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Spiritual Gifts, Volume 3
answered. Though suffering the pangs of hunger, they will not cease
their intercessions. They lay hold of the strength of God as Jacob laid
hold of the angel, and the language of their soul is, “I will not let thee
go except thou bless me.” The saints at length prevail like Jacob, and
are gloriously delivered by the voice of God.
That season of distress and anguish will require an effort of earnest-
ness and determined faith that can endure delay and hunger, and will
not fail under weakness, though severely tried. The period of probation
is the time granted to all to prepare for the day of God. If any neglect
the preparation, and heed not the faithful warnings given, they will be
without excuse. Jacob’s earnest, persevering wrestling with the angel
should be an example for Christians. Jacob prevailed, because he was
persevering and determined. All who desire the blessing of God, as did
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Jacob, and will lay hold of the promises, as he did, and be as earnest
and persevering as he was, will succeed, as he succeeded. Why there
is so little exercise of true faith, and so little of the weight of truth
resting upon many professed believers is because they are indolent, in
spiritual things. They are unwilling to make exertions, to deny self,
to agonize before God, to pray long and earnestly for the blessing,
and therefore they do not obtain it. That faith which will live through
the time of trouble must be in daily exercise now. Those who do not
make strong efforts now to exercise persevering faith will be wholly
unprepared to exercise that faith which will enable them to stand in
the day of trouble.
The sons of Jacob were not all righteous. They were affected in
some degree with idolatry. God did not sanction the cruel, revengeful
conduct of Jacob’s sons to the Shechemites. Jacob was ignorant of their
purpose, until their work of cruelty was accomplished. He reproved his
sons, and told them that they had troubled him, to make him despised
among the inhabitants of the land. And because of this their wrong, the
surrounding nations would manifest their indignation by destroying
him and his house. In his distress Jacob again calls upon God. “And
God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there, and
make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou
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fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. Then Jacob said unto his
household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods
that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments, and let
us arise, and go up to Beth-el, and I will make there an altar unto God,