Bible Biographies
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him: I hid Me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of
his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also,
and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.... Peace, peace to
him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will
heal him.”
Isaiah 57:16-19
.
Jacob in his distress was not overwhelmed. He had repented, he
had endeavored to atone for the wrong to his brother. And when
threatened with death through the wrath of Esau, he sought help from
God. “Yea, he had power over the Angel, and prevailed: he wept,
and made supplication.” “And He blessed him there.”
Hosea 12:4
;
Genesis 32:29
. In the power of His might the forgiven one stood up,
no longer the supplanter, but a prince with God. He had gained not
merely deliverance from his outraged brother, but deliverance from
himself. The power of evil in his own nature was broken; his character
was transformed.
At eventide there was light. Jacob, reviewing his life-history,
recognized the sustaining power of God—“the God which fed me all
my life long unto this day, the Angel which redeemed me from all
evil.”
Genesis 48:15, 16
.
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The same experience is repeated in the history of Jacob’s sons—sin
working retribution, and repentance bearing fruit of righteousness unto
life.
God does not annul His laws. He does not work contrary to them.
The work of sin He does not undo. But He transforms. Through His
grace the curse works out blessing.
Of the sons of Jacob, Levi was one of the most cruel and vin-
dictive, one of the two most guilty in the treacherous murder of the
Shechemites. Levi’s characteristics, reflected in his descendants, in-
curred for them the decree from God, “I will divide them in Jacob,
and scatter them in Israel.”
Genesis 49:7
. But repentance wrought
reformation; and by their faithfulness to God amidst the apostasy of
the other tribes, the curse was transformed into a token of highest
honor.
“The Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the
covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto Him,
and to bless in His name.” “My covenant was with him of life and
peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared Me,
and was afraid before My name.... He walked with Me in peace and