June 1930
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It was the wild exaggeration of a man who lived in his senses and' had not learned self-control. What , profit. Did not Esau know that he could satisfy his hunger at the family larder? Why could he not restrain himself for a little while? In his recklessness, the birthright, with all its privileges, was nothing compared with the satisfaction that would come with gorging himself with those lentils. Could such a man deserve the birthright? V. 33. Swear to me first. Jacob, tricky as he was, did not trust any one else and so required an oath from his brother. V. 34. Jacob gave Esau. Since imme diate satisfaction was uppermost in Esau’s mind, he no doubt went away carefree and satisfied, giving the matter of the birth right, for the moment, no second thought. He was aroused later when it was too late (Heb. 12:16, 17). Esau despised his birth right. A man’s desires disclose his char acter. Esau pampered his body but starved his soul. II. Jacob at Bethel (28:18-22). V. 18. Took the stone . . . set it up. It was perhaps on the second or third evening after leaving home that Jacob had his wonderful dream of angels ascending and descending the ladder between earth and heaven. The stone that had been his pillow was set up as a memorial column. V. 19. The name . . . Bethel. Bethel means “house of- God.” Later, this place became the .center of Jeroboam’s worship of the golden calf (1 Kings 12:28). There, also, Amos the prophet lived. The ancient Canaanitish name was Luz. Vs. 20-21. Jacob vowed. This is the first Old Testament mention of a vow. It was a solemn promise made to God to dedicate some special offering or gift. I f God will be with me. This may read, “Since God will be with me.” The three things laid down by Jacob as conditions of his vow,-i.e., that God will be with him, preserve him, and restore him to his land, had all been promised him (28 ¡IS IS). Jehovah will be my God. The mar gin changes the word “and” to “then.” The meaning would be that since God had promised' so much, Jacob will faithfully serve and worship Him. V. 22. This stone. Jacob raised this pil lar in token of the allegiance he had prom ised. It was to be also a symbol of the fact that God had met him in that place. Give the tenth. Some have looked upon this promise as an evidence that Jacob was trying to drive a hard bargain with God. Such a meaning may be found if we retain the word “if” in verse 20. Tith ing came to have a large part in the life of the Jews. The Christian is not re leased from the general principle of the tithe (Matt. 23:23), but will go much far ther if he recognizes that all he is and all he has belongs to God (cf. 2 Cor. 8:5). III. Jacob and Rachel (29:18-20). V. 18. Jacob loved Rachel. Rachel is one of the most charming characters of the Scripture. Jacob’s tender affection for her is one redeeming feature in his char acter, Serve thee seven years. Having no money to make presents to the parents and relatives of Rachel, Jacob offered his services for seven years. This indicates that he had lost his homesickness. V. 19. It is better. Jacob and Rachel were first cousins. This was not con sidered a disadvantage but rather some thing very desirable. Therefore Laban readily accepted Jacob’s offer.
