Article June 14, 1982 Issue

Praying for the world's troubled places

LANCELOT W. IBBOTSON

The revelation of God's essential nature, which came to Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, is of immense practical importance. It can be used in dealing with the problems of the modern world, just as the early Hebrew leaders' enlightened perception of God enabled them to handle the problems of their era. Many of our difficulties today arise from situations similar to those the people of the Bible faced; and as they found solutions, we can also.

For instance, longstanding tribal jealousies and misunderstanding, accompanied by violence and cruelty, have led to a situation in Northern Ireland that is said by some to have no solution. Other examples around the globe could be cited. An analogous case in the Bible is the story of Jacob and Esau.^{See Gen. 25:19-34; 27:1 to 33:16 .} The two brothers were unlike in almost every respect, except that they had the same parents. Jacob used underhand methods to deprive Esau of his birthright and subsequently of his father's blessing. For this he had to leave his home and take refuge with Laban, his uncle. Here he met deceit with deceit until it was necessary to take his family and return home. He then had to face his fear of Esau's hostility.

Mrs. Eddy gives in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures a spiritual interpretation of Jacob's wrestling with an angel on the night before he was to meet Esau and his four hundred supporters.^{See Science and Health 308:16-309:23 .} This experience turned Jacob away from past wrongs and showed him that he did not have to be resigned to either his own wrongdoing or Esau's revenge. He had to replace his material sense of things with a more spiritual sense—to see himself and his brother in a new light. This did not come easily to Jacob, but when it came, his nature was so; changed that his name was also changed to Israel. The outcome was peace between the two brothers; bitterness was overcome.