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Patriarchs and Prophets
that was a reminder of his sin, to one that commemorated his victory.
“Thy name,” said the Angel, “shall be called no more Jacob [the
supplanter], but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and
with men, and hast prevailed.”
Jacob had received the blessing for which his soul had longed.
His sin as a supplanter and deceiver had been pardoned. The crisis
in his life was past. Doubt, perplexity, and remorse had embittered
his existence, but now all was changed; and sweet was the peace of
reconciliation with God. Jacob no longer feared to meet his brother.
God, who had forgiven his sin, could move the heart of Esau also to
accept his humiliation and repentance.
While Jacob was wrestling with the Angel, another heavenly mes-
senger was sent to Esau. In a dream, Esau beheld his brother for twenty
years an exile from his father’s house; he witnessed his grief at finding
his mother dead; he saw him encompassed by the hosts of God. This
dream was related by Esau to his soldiers, with the charge not to harm
Jacob, for 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, attended
by shepherds and handmaidens, and followed by long lines of flocks
and herds. Leaning upon his staff, the patriarch went forward to meet
the band of soldiers. He was pale and disabled from his recent conflict,
and he walked slowly and painfully, halting at every step; but his
countenance was lighted up with joy and peace.
At sight of that crippled sufferer, “Esau ran to meet him, and
embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.”
As they looked upon the scene, even the hearts of Esau’s rude soldiers
were touched. Notwithstanding he had told them of his dream, they
could not account for the change that had come over their captain.
Though they beheld the patriarch’s infirmity, they little thought that
this his weakness had been made his strength.
In his night of anguish beside the Jabbok, when destruction seemed
just before him, Jacob had been taught how vain is the help of man,
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how groundless is all trust in human power. He saw that his only
help must come from Him against whom he had so grievously sinned.
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. Sooner might heaven and earth pass than that