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STUDIES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

—INTERNATIONAL S.S. LESSONS—

SUGGESTIVE THOUGHTS DESIGNED TO ASSIST THOSE OF OUR READERS WHO ATTEND BIBLE CLASSES WHERE THESE LESSONS ARE USED; THAT THEY MAY BE ENABLED TO LEAD OTHERS INTO THE FULNESS OF THE GOSPEL.

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JACOB’S PREVAILING PRAYER

II. QUAR., LESSON I., APRIL 1, GEN. 32:9-12,24-30

Golden Text—”I will not let thee go except thou bless me.”—Gen. 32:26

The journey of Jacob back to the land of his nativity and to the presence of a presumably hostile brother, now wealthy and powerful, and from whose face he had fled for his life some twenty or perhaps forty years previous, was another evidence of his faith in God and of his respect for, and valuation of, the promises of God, whose fulfilment could be expected only in a far distant future, between which and the present the Jordan of death rolled. Like Abraham, he looked for a city whose builder and maker is God—the New Jerusalem, the Kingdom of God on earth. He knew that Abraham had died in faith not having realized the promises, and he was willing to likewise patiently wait.

This return from Padan-aram to the land of Canaan, the land of promise, can by no means be considered the fulfilment of the promise of possession of the land, the whole land of Canaan, for himself and his posterity for an everlasting possession, as some teach. And that Jacob did not so regard

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it is very manifest from his message to Esau on coming into the land—”And he commanded them [his servants] saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau, Thy servant Jacob saith thus, etc.” (Gen. 32:3,4.) To such a claim the Apostle Paul gives most emphatic denial, and shows that this promise never was fulfilled to them; nor has it even yet been fulfilled to their posterity, though it most assuredly will be, both to them, and to their posterity, at the time appointed. Paul says “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed. … By faith he sojourned [moved about, not settling down as an owner] in the land of promise as in a strange country, dwelling in tents [temporary, movable dwellings] with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he looked for a city [an established Kingdom] which hath foundations [permanence], whose builder and maker is God. … These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but, having seen them afar off, were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”—Heb. 11:9,10,13.

After forty years’ absence from home, Jacob was ready at the Lord’s command (Gen. 31:3,11-13; 28:15,20,21; 32:9) to return. Experience had taught him confidence in God and lack of confidence in his uncle Laban. Jacob was now ninety-seven years old, and rich in flocks and herds; and with his wives and twelve sons he started on the then long journey of four hundred and fifty miles, humanly fearful of the consequences, yet, notwithstanding his fears, boldly walking out on the promises of God.

VERSES 9-12. This is the first recorded prayer in the Bible, and it is beautifully humble, simple and trustful, and was acceptable to God. Verse 9 is a reverent and trustful address to the God of his fathers, Abraham and Isaac, recalling the divine command and promise of protection. (31:3,11-13.) Verse 10 disclaims any personal worthiness of this divine favor, not only of present protection and care, but also of “the truth,” the precious promises granted unto him. Then he thankfully acknowledges the blessings already received. While with his staff only he had passed over the Jordan, now he had become two bands. This much in fulfilment of the promise of a numerous posterity—”as the sand of the sea-shore.”

VERSES 11,12 tell the Lord of his fears of his brother, and ask for the promised protection. Thus with childlike simplicity he comes to God as to a loving father.

VERSES 24-28. In answer to Jacob’s fervent, trustful prayer God sent an angel, evidently to comfort and direct him. But Jacob was anxious for more than comfort and direction in mere temporal things, and all night therefore he pleaded with the angel for some special evidence of divine favor beyond temporal things. The angel, too, had a blessing in store for him, but delayed its bestowal until the break of day, that Jacob might have a chance of proving the strength of his desire and appreciation of the divine favor. Thus God would have all his children “strive to enter in” to the blessings promised, and to “fight the good fight of faith,” and so lay hold on eternal life. We may not listlessly drift into the divine favor. We must greatly appreciate and earnestly seek for it. As another test of Jacob’s faith and earnestness, instead of the desired blessing came a severe affliction—probably what is now known as sciatica, a most painful affliction of the sciatic nerve. But even this affliction did not in the least dissuade Jacob from his desire and determination to have, if possible, some special evidence of divine favor. Still he plead with the angel of the Lord.

And the angel said, “Let me go, for the day breaketh.” And Jacob answered, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” Then came the blessing, a blessing worthy of the night’s striving, and one which doubtless made his affliction seem comparatively light. Like Paul’s thorn in the flesh, the affliction became but a reminder of the promise and favor of God, and served doubtless to keep him from being unduly elated.

“And the angel saith unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”

In these words was couched the future glory and exaltation of Jacob as a prince in the earthly, visible phase of the Kingdom of God. “Ye shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 13:28; Matt. 8:11. See also Psa. 45:16 and MILLENNIAL DAWN, VOL. I., Chapter xiv.) Jacob was satisfied. And now, but one

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more thing he would ask—Was it for relief from his affliction? No; but he would know the name of his benefactor, this messenger of the Lord, that he might hold him in lasting and grateful remembrance. “And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?” He would have Jacob understand that the blessing was from God, whose messenger he was, and therefore he did not tell his name. The case is parallel to that of Manoah and the angel that visited him: “And Manoah said unto the angel of the Lord, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass I may do thee honor? And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?” Thus the true messengers of God always

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seek to give the honor unto God, and decline it for themselves.—See Rev. 19:10; John 14:28; Acts 3:12.

Thus Jacob was blessed again as at Bethel. The darkest seasons of his life were the special occasions for the manifestation of divine favor. And so the children of God ever find it when in their fears and perplexities they come to God for rest and consolation.

“E’en sorrow, touched by heaven, grows bright
With more than rapture’s ray,
As darkness shows us worlds of light
We never saw by day.”

VERSE 30. “And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel; for [said he] I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Here and in other instances the Hebrew word rendered God is elohim, meaning mighty one—a representative of God. “No man hath seen God at any time.”—John 1:18.

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— March 15, 1894 —