patriarchs and prophets-第49章
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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 hearts of Esau's rude soldiers were touched。
Notwithstanding he had told them of his dream； they could not account for
the change that had come over their captain。 Though they beheld the
patriarch's infirmity； they little thought that this his weakness had been
made his strength。
In his night of anguish beside the Jabbok； when destruction seemed just
before him； Jacob had been taught how vain is the
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help of man； how groundless is all trust in human power。 He saw that his
only help must come from Him against whom he had so grievously sinned。
Helpless and unworthy； he pleaded God's promise of mercy to the repentant
sinner。 That promise was his assurance that God would pardon and accept him。
Sooner might heaven and earth pass than that word could fail； and it was
this that sustained him through that fearful conflict。
Jacob's experience during that night of wrestling and anguish represents the
trial through which the people of God must pass just before Christ's second
coming。 The prophet Jeremiah； in holy vision looking down to this time；
said； 〃We have heard a voice of trembling； of fear； and not of peace。 。 。 。
All faces are turned into paleness。 Alas！ for that day is great； so that
none is like it： it is even the time of Jacob's trouble； but he shall be
saved out of it。〃 Jeremiah 30：5…7。
When Christ shall cease His work as mediator in man's behalf； then this time
of trouble will begin。 Then the case of every soul will have been decided；
and there will be no atoning blood to cleanse from sin。 When Jesus leaves
His position as man's intercessor before God； the solemn announcement is
made； 〃He that is unjust； let him be unjust still： and he which is filthy；
let him be filthy still： and he that is righteous； let him be righteous
still： and he that is holy； let him be holy still。〃 Revelation 22：11。 Then
the restraining Spirit of God is withdrawn from the earth。 As Jacob was
threatened with death by his angry brother； so the people of God will be in
peril from the wicked who are seeking to destroy them。 And as the patriarch
wrestled all night for deliverance from the hand of Esau； so the righteous
will cry to God day and night for deliverance from the enemies that surround
them。
Satan had accused Jacob before the angels of God； claiming the right to
destroy him because of his sin； he had moved upon Esau to march against him；
and during the patriarch's long night of wrestling； Satan endeavored to
force upon him a sense of his guilt； in order to discourage him； and break
his hold upon God。 When in his distress Jacob laid hold of the Angel； and
made supplication with tears； the heavenly Messenger； in order to try his
faith； also reminded him of his sin； and endeavored to escape from him。 But
Jacob would not be turned away。 He had learned that God is merciful； and he
cast himself upon His mercy。 He pointed
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back to his repentance for his sin； and pleaded for deliverance。 As he
reviewed his life； he was driven almost to despair； but he held fast the
Angel； and with earnest； agonizing cries urged his petition until he
prevailed。
Such will be the experience of God's people in their final struggle with the
powers of evil。 God will test their faith； their perseverance； their
confidence in His power to deliver them。 Satan will endeavor to terrify them
with the thought that their cases are hopeless； that their sins have been
too great to receive pardon。 They will have a deep sense of their
shortcomings； and as they review their lives their hopes will sink。 But
remembering the greatness of God's mercy； and their own sincere repentance；
they will plead His promises made through Christ to helpless； repenting
sinners。 Their faith will not fail because their prayers are not immediately
answered。 They will lay hold of the strength of God； as Jacob laid hold of
the Angel； and the language of their souls will be； 〃I will not let Thee go；
except Thou bless me。〃
Had not Jacob previously repented of his sin in obtaining the birthright by
fraud； God could not have heard his prayer and mercifully preserved his
life。 So in the time of trouble； if the people of God had unconfessed sins
to appear before them while tortured with fear and anguish； they would be
overwhelmed； despair would cut off their faith； and they could not have
confidence to plead with God for deliverance。 But while they have a deep
sense of their unworthiness； they will have no concealed wrongs to reveal。
Their sins will have been blotted out by the atoning blood of Christ； and
they cannot bring them to remembrance。
Satan leads many to believe that God will overlook their unfaithfulness in
the minor affairs of life； but the Lord shows in His dealing with Jacob that
He can in no wise sanction or tolerate evil。 All who endeavor to excuse or
conceal their sins； and permit them to remain upon the books of heaven；
unconfessed and unforgiven； will be overcome by Satan。 The more exalted
their profession； and the more honorable the position which they hold； the
more grievous is their course in the sight of God； and the more certain the
triumph of the great adversary。
Yet Jacob's history is an assurance that God will not cast off those who
have been betrayed into sin； but who have returned
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unto Him with true repentance。 It was by self…surrender and confiding faith
that Jacob gained what he had failed to gain by conflict in his own
strength。 God thus taught His servant that divine power and grace alone
could give him the blessing he craved。 Thus it will be with those who live
in the last days。 As dangers surround them； and despair seizes upon the
soul； they must depend solely upon the merits of the atonement。 We can do
nothing of ourselves。 In all our helpless unworthiness we must trust in the
merits of the crucified and risen Saviour。 None will ever perish while they
do this。 The long； black catalogue of our delinquencies is before the eye of
the Infinite。 The register is complete； none of our offenses are forgotten。
But He who listened to the cries of His servants of old； will hear the
prayer of faith and pardon our transgressions。 He has promised； and He will
fulfill His word。
Jacob prevailed because he was persevering and determined。 His experience
testifies to the power of importunate prayer。 It is now that we are to learn
this lesson of prevailing prayer； of unyielding faith。 The greatest
victories to the church of Christ or to the individual Christian are not
those that are gained by talent or education； by wealth or the favor of men。
They are those victories that are gained in the audience chamber with God；
when earnest； agonizing faith lays hold upon the mighty arm of power。
Those who are unwilling to forsake every sin and to seek earnestly for God's
blessing； will not obtain it。 But all who will lay hold of God's promises as
did Jacob； and be as earnest and p
