"And he said,
Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except
thou bless me" (Gen. 32:26).
Jacob continues on
his journey toward home. He begins to see the mountains of his land rising up
before him...and as the mountains rise, so does fear. Fear of what he's
left...and fear of what awaits him.
Esau.
A slighted, deceived
and usurped brother has been treating an aging father's wealth as his own for
years. Now, the one to whom they were given is returning.
Jacob has reason to
fear.
He sends servants
ahead to bring tidings of his arrival to Esau. He calls Esau "my lord
Esau" and himself, "your servant Jacob." He comes in complete
contrition and humbleness of heart.
The servants return,
bringing the news that Esau advances to meet him--with a company of 400 armed
men.
Bad news. Things do
not look good.
We all know the
story. Jacob sends his family across the river Jabbok and while he pleads with
the Lord has an encounter with Christ. Nay, more than encounter: he wrestles
physically with him all night long.
"And when he
(Christ) saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his
thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with
him" (vs. 25).
"The struggle
continued until near the break of day, when the stranger placed his finger upon
Jacob's thigh, and he was crippled instantly. The patriarch now discerned the
character of his antagonist. He knew that he had been in conflict with a heavenly
messenger, and this was why his almost superhuman effort had not gained the
victory. It was Christ, "the Angel of the covenant," who had revealed
Himself to Jacob" (PP 196).
The knowledge that
it was Christ, his only hope and salvation, made Jacob desperate.
"The patriarch
was now disabled and suffering the keenest pain, but he would not loosen his
hold. All penitent and broken, he clung to the Angel; "he wept, and made
supplication" (Hosea 12:4), pleading for a blessing.
"He must have
the assurance that his sin was pardoned. Physical pain was not sufficient to
divert his mind from this object. His determination grew stronger, his faith
more earnest and persevering, until the very last" (PP 196).
Christ urged Jacob
to release him. But Jacob clung tighter. "I will not let thee go except
thou bless me," he stated with tears.
How many souls would
dare to utter such a condition to the Creator of the Universe? It seems
audacious, yet...
"Had this been
a boastful, presumptuous confidence, Jacob would have been instantly destroyed;
but his was the assurance of one who confesses his own unworthiness, yet trusts
the faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God" (PP 196).
It was assurance.
Trust. Humbleness of heart.
This was faith.
Clinging faith.
Faith that would not
be deterred from its purpose--that of being granted pardon and having peace in
the heart in the light of God's love.
"Jacob
"had power over the Angel, and prevailed." Hosea 12:4. Through
humiliation, repentance, and self-surrender, this sinful, erring mortal
prevailed with the Majesty of heaven. He had fastened his trembling grasp upon
the promises of God, and the heart of Infinite Love could not turn away the
sinner's plea" (PP 197).
The heart of Christ
could not turn away. Would not turn away.
His love compelled
him to remain and Jacob did indeed prevail. He gained the assurance of love and
pardon from heaven's throne: exactly what he had pled for.
Christ never will
turn away from one who, in faith and trust, clings to Him and pleads.
He didn't turn away
from Jacob.
And He won't turn
away from you.
Teach me, Father, how to have clinging faith...
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