International S. S. Lessons.
"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." —Neh. 8:8 LESSON IX.—SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 1894.
[NOTE.—The questions which follow are merely suggestive for the student on the leading points of the lesson; it is presumed that the thorough student will think of many more as he studies the subject. References, where verses alone are given, always refer to the lesson scripture printed above. All other references are given in book, chapter, and verse. The text printed is that of the Revised Version, not because it is especially preferred, but because it is not found in every family, as in the common version.] - And the boys grew; and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.
- Now Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison; and Rebekah loved Jacob.
- And Jacob sod pottage; and Esau came in from the field, and he was faint;
- And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint; therefore was his name called Edom.
- And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
- And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die; and what profit shall the birthright do to me?
- And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him; and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
- And Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way; so Esau despised his birthright.
Golden Text: "The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment." Luke 12:23. - Give a brief synopsis of the period intervening between our last lesson and the present. Note 1.
- What was the occupation of Esau? Verse 27.
- What course of life did Jacob pursue? Note 2.
- Whom did Isaac in his old age especially love? and why? Verse 28.
- Whom did Rebekah regard?
- What was Jacob doing at one time when Esau came in from the field? Verse 29.
- What was Esau's condition when he returned?
- What did he ask Jacob to do? Verse 30. Note 3.
- To what name did this circumstance give rise?
- When Esau asked for the pottage, what demand did Jacob make? Verse 31. Note 4.
- What answer did Esau make to this proposal? Verse 32. Note 5.
- How was this bargain confirmed? Verse 33.
- After making the bargain, what did Jacob do? Verse 34, first part.
- After Esau ate the bread and pottage of lentils, what did he do? Verse 34, second part.
- In thus treating the matter so lightly what did Esau show? Verse 34, last part.
- What lesson does Inspiration draw from it for us? Note 6.
"Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright. For ye know that even when he afterwards desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected (for he found no place of repentance), though he sought it diligently with tears." Heb. 12:16, 17.- What does our Saviour say in respect to this? Golden text.
- What important question does he ask?
"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. 16:26.1. Our last lesson closed with the trial of Abraham's faith, from Gen. 22:19. Chapter 23 gives us the death of Sarah at the age of 127, while Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba, and the purchase of her burial ground by Abraham from the children of Heth. Chapter 24 gives us an account of Abraham's servant's journey to Mesopotamia to get a wife for Isaac, the success that attended it, and his return with Rebekah. The beginning of chapter 25 tells us that Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah, and of the children which sprang from that union, some of which became nations of no small repute. Here also is given the death of Abraham, which occurred, as supposed, about 1821 years B.C. Verses 12-18 give us the descendants of Ishmael, and the death of Ishmael at the age of 137. Verses 19-20 tell us of the birth of Rebekah's two sons, Esau and Jacob by name—the word "Esau" meaning "red," and "Jacob" meaning "supplanter."14These sons were born unto Rebekah when Isaac was 60 years old, fifteen years before Abraham died. 2. THE difference between the two boys was very marked. Esau was a reckless, self-indulgent hunter, and, bringing his aged father the choicest fruits of the chase, telling him of his daring adventures, naturally won the father to him. Jacob was "a plain man dwelling in tents." "A plain man" is in the Hebrew "a perfect man," one that is quiet or harmless (see margin of R. V.), looking forward to the future, and evidently much more devoted and faithful than his brother. This endeared him to his mother, who, of course, had more opportunity of observing his better qualities than did the father. 3. Red pottage.—The word rendered "pottage" signifies a dish made by boiling. It is a dish of which the people of the East are exceedingly fond, and by them, says Bush, called "kool." It is something like our soups. This was made of lentils, a species of pulse belonging to the pea tribe, of a yellowish red color. The word "sod" is the past tense of the verb "seethe," meaning to boil. 4. Thy birthright.—The marginal reading of the Revised Version is, "Sell me first of all thy birthright." The birthright was the headship of the family, combining in its privileges that of prophet, priest, and king. It meant a great deal more than this to the children of Abraham. It meant to the family of Isaac, the head of the chosen family, the one through whom all the families of the earth should be blessed. Evidently Jacob had heard from his mother the prophecy of the angel that the birthright was to be his, that the elder should serve the younger. Jacob prized this birthright above all things else, but as his heart had not been renewed by divine grace, he felt that it must be through some human means, some craft or power of his, that the birthright was to come. Simple faith would have left it with God. But Jacob seemed to feel that the time was passing, and God had not indicated that the birthright was to be his, and therefore he took it into his own hands, and the first opportunity which offered which seemed favorable to him to obtain the birthright, he accepted. But he planned in human wisdom. 5. What profit?—The character of the two young men is well brought out in this lesson. Esau said, "I am at the point to die; and what profit shall the birthright do to me?" And yet, in all probability, there was no danger whatever of his dying. Both his father and his mother would have relieved his wants before he came anywhere near death. He was simply hungry, and wanted some of Jacob's good pottage, and he prized the indulgence of appetite at that time more than he did the precious birthright by nature bestowed upon him. 6. For one mess of meat sold his own birthright.—Esau prized the enjoyment of the hour more than the eternal blessings of the kingdom of God. Had he been willing to have waited a short time, suffering if need be, he would have obtained food, no doubt, for his needs and retained his birthright. But he despised it. And so thousands are doing and have been doing ever since. He who feels that it is no harm to take a social glass now and then, contrary to the principles of God's truth, is despising the blessing which Jesus Christ died to bring him. In fact, whatever idol we may set up in our heart, to whatever thing we bow down from day to day, contrary to God's word, whatever lust of the flesh or desire of the eye we choose in preference to the blessing which God gives, are all indexes of the condition of the heart, and show that the heavenly birthright is despised. And afterward, when we have eaten our fill of these things which the appetite craves, we return, like Esau, and long for the blessing, but it cannot be found, though it be sought diligently. Well does the apostle say, "Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord; looking carefully lest there be any man that falleth short of the grace of God."