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heritage of power and position in the days to come. Esau fell into this snare because he was a “profane” person. The Eng lish term and the Greek word which it represents both mean “one who is outside the sanctuary”—one standing upon common or unconsecrated ground. This is the secret of all such unholy and unhappy transactions. Had the life been dedicated to God, had the man but dwelt “in the secret place of the Most High,” the unhallowed bargain would never have b^en struck, had it ever been for a moment contemplated. Men and women who sell their birthright bring upon themselves a grievous burden of regret and shame. Esau “found no place for repentance”— that is, for a change of mind as regarded the birthright-^the deed was done, and could riot be undone; the pottage was bought and consumed, and the heart-breaking price had to be paid; the sin might be forgiven, but the consequences were ir remediable. Let his unavailing tears be a warning to each one of us. There is a Jacob—a Supplanter—-ever on the watch to induce us, in our hours of weakness, to sell our birthrights • he does not hesitate to tell us that all will be well, somehow, and that we shall be no losers in the end. But he is the Father of Lies: pray we, therefore, for grace that we may suffer hunger, of whatever kind, rather than listen to his inridious suggestions. JACOB dearly loved a bargain, witness his transaction with Esau. He had no idea of giving anything for nought—there must be a visible' profit to himself in all his dealings. He brought this principle, as many men do, int -i his very religion. If God would do all manner of things for him, then He should be his God, and he would render Him both service and tithes. Jacob had had a vision of angels that night, but how little he knew of the LORD by Whom they had been sent. God will not purchase our adhesion with gifts, nor will He be bribed into bestowing upon us His blessing. “Doth .Job fear God for nought?” asked Satan upon one occasion. He had no con ception of the possibility of such disinterested devotion, and there are multitudes of men under the same delusion as he. To them religion is a means of obtaining endless benefits from the Most High. They are quite willing to be pious in return for a definite quid pro quo —if God will comfort and prosper them, then they will give Hitri a portion of their time, their service, and their goods. All such attempts to make a bargain with God are worse than useless; “Vainly we offer each costly oblation, Vainly with gifts would His favor secure.” God desires and demands the love and service of the heart, given without thought of profit or reward. He will accept nothing at our hands until we have given Him that. Jacob’s subsequent prosperity was not the outcome of the Divine favor, but the result of his own shady, if not dishonest, cunning Mammon was his god at Beth-el, and it continued so to be until he met the Divine at Peniel and wrestled for a blessing without conditions attached. D ecember 2. “/ / God will be with me . . / will surely give.” Gen. 28:20-22.
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D ecember 3. "It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35
MEN of Jacob’s type (see Dec. 2) cannot understand these words of our Blessed Lord. They belong to the world, and the world proclaims the gospel of getting. “Get all you can, by all the means at your disposal. Get, honestly, if you can; but in any case, and at any cost, be sure you get—for possession is the
B I OL A B OOK R OOM Bible Institute, Los Angeles, Calif.
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