BLACKBOARD LESSON
than have strife and dispute, Abraham told Lot to choose which part of the land should be his, and Lot selected the plain of the Jordan, the very best location. Abraham dwelt in Hebron, one' of the oldest towns in the world. Later, when warlike tribes attacked Lot, Abraham went to the rescue, refusing to accept any payment for so doing. When Abraham was ninety-nine years old and Sarah ninety, God promised them a son, renewing His covenant to make of Abraham a great nation. About this time, God revealed to Abraham that Sodom and Gomorrah were to be destroyed, and one of the most famous prayers of his tory is that recorded here, when Abraham pleaded for the preservation of Sodom. Here we find the story of the judgment that came upon Lot’s wife when she dis obeyed God and was turned to a pillar of salt. Also, about this time, Abraham sought a second time to pass Sarah off as his sister. One of the most touching and beauti ful stories in the Bible is the obedience of Abraham when he thought God wanted him to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. Sarah’s death was a great sorrow to Abraham. But in his old age he was blessed in seeing Isaac married to Re- bekah, and he died in “a good old age,” with his name honored and well-known, his family increasing, his life work done. Abraham is one of the most glorious heroes of faith. When put to the test, he obeyed God. Many times it must have been hard for him to keep his faith, his unquestioning' obedience, but to him God was real, and when the call came, no mat ter what it might cost, Abraham obeyed. Can we sing from our hearts: “Ready to go, ready to stay, ready to do His will” ? Prayer. July 13, 1930 J a c ob (A Selfish Man Transformed) ^TJesson : Genesis 25:19-34; chapters 27- 33; 46:28-47:12. (Lesson Text: Gen. 25:29-34; 28:18-22; 29:18-20; 33:1-4, 18). Golden T e x t: “For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?” (Matt. 16:26). sjs ^ ^ L esson in O utline I. The Despised Birthright (Gen. 25: 29-34). 1. Begging for bread (29, 30). 2. Bargaining away the birthright (31-34). II. Jacob at Bethel (28:18-22). 1. The memorial pillar (18). 2. The “house of God” (Bethel) (19). 3. The vow (20-22). III. Jacob and Rachel (29:18-20). 1. Rachel beloved. 2. The service of love. IV. Reconciled Brethren (33:1-4). 1. Jacob the schemer (1, 2). 2. Jacob the suppliant (3). 3. Esau Conquered by grace (4). V. Jacob at Shechem (33:18). * * * A pproach to the L esson T N God’s portrait gallery, pictures are frequently presented in pairs. In Gen esis two types of men are seen in Cain and Abel, Abraham and Lot, and Jacob
RACHAEL IRIDEr CUTTLE L/ENEFITS INTO 2 PERVANI sff 3\AINT Wm, < J e EI\. j g |
I Supplanter
GEN35-JÔ p pM ll RE: TIME IROUBLE
and Esau. God paints His characters in true colors. The glaring faults of Jacob are not overlooked or retouched, nor are his virtues hidden. In contrast with Esau, he seems at times to be at a disadvantage. His mean, greedy, grasping disposition constantly is in evidence. Over against this, there is seen in Esau that which looks like honesty, thoughtfulness of his father, generosity, appreciation of the good things of life, etc. But, as we shall see, there was a difference that was vital: Esau, the man of the field, lived a world ly, self-centered life; while Jacob, mean as he was, showed that he had his thoughts in another world, seeking first the blessing of God. The story is mani festly that of a true historian. Had it been told by a writer of fiction at a later age, it would have omitted the glaring faults of the ancestor of the Jews and would have exaggerated his virtues. s|i * * H eart of the L esson I. The Despised Birthright (Gen. 25.29- 34). V. 29. Pottage. A kind of soup made of lentils, with perhaps other ingredients. Esau came in. Elsewhere we learn that Esau loved the chase. Perhaps he had tage of his weakness. V. 30. Esau said Feed me. The margin reads : “Feed me with the red, this red.” The English word “feed” is scarcely strong enough to convey the meaning. Another translation puts it : “Let me devour.”- It expresses the ve hemence of his appetite and discloses also his impatience and impulsiveness. His name called Edom. We read elsewhere that Edom was born with ruddy color and red hair. That, together with his de mand for red pottage, may have stamped the name Edom, or “Red,” upon him. V. 31. Sell me first thy birthright. The cool and crafty Jacob Was quick to grasp the opportunity to defraud his hasty and reckless brother. The birthright included a double portion of the patrimony (Deut. 21:15-17) and the headship of the tribe, or clan; but in the case of Jacob and Esau, it was •further bound up with the covenant promises to Abraham. It was concerned with a spiritual inheritance much more than with any temporal benefit. V. 32. I am about to die. Esau was no doubt hungry and faint, but to speak of himself as near death was, unwarranted. had an unsuccessful hunt in the heat of the day. His ex haustion made him faint. Jacob saw his brother’s condi tion a n d promptly siezed the opportu nity to take advan-
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