Sunday School Lesson
(Continued from Pare a)
except by the lather's pro
nouncement.
In the episode describing the
trading of his birthright, Esau
la pictured as an uncouth hunt
er who, returning home famish
ed, impulsively gives up his
privileges of birth in exchange
tor some bread and reddish
beans. Thinking only of his
Stomach and the comfort of the
moment, Esau showed himself
shockingly irresponsible. Since
the birthright included divina
promise of future blessing, ex
changing it for worldly goods
was offensive also to God.
Esau seemed to have no per
ception of the meaning of re
ligious faith, no concern for re
sponsible stewardship of wealth,
position, and privilege. But, al- 1
though Esau was foolishly ir- !
responsible and utterly careless,
Jacob displayed neither brother
ly affection nor family respect
and concern. Taking advantage
of Esau's weaknesses, Jacob
persuaded him to forfeit his
spiritual heritage and future po
sition and wealth.
The Father's Last Blessing
Genesis 27 is a sharp and sen
sitive story of further competi
tion between Esau and Jacob.
The author seizes our emotions
and calls forth feelings deeper
than intellect.
Here the issue is not the birth
right as such but the final bles
sing of their father. This bles
sing was a kind of deathbed
will and testament believed to
be confirmed by deity and thus j
unchangeable. It was necessarily
linked to the birthright since it
carried with it the father's des
ignation of one of his sons to
receive the rights and responsi
bilities of being chief heir.
The father could, at his own
discretion, designate a son other
than, the one actually born first
to possess the rights of the first
born. Priority of birth was there
fore not always the deciding fac
tor in determining who held the
birthright. A father had the last
word.
God Controls
Isaac was, In reality, not able
to determine his successor to
the covenant promises. He him
self had received the promises
by special grace, and in like
manner they would pass on. It
Is always by divine prerogative
that the covenant and its prom
ises are transmitted from gene
ration to generation.
Nevertheless, human action
must not be thought puppetllka
or meaningless. The way peopl*
act is taken and used by God
to carry out his purposes. How
ever, God is not forced to de
pend upon men's actions any
more than he forces men to do
his will.
Isaac did not Intend to blcai
Jacob as first heir, but h? did
so because of the fraud Rebekah
plotted and Jacob carried out.
Despite a contrary intention,
(Continued on Page 7)
We're giving Mother Nature a hand.
Two million times a yearl
That's how many trees w? supply your increasing electrical
plant in the Piedmont Carolina*. requirements.
To hold back erosion. To build Like turning 1 50,000 acres of
good topsoil. To provide lumber our land into wildlife preserves,
and pulpwood. To add life-giving managed by the Wildlife
oxygen to the atmosphere. Commissions of the two Caroiinas.
And trees are only a part of It. Like providing flood control. Working wlthyou
There are all kinds of ways we water for municipalities and water for a greater Piedmont."
improve the environment while we playgrounds.
Our main job is providing
electricity. But Mother Nature can
use our help once in a while. And
we're more than glad to give the
lady a hand.
SiJsEsr'?!