Article August 17, 1929 Issue

Tenderness

VICTOR A. CLAYDON

What could bring more blessedness than the consciousness of God's tender, loving care for all His children; and how often we see this quality of tenderness expressed throughout the Scriptures! In the thirty-third chapter of Genesis we read of the meeting of Esau and Jacob after years of separation brought about by enmity. Then we are told that after his own illumination Jacob saw his brother as though he had seen "the face of God."

Well can one imagine the spiritual uplifting that must have been experienced by the brothers at this time; and yet Jacob did not forget his responsibility, under God's guidance, for we find him expressing tender solicitude for the children and cattle under his care in these words spoken to Esau: "Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure."

Here is a lesson for us all to learn. Do we, on feeling the uplifting influence of God's presence, let this spiritual tenderness be felt by those around us, or do we keep it to ourselves and imagine that we may retain it by leaving it unexpressed? It would have seemed natural for Jacob to tarry with his brother and bask in the sunshine of their renewed love for each other. But Jacob was awake to the fact that the love which had been showered on him was not for him to keep for himself alone, but to express toward others.

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Jesus' Example
August 17, 1929
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