God’s faithfulness, seeking deliverance and quoting God’s promises. It was both a natural and a spiritual prayer. It was a confession of four things,— God’s worth (which is wor ship); his own unworthiness; his want, and God’s Word; but it lacked three things,— a confession of his sin; sub mission to God’s will, and faith in God’s power. After prayer he still plans and schemes. He looked to God and then used diptomacy. He believes God, but cannot trust Him. There is quite a contrast between belief and trust. He forgets his prayer and again plans. Esau was not moved by his presents and returned them. Jacob was not yet in the proper condition of heart to meet Esau. He should have had confidence in Jehovah, who had fulfilled His promise to him; but God did not fail him in spite of his unbelief. (3) PREVAILING AT PENIEL, 32: 24-32 “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel,” v. 28. Here is a remarkable night scene (v. 24) “A n d J a c o b w a s l e f t a lo n e ; a n d th e r e w r e s tle d a m a n w ith h im n n tll th e b r e a k in g o f t h e d a y .” Jacob had sent the two bands before him and they had crossed the stream. All is arranged for the morning march. Jacob is alone. It is riight. God has arranged a meeting between Himself and Jacob. He will prepare him for the crisis. Jacob had planned and prayed and planned, yet his heart was filled with fear. He thinks he must go over the brook all alone. Suddenly, a man lays hold of him. Per haps he thinks it is Esau. He grapples with him and the wrestle begins. It is the man who wrestles with Jacob; not Jacob who was the aggressor. It is God manifest in the flesh (Hos. 12:4) “ Y e a , h e h a d p o w e r o v e r th e a n g e l a n d p r e v a ile d ; h e w e p t, a n d m a d e s u p p lic a tio n u n to h im ; h e fo u n d h im in B e th e l a n d th e r e h e s p a k e w ith u s ; E v e n th e L o rd G od o f .h o s t s ; t h e L o rd is h is m e m o ria l.” Jacob must be broken down. His will must be sur rendered to thé will of God. It is not an easy thing for God to break the will of man. The souls of tens of thou sands of men are in jeopardy today because they will not surrender to God’s invitation to come and be saved; and thousands of Christians are fighting against God’s will con cerning their lives and their service, and will not sur render. It was an all-night struggle. It is always night for us when we fight against God’s will. As the morning light came, God struck Jacob’s thigh:—the seat of physical force for a wrestler. They had been well watched in the strug-
DECEMBER 23, 1923 JACOB, THE SUPPLANTER Genesis, Chapters 32, 33
Golden Text: “And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel; for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Gen. 32:30. Outline: (1 ) Pleading the Promise, 32:1-12. (2 ) Planning to Propitiate Esau, 32:13-23. (3 ) Prevailing at Peniel, and Parting with Esau, 32: 24-32 and Ch. 33. Introduction: Jacob is free from Laban’s bondage. With his wives, his children, his servants and his stock, he is on his way to the old home,— but— ! There is always some question confronting us, and so it was with Jacob. But,— how about Esau? EXPOSITION Jacob is confident that he has been under _ .God’s eye— that God who had made T. . Horton marvellous promises to him and fulfilled them to the letter. He has paid a big price for his sin and he now confronts a new problem. How about Esau? What will he do? What will God do? (1 ) PLEADING THE PROMISE, 32:1-12 “And thou has’ said, I will surely do thee good and make thy seed as the sands of the sea,” v. 12. God’s grace is manifested again unto him. God’s hosts met him. Angels are God’s ministering servants, as we learned in the vision of the ladder, when Jacob pillowed his head upon the stones and God manifested His love for him, and gave him the wonderful assurance for the future. Angels are not superior in position to God’s saints, but are inferior. They can never occupy the position of the sons of God (Heb. 1:14) “ A re th e y n o t a ll m in is te r in g s p ir its , s e n t f o r th to m in is te r to th e m w h o s h a ll b e h e ir s o f s a lv a tio n ? ” (1 Pet. 1:12; Psa. 34:7) What we need is to have the message of Elisha in our behalf. (2 Kings 6:17) “ A n d E lis h a p ra y e d , a n d s a id , L o rd , I p r a y th e e , o p e n h is e y e s t h a t h e m a y s e e . A n d th e L o rd o p e n e d th e e y e s o f th e y o u n g m a n ; a n d h e s a w ; a n d , b e h o ld , th e m o u n ta in w a s f u ll o f h o rs e s a n d c h a r io ts .o f fire ro u n d a b o u t E lis h a .” By faith we see the unseen, the invisible messengers of Jehovah. In the Twenty-third Psalm we have the most beautiful illustration of God’s provision for His own. The Shepherd going before, and the attending angels,— Good ness and Mercy— following behind. Jacob calls this meeting place “Mahanaim” (two camps, or two hosts— God’s and his own). At Bethel he erected a stone (Gen. 28:17", 18). Here he is to have another experience of God’s grace and purpose toward him. (2 ) PLANNING TO PROPITIATE ESAU, 32:13-23 “A present for Esau, his brother,” v. 13. Before praying, Jacob planned. This gives us an insight into his character. He was shrewd. He knew Esau and he knew Esau’s just cause for hatred of him and, like a cunning sinner, he planned to appease him. He first sent some servants to Interview Esau, to sound . him, and tell him what a rich man he was. He called him
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