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Jacob’s Terrible Night of Wrestling
119
had fastened his trembling grasp on the promises of God, and the
heart of Infinite Love could not turn away the sinner’s plea.
Jacob’s Name Becomes “Israel”
Jacob now clearly saw the mistake that had led to his sin in
obtaining the birthright by fraud. He had not trusted God’s promises
but had tried by his own efforts to bring about what God would
have accomplished in His own time and way. As an evidence that
he had been forgiven, his name was changed to one designed to
keep alive the memory of his victory. “Your name,” said the Angel,
“shall no longer be called Jacob [supplanter], but Israel; for you have
struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
The crisis in his life was past. Doubt, perplexity, and remorse
had made his existence bitter, but now all was changed. The peace
of being reconciled to God was sweet. Jacob no longer was afraid to
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meet his brother—God could move the heart of Esau to accept his
humiliation and repentance.
While Jacob was wrestling with the Angel, another heavenly
messenger was sent to Esau. In a dream, Esau saw his brother, for
twenty years an exile—he witnessed his grief at finding that his
mother was dead, and he saw him surrounded by the hosts of God.
The God of his father was with him.
The two companies at last approached each other, the desert
chief leading his men of war, and Jacob with his wives and children
followed by long lines of flocks and herds. Leaning on his staff,
Jacob went forward, pale and disabled from his recent conflict. He
walked slowly and painfully, but his face was lighted up with joy
and peace.
At the sight of that crippled sufferer, “Esau ran to meet him, and
embraced him, ... and they wept.” Even the hearts of Esau’s rough
soldiers were touched. They could not account for the change that
had come over their captain.
In his night of anguish Jacob had been taught how useless human
help is, how groundless trust in human power is. Helpless and
unworthy, he pleaded God’s promise of mercy to the repentant sinner.
That promise was his assurance that God would pardon and accept
him.