Jacob and the Angel
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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.”
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 signified, 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.
The Lord heard the supplications of Jacob, and changed the pur-
poses of Esau’s heart. He did not sanction any wrong course which
Jacob pursued. His life was 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.”
Esau was marching against Jacob with an army for the purpose
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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 an 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 to his four hundred men his dream, and told them that they
must not injure Jacob, for the God of his father was with him. And
when they should meet Jacob, not one of them should do him harm.
“And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked and behold, Esau came,
and with him four hundred men.” “And he passed over before them,
and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near his
brother. And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his
neck, and kissed him, and they wept.” Jacob entreated Esau to accept
a peace-offering, which Esau declined, but Jacob urged him. “Take, I