June 6

JUNE 6.—"And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day."—Genesis 32:24.

JACOB was now returning with a large family and much abundance from Haran, and the house of his infamous uncle Laban. Thither he had fled from the face of his brother Esau, till his fury should be abated. But his resentment seems not to have yielded to time; for Jacob is informed of his approach, and four hundred men with him, and no doubt with murderous design. Here was an embarrassment! But God had said to him, "Return;" and he had also said, "I will surely do thee good"—This was his encouragement. But what was his conduct? It equally expressed prudence and piety. He sends forward a present, with a soft answer, that turneth away wrath; and then he has recourse to prayer. For except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it; except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. When we have arranged our plans, and secured our means, and done all that we can do, we must cast our care upon him that careth for us, and say, "O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity." Jacob found prayer not only his duty, but his privilege. How pitiable are those in trouble who cannot say from experience, "It is good for me to draw near to God." In the perplexities, dangers, distresses of life; in the loss of relations, the failure of friends, the insufficiency of creature-helpers; how relieving to the burdened spirit is it to say, "Therefore will I look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation, my God will hear me."

—Imagine Jacob's situation. He was left alone. His family had been sent forward. It was now past midnight. No noise was heard. Perhaps no star was seen. He was kneeling on the ground in prayer, with his eyes closed, or raised towards heaven—when he felt the fingers of some one, seizing and grappling him—and he started up and closed with his antagonist—and endeavoured to maintain his standing against him—There wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. Wrestling is a trying and close combat, in which we can only engage personally, hand to hand; it allows not of seconds and helpers; and the aim of each is to throw the other upon the ground. Jacob's opponent came as his friend; but how could Jacob think so at first, when instead of being lulled to sleep, he was grasped and pulled to and fro with violence? Though mercy brings him, the Lord's coming to his people is often alarming in appearance and apprehension. He works by unlikely means, and in a way the most strange. He impoverishes in order to enrich; wounds us in order to heal; by legal despair he brings us into the hope of the gospel; and by death leads us to life eternal. Let us welcome him in whatever manner he may appear. Job could say, "He hath taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces"—But he could say, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him."

The affair was not a vision, but a real transaction. We may however make two inquiries. First; who was this mysterious personage that strove with Jacob? Hosea calls him "the angel;" he is here called "a man"—yet the prophet says, Jacob "had power with God;" and Jacob himself says, "I have seen God face to face."

VOL. I.