Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1942-08-27


Isaac Watts.
How true it is that God is our
refuge and strength. a very present
hep in trouble Jacob found it so.
even though his trouble came upon
him because of his own misdeeds.
God had prospered him at Haran,
hut in due time he was led by cir
cumstance and by direct guidance
TO return to his own land (Gen
a1:1-3). Hindrances arose, but Jacob
pressed on. AS he came toward
home. however, he recalled the sin
which had caused him to fee. He
remembered now how he had de-
frauded Esau and this
1. Guilt Brought Fear wv. 2-8).
1t always does The sinful act Of
20 years before now faced Jacob. He
had left it behind and had all but
forgotten it. He had hoped that the
years would cover it, but they did
not-and they never do.
BE sure your sin will find you
OUT Mum. 1929 perhaps not this
week or this year, or next; but I'M
til it is dealt with and forgiven it is
there to rise up and plague you
sooner or later.
Jacobs fear was increased by
hearing that Esau came out to meet
him with 400 men. He tried by his
own devices to meet the situation,
but ultimately realized that his pre-
dicament had reached the point
where only God could help him.
How like US, trying everything else
until we realize its futility, and then
turning to God How delightfully."-
simplifed life becomes when we
turn to God first. Yet we are glad
that Jacobs
IL. Fear Brought Prayer (vv. g.
12)
1t was real prayer. too. although,
as w. H. Griffith Thomas suggests,
it is strange that after his blessed
personal experience with God he adj
dressed Him only as the God of his
fathers and not his own God ". 81.
Then. too. his faith seemed a bit
weak, for it was coupled with great
fear IL. ID.
W are told that fear is not q
proper motive for turning men to
God. Perhaps it is not the highest
motive. but both in Scripture and
II experience we find it to be true
that fear often lead~ men to God 10
real repentance and faith. II the
goodness and grace Of God do not
touch mans heart, it is assuredly
far better that he should be saved
through fear than to be eternally
lost.
Jacob, however. needed further
experience of dependence upon God
before he could be brought back in
peace into the land He was led
to send everyone away so that he
was alone when the Lord dealt with
him and
Ill. Prayer Brought Blessing (vv.
27-29).
Jacob. who had by deceit taken
the promise from Esau instead Of
awaiting Gods time to give it to
him, was now about to attempt an
other skillful scheme which would
have won over Esau and sent Jacob
into his land glorying in his own
ability. In spite of all Gods deal
ings with him, he was still Jacob
the supplanter. So God had to deal
with him.
We sometimes think of the grace
of God only as that which brings us
blessing and joy. but often God is
being most gracious and consider
ate of our real need by sending op-
position and hardship.
The divine visitor let Jacob strug-
gle all night, giving him chance to
submit of his own will; but when II
was evident that he would not, he
was shown that his own strength
would not do. for he was made lame
". 25).
The very thing which made Jacob
sure of his own strength became
his weakest point at the touch Of
God. He was not the last one to
learn that lesson.
The comment of F. B. Meyer on
this entire scene is most helpful:
Mote that Jacob did not lay hold Of
this visitor. but the visitor lay hold
If him. This is not a picture Of a
Ian coming to God, to wrestIe with
Cod in prayer, but record of God
coming to man. to break the spirit
OF stubbornness and lf-sufficiency
which particular man has for too
long time habitually manifested.
u night these two wrest1ed, the
one from heaven and the enc OF
earth, and when. at the dawn OF,
day, Jacob saw that he could not
prevail against the man. in his ex-
haustion and WEAKNESS he suddenly
'elt the touch Of the Strangers hand
on his thigh. Immediately his thigh
was out OF joint, rendering him alb
solutely helpless. But now Jacob
realized that the one with whom he
had wrestled all night was a divine