_A.M. 2265. B.C. 1739._ Jacob is still upon his journey toward Canaan; and never did so many memorable things occur in any march, as in this of Jacob's little family. By the way he meets, ( 1,) _ With good tidings from his God, Genesis 32:1._ (2,) With bad tidings from his brother, to whom he sent... [ Continue Reading ]
_The angels of God met him_ In some visible and glorious forms, as they frequently appeared to the patriarchs. Probably only Jacob saw them. They met him to bid him welcome to Canaan again; a more honourable reception than ever any prince had that was met by the magistrates of a city. They _met him_... [ Continue Reading ]
_This is God's host_ Or _army;_ so the angels are justly called, because of their great number, their excellent order, their mighty power, and the service they perform for God and his church, for the protection of which they are sent. A good man may see by faith what Jacob saw with his bodily eyes.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Speak unto my lord Esau_ He calls Esau his _lord_, and himself his _servant_, to intimate that he did not insist on the prerogatives of the birthright and blessing which he had obtained for himself, but left it to God to fulfil his own purpose in his seed. And he gives him a short account of himsel... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have sent to tell my lord_ This message of Jacob shows great prudence in him; for had he returned into Canaan without informing his brother, and making him acquainted with the substance he had brought with him from Haran, Esau, who lived at a distance from his father Isaac, probably would have th... [ Continue Reading ]
_He cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him_ He is now weary of waiting for the days of mourning for his father, and before they come resolves to slay thee. _Then was Jacob greatly afraid and distressed_ He was conscious how deeply he had offended his brother, and remembered the enmity wh... [ Continue Reading ]
He has recourse to God in his distress by prayer, the only effectual means of obtaining relief in trouble. And surely a finer model of genuine prayer can hardly be met with or imagined. It was evidently dictated by the feelings of his heart in this trying season. He addressed himself to God as _the... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am not worthy_ It is a surprising plea. One would think he should have pleaded that what was now in danger was _his own_ against all the world, and that he had earned it dear enough; no, he pleads, _Lord, I am not worthy of it. Of the least of all thy mercies_ Much less am I worthy of so great a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Deliver me from my brother Esau, for I fear him_ The fear that quickens prayer is itself pleadable. It was not a robber, but a murderer that he was afraid of: nor was it his own life only that lay at stake, but the _mothers'_, and the _children's. Thou saidst, I will surely do thee good_ God's prom... [ Continue Reading ]
_A present for Esau his brother_ As he prays and trusts in God, so he uses the means; and having piously made God his friend by prayer, prudently endeavours to make Esau his friend by a present. _Put a space between drove and drove_ To mitigate his displeasure by degrees.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jacob was left alone_ In some private place, that he might more freely and ardently pour out his soul in prayer, and again spread his cares and fears before God. _There wrestled a man with him_ The eternal Word, or Son of God, who often appeared in a human shape, before he assumed the human nature.... [ Continue Reading ]
_He prevailed not against him_ The angel suffered himself to be conquered, to encourage Jacob's faith and hope against the approaching danger: nay, he even imparted strength to him to maintain the conflict. For it was not in his own strength that Jacob wrestled, nor by his own strength that he preva... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let me go_ Thus the angel, by an admirable condescension, speaks to Jacob as God did to Moses, Exodus 32:10, _Let me alone_, and that to show the prevalency of his prayer with God, and also to encourage him to persist in the conflict. _For the day breaketh_ Therefore he would not any longer detain... [ Continue Reading ]
_What is thy name? And he said, Jacob_ That is, a _supplanter_, as the word signifies. _He said_, Thy name _shall be called no more Jacob_ Or, as the words should rather be rendered, _shall not only be called Jacob, but Israel_, or _Israel rather than Jacob_, a _man prevailing with God_, rather than... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore dost thou ask after my name?_ Canst thou be at any loss to know who I am? The discovery of that was reserved for his death-bed, upon which he was taught to call him _Shiloh._ But instead of telling him his name, he gave him his blessing, which was the thing Jacob wrestled for; he _blessed... [ Continue Reading ]
_He halted on his thigh_ And many think he continued to do so to his dying day. If he did he had no reason to complain, for the honour and comfort he obtained by his struggle were abundantly sufficient to countervail the damage, though he went limping to his grave.... [ Continue Reading ]