patriarchs and prophets-第35章

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were　indeed　in　great　peril。

That　he　did　not　carry　out　his　hostile　purpose　was　due　to　the　fact　that　God
Himself　had　interposed　for　the　protection　of　His　servant。　〃It　is　in　the
power　of　my　hand　to　do　you　hurt；〃　said　Laban；　〃but　the　God　of　your　father
spake　unto　me　yesternight；　saying；　Take　thou　heed　that　thou　speak　not　to
Jacob　either　good　or　bad；〃　that　is；　he　should　not　force　him　to　return；　or
urge　him　by　flattering　inducements。

Laban　had　withheld　the　marriage　dowry　of　his　daughters　and　had　ever　treated
Jacob　with　craft　and　harshness；　but　with　characteristic　dissimulation　he　now
reproached　him　for　his　secret　departure；　which　had　given　the　father　no
opportunity　to　make　a　parting　feast　or　even　to　bid　farewell　to　his　daughters
and　their　children。

In　reply　Jacob　plainly　set　forth　Laban's　selfish　and　grasping　policy；　and
appealed　to　him　as　a　witness　to　his　own　faithfulness　and　honesty。　〃Except
the　God　of　my　father；　the　God　of　Abraham；　and　the　fear　of　Isaac；　had　been
with　me；〃　said　Jacob；　〃surely　thou　hadst　sent　me　away　now　empty。　God　hath
seen　mine　affliction；　and　the　labor　of　my　hands；　and　rebuked　thee
yesternight。〃

Laban　could　not　deny　the　facts　brought　forward；　and　he　now

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proposed　to　enter　into　a　covenant　of　peace。　Jacob　consented　to　the　proposal；
and　a　pile　of　stones　was　erected　as　a　token　of　the　compact。　To　this　pillar
Laban　gave　the　name　Mizpah；　〃watchtower；〃　saying；　〃The　Lord　watch　between　me
and　thee；　when　we　are　absent　one　from　another。〃

〃And　Laban　said　to　Jacob；　Behold　this　heap；　and　behold　this　pillar；　which　I
have　cast　betwixt　me　and　thee；　this　heap　be　witness；　and　this　pillar　be
witness；　that　I　will　not　pass　over　this　heap　to　thee；　and　that　thou　shalt
not　pass　over　this　heap　and　this　pillar　unto　me；　for　harm。　The　God　of
Abraham；　and　the　God　of　Nahor；　the　God　of　their　father；　judge　betwixt　us。
And　Jacob　sware　by　the　fear　of　his　father　Isaac。〃　To　confirm　the　treaty；　the
parties　held　a　feast。　The　night　was　spent　in　friendly　communing；　and　at　the
dawn　of　day；　Laban　and　his　company　departed。　With　this　separation　ceased　all
trace　of　connection　between　the　children　of　Abraham　and　the　dwellers　in
Mesopotamia。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　18

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Night　of　Wrestling


Though　Jacob　had　left　Padan…aram　in　obedience　to　the　divine　direction；　it
was　not　without　many　misgivings　that　he　retraced　the　road　which　he　had
trodden　as　a　fugitive　twenty　years　before。　His　sin　in　the　deception　of　his
father　was　ever　before　him。　He　knew　that　his　long　exile　was　the　direct
result　of　that　sin；　and　he　pondered　over　these　things　day　and　night；　the
reproaches　of　an　accusing　conscience　making　his　journey　very　sad。　As　the
hills　of　his　native　land　appeared　before　him　in　the　distance；　the　heart　of
the　patriarch　was　deeply　moved。　All　the　past　rose　vividly　before　him。　With
the　memory　of　his　sin　came　also　the　thought　of　God's　favor　toward　him；　and
the　promises　of　divine　help　and　guidance。

As　he　drew　nearer　his　journey's　end；　the　thought　of　Esau　brought　many　a
troubled　foreboding。　After　the　flight　of　Jacob；　Esau　had　regarded　himself　as
the　sole　heir　of　their　father's　possessions。　The　news　of　Jacob's　return
would　excite　the　fear　that　he　was　coming　to　claim　the　inheritance。　Esau　was
now　able　to　do　his　brother　great　injury；　if　so　disposed；　and　he　might　be
moved　to　violence　against　him；　not　only　by　the　desire　for　revenge；　but　in
order　to　secure　undisturbed　possession　of　the　wealth　which　he　had　so　long
looked　upon　as　his　own。

