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118
The Beginning of the End
wrong to his brother and to avert the threatened danger. Then he
pleaded for divine protection: “I am not worthy of the least of all
the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant.
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... Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand
of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother
with the children.”
Jacob decided to spend the night in prayer, alone with God. God
could soften the heart of Esau. In Him was Jacob’s only hope.
An Angel Wrestles With Jacob
It was a lonely, mountainous region, the haunt of wild beasts,
robbers, and murderers. Unprotected, Jacob bowed in deep distress
upon the earth. It was midnight. All who made life dear to him were
exposed to danger and death. Bitter was the thought that his own sin
had brought this peril on the innocent.
Suddenly a strong hand was laid on him. He thought that an
enemy was seeking his life. In the darkness the two struggled for the
mastery. Neither spoke a word, but Jacob put forth all his strength
and did not relax his efforts for a moment. While he battled for his
life, his guilt pressed upon his soul; his sins rose up to shut him out
from God.
But in his terrible extremity he remembered God’s promises. The
struggle continued until near daybreak, when the stranger placed
his finger on Jacob’s thigh, and he was crippled instantly. Jacob
now knew that he had been in conflict with a heavenly messenger.
This was why his almost superhuman effort had not gained the
victory. It was Christ, “the angel of the covenant.” Jacob was now
disabled and suffering the sharpest pain, but he would not loosen
his hold. Repentant and broken, he clung to the Angel. “He wept,
and sought favor from Him,” pleading for a blessing. He must have
the assurance that his sin was pardoned. The Angel urged, “Let Me
go, for the day breaks;” but Jacob answered, “I will not let You go
unless You bless me!” He had the assurance of one who confesses
his unworthiness yet trusts the faithfulness of a covenant-keeping
God.
Jacob “struggled with the Angel and prevailed” (
Hosea 12:4
).
This sinful, erring mortal prevailed with the Majesty of heaven. He