Night of Wrestling
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had brought this peril upon the innocent. With earnest cries and tears
he made his prayer before God. Suddenly a strong hand was laid upon
him. He thought that an enemy was seeking his life, and he endeavored
to wrest himself from the grasp of his assailant. In the darkness the
two struggled for the mastery. Not a word was spoken, but Jacob put
forth all his strength, and did not relax his efforts for a moment. While
he was thus battling for his life, the sense of his guilt pressed upon his
soul; his sins rose up before him, to shut him out from God. But in
his terrible extremity he remembered God’s promises, and his whole
heart went out in entreaty for His mercy. The struggle continued until
near the break of day, when the stranger placed his finger upon Jacob’s
thigh, and he was crippled instantly. The patriarch now discerned
the character of his antagonist. He knew that he had been in conflict
with a heavenly messenger, and this was why his almost superhuman
effort had not gained the victory. It was Christ, “the Angel of the
covenant,” who had revealed Himself to Jacob. The patriarch was now
disabled and suffering the keenest pain, but he would not loosen his
hold. All penitent and broken, he clung to the Angel; “he wept, and
made supplication” (
Hosea 12:4
), pleading for a blessing. He must
have the assurance that his sin was pardoned. Physical pain was not
sufficient to divert his mind from this object. His determination grew
stronger, his faith more earnest and persevering, until the very last.
The Angel tried to release Himself; He urged, “Let Me go, for the day
breaketh;” but Jacob answered, “I will not let Thee go, except Thou
bless me.” Had this been a boastful, presumptuous confidence, Jacob
would have been instantly destroyed; but his was the assurance of one
who confesses his own unworthiness, yet trusts the faithfulness of a
covenant-keeping God.
Jacob “had power over the Angel, and prevailed.”
Hosea 12:4
.
Through humiliation, repentance, and self-surrender, this sinful, erring
mortal prevailed with the Majesty of heaven. He had fastened his
trembling grasp upon the promises of God, and the heart of Infinite
Love could not turn away the sinner’s plea.
The error that had led to Jacob’s sin in obtaining the birthright
by fraud was now clearly set before him. He had not trusted God’s
promises, but had sought by his own efforts to bring about that which
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God would have accomplished in His own time and way. As an
evidence that he had been forgiven, his name was changed from one