Again　the　Lord　granted　Jacob　a　token　of　the　divine　care。　As　he　traveled
southward　from　Mount　Gilead；　two　hosts　of　heavenly　angels　seemed　to
encompass　him　behind　and　before；　advancing　with　his　company；　as　if　for　their
protection。　Jacob　remembered　the　vision　at　Bethel　so　long　before；　and　his
burdened　heart　grew　lighter　at　this　evidence　that　the　divine　messengers　who
had　brought　him　hope　and　courage　at　his　flight　from　Canaan　were　to　be　the
guardians　of　his　return。　And　he　said；　〃This　is　God's　host：　and　he　called　the
name　of　that　place　Mahanaim〃〃two　hosts；　or；　camps。〃

Yet　Jacob　felt　that　he　had　something　to　do　to　secure　his　own　safety。　He
therefore　dispatched　messengers　with　a　conciliatory

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greeting　to　his　brother。　He　instructed　them　as　to　the　exact　words　in　which
they　were　to　address　Esau。　It　had　been　foretold　before　the　birth　of　the　two
brothers　that　the　elder　should　serve　the　younger；　and；　lest　the　memory　of
this　should　be　a　cause　of　bitterness；　Jacob　told　the　servants　they　were　sent
to　〃my　lord　Esau；〃　when　brought　before　him；　they　were　to　refer　to　their
master　as　〃thy　servant　Jacob；〃　and　to　remove　the　fear　that　he　was　returning；
a　destitute　wanderer；　to　claim　the　paternal　inheritance；　Jacob　was　careful
to　state　in　his　message；　〃I　have　oxen；　an　asses；　flocks；　and　menservants；
and　womenservants：　and　I　have　sent　to　tell　my　lord；　that　I　may　find　grace　in
thy　sight。〃

But　the　servants　returned　with　the　tidings　that　Esau　was　approaching　with
four　hundred　men；　and　no　response　was　sent　to　the　friendly　message。　It
appeared　certain　that　he　was　coming　to　seek　revenge。　Terror　pervaded　the
camp。　〃Jacob　was　greatly　afraid　and　distressed。〃　He　could　not　go　back；　and
he　feared　to　advance。　His　company；　unarmed　and　defenseless；　were　wholly
unprepared　for　a　hostile　encounter。　He　accordingly　divided　them　into　two
bands；　so　that　if　one　should　be　attacked；　the　other　might　have　an
opportunity　to　escape。　He　sent　from　his　vast　flocks　generous　presents　to
Esau；　with　a　friendly　message。　He　did　all　in　his　power　to　atone　for　the
wrong　to　his　brother　and　to　avert　the　threatened　danger；　and　then　in
humiliation　and　repentance　he　pleaded　for　divine　protection：　Thou　〃saidst
unto　me；　Return　unto　thy　country；　and　to　thy　kindred；　and　I　will　deal　well
with　thee：　I　am　not　worthy　of　the　least　of　all　the　mercies；　and　of　all　the
truth；　which　Thou　hast　showed　unto　Thy　servant；　for　with　my　staff　I　passed
over　this　Jordan；　and　now　I　am　become　two　bands。　Deliver　me；　I　pray　Thee；
from　the　hand　of　my　brother；　from　the　hand　of　Esau：　for　I　fear　him；　lest　he
will　come　and　smite　me；　and　the　mother　with　the　children。〃

They　had　now　reached　the　river　Jabbok；　and　as　night　came　on；　Jacob　sent　his
family　across　the　ford　of　the　river；　while　he　alone　remained　behind。　He　had
decided　to　spend　the　night　in　prayer；　and　he　desired　to　be　alone　with　God。
God　could　soften　the　heart　of　Esau。　In　Him　was　the　patriarch's　only　hope。

It　was　in　a　lonely；　mountainous　region；　the　haunt　of　wild　beasts　and　the
lurking　place　of　robbers　and　murderers。　Solitary　and　unprotected；　Jacob
bowed　in　deep　distress　upon　the　earth。　It　was　midnight。　All　that　made　life
dear　to　him　were　at　a　distance；

