Isaac.

JACOB'S DREAM.

We learned something about Abram in our last lesson. We found that he was called the "friend of God" because he was so good. He had a son Isaac; and, when a lad, this child was brought very near death by his father. It was done, too, in the name of religion. We ought to be thankful that children are not treated so now.

A Sacrifice.

The story in Genesis tells us that one day Abram seemed to hear the voice of God telling him to take Isaac and offer him up as a sacrifice, in the mountains, for the glory of God and to please Him.

Just as Abram was about to carry out his purpose, he thought God told him to stop; and he saw a ram caught in the bushes, and, taking that for a proof of mistake, he released Isaac, sacrificed the animal, and thanked God that his beloved son was saved. This seems very strange, does it not? But so the story runs.

The Two Sons.

Isaac was told by his father that he must marry a woman from among the people of his own kind, and not take a wife from the heathen tribes. There is a pretty story how Isaac obeyed; and you have read about Rebekah at the Well. This charming Rebekah became Isaac's wife, and Jacob and Esau were the names of the twins born to them. They were very different, as we shall see. Jacob loved to trade, was fond of home, somewhat selfish. Esau loved to hunt, was fond of travelling, somewhat careless.

In this lesson we find Jacob in a desert place. What does it mean? What has happened that Jacob sleeps away from home, alone, with stones for a pillow?

The Flight.

The mother loved Jacob more than Esau, and always showed it. Just how the mother of Jacob and Esau managed to deceive Isaac, and why Jacob was obliged to run away to save his life, we will tell in the next lesson, when the twin brothers meet, after long years, and are reconciled.

This is enough now, to say that Esau became so enraged over the treatment Jacob and his mother gave him that Jacob was told by his mother to go away at once, for he was not safe at home.

Bethel.

So Jacob got together a few things, and disappeared. His mother knew where he had gone; but no one else, not even Isaac, his father. Rebekah told her son to go to her brother Laban, who lived in a place called Haran; and there he would probably find work, a home, and safety from Esau's anger.

After a day's journey, in which Jacob made great haste to get as far as possible from his brother, the wanderer found the night falling: all was dark, solemn, lonesome. How different from the happy home behind him! All was silent, strange, sad!

With a heavy sigh and a trembling heart, Jacob lay down to sleep. The best he could do was to put his head on some stones that were piled near him; and then, tired out, he fell asleep.

The Dream.

Then in his broken slumber he dreamed. Angels appeared to go up and down on a ladder. God spake, and promised him great renown and possessions. This and much else he seemed to see and hear, so that in the morning, when Jacob woke, it was hard for him to believe that there was nothing but the desert around him. God had spoken to him, had been with him. In those days, people believed in dreams more than they do

now.

The first thing Jacob did before he started on his way again, was to take one of the stones, pour oil on it, and thank God. He also gave a name to the place, and made a vow. The name Bethel means House of God, or Temple. The vow was one of repentance. Jacob promised to be true to Yaweh (Jehovah), and to give one-tenth of all he ever might earn to God's service, and to make the spot a place of worship. Old Ideas.

In the days of old, men cherished sacred stones, sacred trees, sacred hills. Bethel, long after Jacob lived, became famous; and the Jews honored the spot with religious ceremonies. A sacred stone was exhibited.

People in those days believed that God had favorite places where He dwelt. You remember Jesus tried to teach something

else, and rebuked those who claimed that God could be worshipped only in a few places.

What do We Learn?

Jacob thought God spoke to him that first night after his flight from home. It was conscience awake and rebuking. God always speaks to us when we are sorry for our errors.

Then there is something beautiful in the way Jacob declares he will never forget the place where this dream occurred. It is a holy place. God is everywhere. We believe that. But it is right for us to hallow some spots, and set up monuments to mark the ground where great things have happened.

HINTS FOR TEACHERS.

1. Put into the lesson all the facts about Abram and Isaac that will tend to give the story a living interest. Describe Isaac's character and Rebekah's ways. This will also prepare the pupils for the coming lesson about the reconciliation of Jacob and Esau.

2. Use the familiar hymn, "Nearer, my God, to Thee," founded on this story. Unfold the significance of the figures employed in the poem.

3. Give some information as to the habits of sacrifices in the early history of mankind. Trace the growth away from such terrible deeds. (See Gould's "Beginnings.")

4. Devote a part of the lesson to the subject of visions and dreams; the old view, the modern thought.

5. Touch on hallowed, historic, and honored places. The value of sentiment. The education of famous places.

QUESTIONS FOR PUPILS.

Who was Isaac? Do we know much about him? Where did he live? Who were his children? Did Jacob run away from home? What rights did the oldest son always have? Where did Jacob have his dream? Can you give the name of the spot and its meaning? What do you think of dreams? Do you think Jacob was penitent? To whom was he going? What vow did Jacob make? What did he do with the stone that served as a pillow? Did you ever hear of sacred stones or sacred trees?

JACOB AND ESAU.

ACOB, in fear of Esau's vengeance, sent servants with a great herd of cattle as a present to his brother. But the next day:

Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. And he himself passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And they wept. And he said, What meanest thou by all this company And he said, To find grace in the And Esau said, I have enough, my

which I met? sight of my lord.

thou hast be thine.

brother; let that And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand. And he urged him, and he took it. And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee. And he said unto him, My lord knoweth if they overdrive them one day, all the flocks will die. Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according to the pace of the cattle, and according to the pace of the children, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.

GENESIS, chapter thirty-three.

How It Began.

JACOB AND ESAU.

Esau came home one day, after hunting, very tired and very hungry. Jacob was cooking something with a red color, some vegetable. Esau suddenly said: "Give me some of that red stuff. I'm hungry. Give me quick some of that red stuff."

Jacob, always cunning, thought this was a chance to make a bargain. So, heedless of his brother's condition, he answered: "Yes, I will if you give me your birthright. You are older, and will be the head of the tribe after father dies. Give me that right, and you shall have red pottage enough."

Careless Esau muttered to himself: " Why not? I may die any time,- to-morrow, the day after. What matters it, anyway? Jacob thinks it is a great thing to look ahead. I don't. I live for to-day."

So Esau foolishly consented to Jacob's offer, and sold his rights for a "mess of pottage," ate the "red stuff" with great relish, and went to sleep.

The Cruel Deception.

But that was not all. Another day Isaac sent for Esau, and told him to go hunting and bring back some fine venison.

Isaac said also, "I will give you my blessing and the blessing of Yahweh, when you come back with the game."

Rebekah heard all this. After Esau had gone, she took Jacob aside, and told him what she had heard. "You must receive the blessing," said the fond mother: "you shall go in, and take the place of Esau."

Jacob was afraid. He did not see how it could be done. "What if father finds out that I am Jacob? Then he will give

me a curse instead of a blessing."

"Fear not," replied the foolish mother. "I will take all the risk. Let the curse be upon me."

The Blessing.

At last Jacob gets courage enough to consent to the wicked plot, and his mother prepares everything. She cooks two kids that Jacob gets from the flock. Then she puts Esau's clothes on Jacob. But he cries out: "Esau is rough and hairy. I am