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From a Slave to Sin, to a Prince of God, April 30
And he [Christ] said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but
Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and
hast prevailed.
Genesis 32:28
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That night Jacob, the petted son of his mother, experienced the new
birth and became a child of God. In his discouraged state the light that
came to him was regarded as most precious, and the hard stone on which
his head rested the most desirable on which his head had ever rested
What a happy man he was! He knew that he had had a communication
from God. And any one of us who has received light from the throne of
God, can but have a heart filled with praise, and thanksgiving, and honor
to the Lord God of heaven
Jacob, in the great crisis of his life, turned aside to pray. He was filled
with one overmastering purpose,—to seek for transformation of character.
But while he was pleading with God, an enemy, as he supposed, placed
his hand upon him, and all night he wrestled for his life. But the purpose
of his soul was not changed by peril of life itself. When his strength was
nearly spent, the Angel put forth His divine power, and at His touch, Jacob
knew Him with whom he had been contending. Wounded and helpless, he
fell upon the Saviour’s breast, pleading for a blessing. He would not be
turned aside, nor cease his intercession, and Christ granted the petition of
this helpless, penitent soul, according to His promise, “Let him take hold
of my strength, that he may make peace with me....” Jacob pleaded with
determined spirit, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” This spirit
of persistence was inspired by Him who wrestled with the patriarch. It
was He who gave him the victory, and He changed his name from Jacob
to Israel, saying, “As a prince hast thou power with God and with men,
and hast prevailed.” That for which Jacob had vainly wrestled in his own
strength, was won through self-surrender and steadfast faith
[128]
73
Manuscript 85, 1908
.
74
Undated
Manuscript 29
.
75
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 144, 145
.
129