III. BUT JACOB USES MEANS.

Having committed the whole matter to God, and feeling assured of God's loving protection, Jacob now proceeds to arrange everything in the most judicious manner. He first prepares a present for his brother. "A man's gift maketh room for him" (Prov. xviii. 16): and so thought Jacob (ver. 20); and he sent the present over before him. It consisted of several droves of cattle, and there was a message with each, couched in the most humble language. If you observe, he always calls himself "thy servant Jacob;" but he speaks of his brother as "my lord Esau."

When we have prayed about a matter, we are not to neglect means; but, still looking upward for a right judgment, we must act in the light that God gives us, and "a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment." (Eccl. v. 8.)

Jacob next sends away all his people, his wives, servants and sons, and—

IV. "JACOB WAS LEFT ALONE." (Ver. 24.)

This was a night much to be remembered in Jacob's history, "There wrestled a man with him until the breaking of day."

It is a solemn and mysterious subject, but how full of instruction!

I will not let Thee go except Thou bless me. Jacob wrestled with the Lord, and prevailed: he got the blessing. (Hosea xii. 4.) This was the true secret of Jacob's strength,-being alone with God.

If we would overcome sin, self, the world, we

must be often alone with our God. Thus a time of great danger may become one of great blessing.

Do you know anything of this wrestling in prayer? What does it mean? It means earnest, believing prayer,—a laying hold of the promises. There may be tears, sighs, groans; but there will be earnestness, and reality, and God will enable us to prevail.

But there must be nothing between Jesus and your heart: you must be alone with Him.

You must put away self-trust, and self-righteousness: you must believe in the words " My grace is sufficient for thee" (2 Cor. xii. 7); and thus praying, thus trusting, great shall be your reward.

Strong in God's strength, Jacob went forth, "conquering, and to conquer." As a prince, he had prevailed; and God gave him a new name,-the name of Israel.

The next chapter tells us of the full and overflowing answer God gave to all Jacob's prayers. Chap. xxxiii. 4, etc., gives the account of the meeting of the brothers: Esau's anger was gone, he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him. And when the days of mourning for their father came, we find them standing together over his grave, all bitterness and malice having been put away, and the union, brought about by the goodness of God in answer to Jacob's believing prayer, was only further cemented. (Compare chap. xxvii. 41 and xxxv. 29.)

"God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." (Eph. iii. 20.)

VI.

THE BRAZEN SERPENT.

PART I.

NUMBERS XXI. 4-10.

IN order to understand this passage fully, we must look a little at the position the children of Israel at this time occupied.

They were in the wilderness. Many tedious journies had been accomplished, many yet remained to be done they had received many mercies from the Lord, but they had shown much ingratitude, and with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness." (1 Cor. x. 5.)

"Now these things were our ensamples" or figures, and if we read the Old Testament narratives with the light of the Gospel shining upon them, we shall learn many a profitable lesson.

In the previous chapter to the one now open before us, we find that Moses was desirous of leading the children of Israel through the land of Edom, as a short cut from Kadesh to the land of Canaan.

Looking at the map, we shall see that it would avoid a very long circuit, it would save many a weary journey.

So messengers were sent with a very civil request to the King of Edom (ver. 14-18), but they received a most uncourteous reply: and a second message was answered, not only by these words,-"Thou shalt not go through," but it is added, "Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand." (Ver. 20.)

"Wherefore Israel turned away from him;" and they had now to take their journey by the way of the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom instead of going through it.

I. THE SOUL OF THE PEOPLE WAS MUCH DISCOURAGED BECAUSE OF THE WAY. (Ver. 4.)

And no wonder for it was a long and weary way, and they had expected that they were shortly to arrive within sight of the promised land.

The word "discouraged" is a very strong one in the Hebrew: it is from the same root as the word used in Exodus vi. 9, where the expression is translated "anguish of spirit."

With wives and children and cattle, to say nothing of tents and baggage to be conveyed wherever they went, travelling was a serious matter. Moreover, they were passing through enemies' countries, and had to stop and fight battles occasionally.

But is not this a figure of what we all know something, more or less? Are there not periods in our

D

journey of life when we can only say, "My soul is much discouraged"? Did not David experience this when he said, "My soul is cast down within me"? (Psa. xlii. 6.)

To the child of God who has started on his heavenward journey, there is a two-fold meaning to this expression. First we have much discouragement within: the way seems very narrow, very stony, very dark. We are sometimes almost minded to give it all up: it is too hard, the batttle to be fought too fierce, the difficulties to be encountered too great.

Oh, be not discouraged! The Lord knows all about it, and He also knows what He is about.

There is no step of the way but He has trodden it before you. Look for His foot-print. What see you graven there? "My soul is troubled." (John xii. 27.) The servant must be as his Master; and if we suffer being tempted, we know that inasmuch as He suffered," He is able to succour them that are tempted." (Heb. ii. 18.)

But secondly, in our journey through life we have many troubles without.

Sorrow, sickness, poverty, distress of mind and body, are often sent us by the Lord Himself.

Ah, dear friends, I know you are not strangers to such things as these: troubles come thickly upon you and crush your spirit, and you feel it difficult even to pray about them, though recognizing and acknowledging God's hand in them all the while.

God says, "I know their sorrows;" and again,