Genesis 32:31

Genesis 32:31

I. From the great conflict with sin none come off without many a scar. We may wrestle and prevail, but there will be touches of the enemy, which will leave their long and bitter memories. The way to heaven is made of falling down and rising up again. The battle is no steady, onward fight, but rallies and retreats, retreats and rallies.

II. The reason of our defeats is that the old sin of the character continues, and continues with unabated force, in the heart of a child of God. There are two ways in which sin breaks out and gains an advantage over a believer. (1) A new temptation suddently presents itself. (2) The old habit of sin recurs recurs, indeed, sevenfold, but still the same sin.

III. All sin in a believer must arise from a reduction of grace. This is the result of grieving the Holy Ghost by a careless omission of prayer or other means of grace. There was an inward defeat before there was an outward and apparent one.

IV. Defeat is not final. It is not the end of the campaign. It is but one event in the war. It may even be converted into a positive good to the soul, for God can and will overrule guilt to gain. He allows the defeat to teach us repentance and humility.

J. Vaughan, Fifty Sermons,6th series, p. 33.

References: Genesis 32:31. Parker, vol. i., p. 363.Genesis 32 F. W. Robertson, Notes on Genesis,p. 116; H. W. Beecher, Sermons,2nd series, p. 106; R. S. Candlish, Book of Genesis, vol.ii., p. 63; M. Dods, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph,p. 99; R. Lorimer, Bible Studies in Life and Truth,p. 1; Expositor,1st series, vol. viii., p. 409. Genesis 33:9. Parker, vol. i., p. 363.Genesis 33:17. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. iii., P 543.