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Jacob and the Angel
75
the very last, even till the breaking of the day. He would not let go
his hold of the angel until he blessed him. “And he said, Let me go,
for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou
bless me.” The angel then inquired, “What is thy name? And he
said, Jacob. And he 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.”
Prevailing Faith
Jacob’s persevering faith prevailed. He held fast the angel until
he obtained the blessing he desired, and the assurance of the pardon
of his sins. His name was then changed from Jacob, the supplanter,
to Israel, which signifies a prince of God. “And Jacob asked him,
and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore
is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God
face to face, and my life is preserved.” It was Christ that was with
Jacob through that night, with whom he wrestled, and whom he
perseveringly held until He blessed him.
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The Lord heard the supplications of Jacob, and changed the
purposes of Esau’s heart. He did not sanction any wrong course
which Jacob pursued. His life had been one of doubt, perplexity, and
remorse because of his sin, until his earnest wrestling with the angel,
and the evidence he there obtained that God had pardoned his sins.
“Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed. He wept, and
made supplication unto Him: He found him in Bethel, and there He
spake with us; even the Lord God of hosts; the Lord is his memorial.”
Hosea 12:4, 5
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Esau was marching against Jacob with an army, for the purpose
of killing his brother. But while Jacob was wrestling with the angel
that night, another angel was sent to move upon the heart of Esau
in his sleeping hours. In his dream he saw Jacob in exile from his
father’s house for twenty years, because he was afraid of his life.
And he marked his sorrow to find his mother dead. He saw in his
dream Jacob’s humility and angels of God around about him. He
dreamed that when they met he had no mind to harm him. When
Esau awoke he related his dream to his four hundred men and told