Emphasis Preaching Journal

For many people, including the people of Israel, knowing from whom you came is an important consideration. Sometimes people will go to extremes to establish their lineage. William Gladstone, the great English Prime Minister, discovered this quite unexpectedly when looking for antiques. He entered a dealer's shop and was soon captivated by an early 17th-century oil painting. It depicted an unidentified aristocrat dressed in old Spanish costume with a ruff, plumed hat and lace cuffs. Gladstone loved the artistry of the painting and wanted it badly.