River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-05-29


wonderful character and God intend
ed him for a great work, although to
accomplish his purpose he had hard
work with this one of the leaders of
the Jewish race. To understand this
character requires and invites pro-
found study, and as a result we shall
not be inclined to throw stones at
him. How much he is like ourselves.
His failings appeal to us and comfort
US; his aspirations speak to us and
cheer us in our own efforts; his sor-
rows bring comfort in our own times
of bereavement and separation. If
ever you are discouraged or down
hearted, take courage. The God who
wrought wonders in Jacob and in
Simon Peter can do as much for you,
if he can have his way with you.
The chapter in which the text is
found is a great chapter in the life
of this unusual man, and marks a
crisis in his temporal career and in
his spiritual experience; and the lat
ter was of far more Importance, for
God was making this man new head
of the race which he had designated
as his own. There are three i'm
portant scenes in the chapter. Morn
ing, when the angel host met him;
afternoon, when he received news that
Easau was coming to meet him and
this news stirred him to fear and
brought him to prayer; and night,
when he was alone with God and
there wrestled a man with him. In
these scenes the temporal and spir-
itual life of Jacob begin anew, and
two lessons stand out clearly: First,
God demands spiritual men for spir-
itual work; second, surrender to God
is the only but the necessary condi-
ton to this spiritual life. At the
end of the struggle we read that God
blessed him there.
The Struggle.
Let US not miss the facts Of the
story nor misinterpret them. How
often we hear or read that Jacob
wrestled with God at Pencil; but we
read And Jacob was left alone; and
there wrestled man with him until
the breaking Of the day" 1t does not
represent Jacob as beginning the
party in the contest. 1t is not an IL
lustration of wrestling with God in
prayer. 1t was an endeavor on Gods
part to break down Jacobs opposi-
ton, to bring him to an end of him.
self, to take from him all self-trust,
all confidence in his own cleyerness
and resources, to make him know
that Esau is to be overcome and
Canaan gained not by craft or fattery
but by divine grace and power; and
step by step as we go through the
story and study the experience we OBJ
serve the contrast between nature and
grace, man and God, self-effort and di-
vine power. Men crush the quartz
to get out the gold, but God brushes
the man to get the gold into him. He
gets Jacob into a corner, and so he
deals with us when we are trying to
make our own plans successful.
And when he saw that he prevail
ed not against him he touched the
hollow of his thigh; and the hollow
of Jacobs thigh was out of joint, as
he, wrestled with him" Just where
Jacob considers himself the strongest,
there God put his finger and brings his
strength to naught; it is only when
we are weak that we are really
strong; 1t is just when God has put
his finger on our place of resistance
that the way is open for blessing,
power and usefulness. 1t is a differ
ent place and different experience
with each one of us. God brings pain
and sorrow, shame and confusion, or
loss and grief, as the case may be. In
a thousand different ways he seeks to
make us like unto himself; but at the
end he accomplishes his purposes and
causes us to rejoice in him. His
touch always takes away the power
to wrestle, but not always the desire;
but may 1t do that for you, and do it
now.
The Question.
What is thy manner" And he told
the truth; let us give this willy man all
credit for that. A few days ago he
would have said it-and with pride
but now with confession and confu-
sion: "And he said, Jacob" God asks
you that question; l pray you, tell him
the truth. You may hide your real
name and character from men, but not
from God. Be honest with him. 1t
may bring shame, confusion, tears, but
tell him that you thought you were
so and so, but now at close grips with
God you know you are only Jacob.
.Vile and full of sin l am, thou are
| full of grace and truth" Gods great
est difficulty is our own lack of hon
esty, want of fairness, and failure to
give up everything except a claim on
the righteousness of Jesus Christ
The Result.
"And he said, Thy name shall be
called no more Jacob (Suplanter), but
Israel: for as prince hast thou pow.
or with God and with men, and hast
| prevailed. And he blessed
| him there =. And the sun rose
unon him" Three gracious results
followed this remarkable experience:
new name or character, new pow
err. and a new experience; no wonder
Jacob called the name OF the place
Peniel. .For l have met God face to
face"