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exposed　to　danger　and　death。　Bitterest　of　all　was　the　thought　that　it　was
his　own　sin　which　had　brought　this　peril　upon　the　innocent。　With　earnest
cries　and　tears　he　made　his　prayer　before　God。　Suddenly　a　strong　hand　was
laid　upon　him。　He　thought　that　an　enemy　was　seeking　his　life；　and　he
endeavored　to　wrest　himself　from　the　grasp　of　his　assailant。　In　the　darkness
the　two　struggled　for　the　mastery。　Not　a　word　was　spoken；　but　Jacob　put
forth　all　his　strength；　and　did　not　relax　his　efforts　for　a　moment。　While　he
was　thus　battling　for　his　life；　the　sense　of　his　guilt　pressed　upon　his
soul；　his　sins　rose　up　before　him；　to　shut　him　out　from　God。　But　in　his
terrible　extremity　he　remembered　God's　promises；　and　his　whole　heart　went
out　in　entreaty　for　His　mercy。　The　struggle　continued　until　near　the　break
of　day；　when　the　stranger　placed　his　finger　upon　Jacob's　thigh；　and　he　was
crippled　instantly。　The　patriarch　now　discerned　the　character　of　his
antagonist。　He　knew　that　he　had　been　in　conflict　with　a　heavenly　messenger；
and　this　was　why　his　almost　superhuman　effort　had　not　gained　the　victory。　It
was　Christ；　〃the　Angel　of　the　covenant；〃　who　had　revealed　Himself　to　Jacob。
The　patriarch　was　now　disabled　and　suffering　the　keenest　pain；　but　he　would
not　loosen　his　hold。　All　penitent　and　broken；　he　clung　to　the　Angel；　〃he
wept；　and　made　supplication〃　（Hosea　12：4）；　pleading　for　a　blessing。　He　must
have　the　assurance　that　his　sin　was　pardoned。　Physical　pain　was　not
sufficient　to　divert　his　mind　from　this　object。　His　determination　grew
stronger；　his　faith　more　earnest　and　persevering；　until　the　very　last。　The
Angel　tried　to　release　Himself；　He　urged；　〃Let　Me　go；　for　the　day　breaketh；〃
but　Jacob　answered；　〃I　will　not　let　Thee　go；　except　Thou　bless　me。〃　Had　this
been　a　boastful；　presumptuous　confidence；　Jacob　would　have　been　instantly
destroyed；　but　his　was　the　assurance　of　one　who　confesses　his　own
unworthiness；　yet　trusts　the　faithfulness　of　a　covenant…keeping　God。

Jacob　〃had　power　over　the　Angel；　and　prevailed。〃　Hosea　12：4。　Through
humiliation；　repentance；　and　self…surrender；　this　sinful；　erring　mortal
prevailed　with　the　Majesty　of　heaven。　He　had　fastened　his　trembling　grasp
upon　the　promises　of　God；　and　the　heart　of　Infinite　Love　could　not　turn　away
the　sinner's　plea。

The　error　that　had　led　to　Jacob's　sin　in　obtaining　the　birthright　by　fraud
was　now　clearly　set　before　him。　He　had　not　trusted　God's　promises；　but　had
sought　by　his　own　efforts　to

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bring　about　that　which　God　would　have　accomplished　in　His　own　time　and　way。
As　an　evidence　that　he　had　been　forgiven；　his　name　was　changed　from　one　that
was　a　reminder　of　his　sin；　to　one　that　commemorated　his　victory。　〃Thy　name；〃
said　the　Angel；　〃shall　be　called　no　more　Jacob　＇the　supplanter＇；　but　Israel：
for　as　a　prince　hast　thou　power　with　God　and　with　men；　and　hast　prevailed。〃

Jacob　had　received　the　blessing　for　which　his　soul　had　longed。　His　sin　as　a
supplanter　and　deceiver　had　been　pardoned。　The　crisis　in　his　life　was　past。
Doubt；　perplexity；　and　remorse　had　embittered　his　existence；　but　now　all　was
changed；　and　sweet　was　the　peace　of　reconciliation　with　God。　Jacob　no　longer
feared　to　meet　his　brother。　God；　who　had　forgiven　his　sin；　could　move　the
heart　of　Esau　also　to　accept　his　humiliation　and　repentance。

While　Jacob　was　wrestling　with　the　Angel；　another　heavenly　messenger　was
sent　to　Esau。　In　a　dream；　Esau　beheld　his　brother　for　twenty　years　an　exile
from　his　father's　house；　he　witnessed　his　grief　at　finding　his　mother　dead；
he　saw　him　encompassed　by　the　hosts　of　God。　This　dream　was　related　by　Esau
to　his　soldiers；　with　the　charge　not　to　harm　Jacob；　for　the　God　of　his
father　was　with　him。

The　two　companies　at　last　approached　each　other；　the　desert　chief　leading
his　men　of　war；　and　Jacob　with　his　wives　and　children；　attended　by　shepherds
and　handmaidens；　and　followed　by　long　lines　of　flocks　and　herds。　Leaning
upon　his　staff；　the　patriarch　went　forward　to　meet　the　band　of　soldiers。　He
was　pale　and　disabled　from　his　recent　conflict；　and　he　walked　slowly　and
painfully；　halting　at　every　step；　but　his　countenance　was　lighted　up　with
joy　and　peace。

At　sight　of　that　crippled　sufferer；　〃Esau　ran　to　meet　him；　and　embraced　him；
and　fell　on　his　neck；　and　kissed　him：　and　they　wept。〃　As　they　looked　upon
the　scene；　even　the　h