JACOB'S NEW NAME. -- Genesis 32:9-12; Genesis 32:24-30. GOLDEN TEXT. --_ And he said,. will not let thee go, except thou bless me._ -- Genesis 32:26. TIME. --About B. C. 1739. PLACE. --Peniel, east of the Jordan, on the brook Jabbok. HELPFUL READINGS. -- Genesis 27:41-46; Genesis 28:13-15; Genesis 3... [ Continue Reading ]
AM NOT WORTHY OF THE LEAST OF ALL THE MERCIES. The humility of his petition is the best of evidences of. lowly and contrite spirit. He ascribes all that he possesses, not to himself, but to the divine blessing. He had twenty years before "passed over this Jordan" with his staff as his only possessi... [ Continue Reading ]
DELIVER ME... FROM THE HAND OF ESAU. He counts it certain that Esau was marching upon him in order to fulfill the purpose formed twenty years before. His fears might have been due, in part, to his own guilty conscience, for there is no proof that Esau cherished. bloody purpose. Still Jacob seems to... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SAIDST,. WILL SURELY DO THEE GOOD. He stands upon the divine word and quotes it to press his plea. It is his hope and his strength. Cavillers have criticised this method of petitioning God, but it is proper to remind him of his promises. He loves to see us place reliance on his word and stand... [ Continue Reading ]
II. THE STRUGGLE IN THE NIGHT. 24. AND JACOB WAS LEFT ALONE. After his prayer he had proceeded with his preparations which had occupied the day. He had first prepared. splendid present for his brother which was sent on in advance with. conciliatory message. He then took his wives and children over... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE SAW THAT HE PREVAILED NOT AGAINST HIM. The Speaker's Commentary says: "The mystical meaning of the whole transaction must be of this kind; the time was an important epoch in Jacob's history. It was. turning point in his life. There had been much most faulty in his character, which had led hi... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL NOT LET THEE GO, EXCEPT THOU BLESS ME. This is the culminating point of the struggle, the very acme of the conditions to successful prayer. In the outward form of the contest, which shadows forth the spiritual conflict, Jacob stands maimed and almost helpless. As if to test him, at daybreak, hi... [ Continue Reading ]
III.. NEW MAN WITH. NEW NAME. 27. AND HE SAID, WHAT IS THY NAME? His name is asked, not for information, but in order to call attention to his former, and to show the need of. new man who would be worthy of. new name. The name Jacob, meaning "Supplanter," was. continual reminder of the narrow, sel... [ Continue Reading ]
THY NAME SHALL BE CALLED NO MORE JACOB, BUT ISRAEL. Israel means. "prince with God," one who prevails with God, who has prevailed in the struggle of prayer and obtained the blessing he sought. The change of name thus indicates the change in Jacob's relations to God and to Esau which followed his vi... [ Continue Reading ]
TELL ME,. PRAY THEE, THY NAME. A new name had been bestowed on Jacob, and this emboldens him to ask the name of his celestial visitor, whom he doubtless recognized as the messenger of Jehovah. It is possible that he wished to know his name in order that he might invoke his help in time of need. If... [ Continue Reading ]
JACOB CALLED THE NAME OF THE PLACE PENIEL. The word Peniel means "the face of God." Jacob, conscious of the divine blessing, thought that he had looked upon the divine face,. mistake on his part we suppose, as Hosea declares that he wrestled with an angel, and Christ affirms that no man hath seen G... [ Continue Reading ]