cing towards his brother with such a force. The news of Jacob's reappearance in Canaan, and that no longer as a dependant upon others, but as possessed of ample means and a considerable retinue, awoke into fresh ac- tivity the slumbering revenge of Esau, and led him, on the spur of the moment, to resolve on bringing the con- troversy between them to a decisive issue. This ap- pears from the whole narrative to be so plainlj' the true state of matters, that it seems needless to refer to other views that have been taken of it. But Jacob was not the man at any time to repel force with force, and he had now learned, by a variety of experiences, where the real secret of his safety and strength lay. His first im- pressions, however, on getting the intelligence, were those of trembling anxiety and fear ; but, on recovering himself a little, he called to his aid the two great weap- ons of the believer — pains and prayer. He first divided his people, with the flocks and herds, into two compa- nies, so that if the one were attacked the other might escape. Then he threw himself in earnest prayer and supplication on the covenant-mercy and faithfulness of God, putting God in mind of his past loving-kindnesses, at once great and undeserved ; reminding him also of the express charge he had given Jacob to return to Ca- naan, with the promise of his gracious presence, and im- ploring him now to establish the hopes he had inspired by granting deliverance from the hands of Esau. So ended the first night ; but on the following day further measures were resorted to bj^ Jacob, though still in the same direction. Av-are of the melting power of kind- ness, and how " a gift in secret pacifieth anger," he re- solved on giving from his substance a munificent jirc s- ent to Esau, placing each kind by itself, one after the other, in a succession of droves, so that on hearing, as he passed drove after drove, the touching words, "A present sent to my lord Esau from thy sers-ant Jacob," it might be like the pouring of live coals on the head. of his wrathful enemy. How could he let his .furj- explode against a brother who showed himself so anxious to be on terms of peace with him ? It could scarcely be, un- less there were still in Jacob's condition the grounds of a quarrel between him and his God not yet altogether settled, and imperilling the success even of the best ef- forts and the most skilful preparations.
That there really was something of the sort now sup- posed seems plain from what ensued. Jacob had made all his arrangements, and had got his family as well as his substance transported over the Jabbok (a brook that traverses the land of Gilead, and runs into the Jordan about half way lietwecn the Lake of Galilee rnd the Dead Sea), himself remaining behind for the night. It is not said for what purpose he so remained, but there can be little doubt it was for close and solitary dealing with God. While thus engaged, one suddenly appeared in the form of a man, and in the guise of an enemy wrestling with him and contending for the mastery. Esau was still at some distance, but here was an adver- sarj' already present with whom Jacob had to maintain a severe and perilous conflict ; and this plainly an ad- versary in appearance only human, but in reality the angel of the Lord's presence. It was as much as to say, " You have reason to be afraid of the enmity of one mightier than Esau, and, if you can only prevail in get- ting deliverance from this, there is no fear that matters will go well with you otherwise ; right with God, you may trust him to set you right with your brother." The ground and reason of the matter lay in Jacob's de- ceitful and wicked conduct before leaving the land of Canaan, which had fearfully compromised the character of God, and brought disturbance into Jacob's relation to the covenant. Leaving the land of Canaan covered with guilt, and liable to wrath, he must now re-enter it amid sharp contending, such as might lead to great searchings of heart, deep sjiiritual abasement, and the renunciation of all sinful and crooked devices as utterly at variance with the childlike simplicity and confidence in God which it became him to exercise. In the ear-
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nest conflict, he maintained his ground, till the heaven- ly combatant touched the hollow of his thigh and put it out of joint, in token of the supernatural might which this mysterious antagonist had at his command, and showing how easy it had been for him (if he had so pleased) to gain the master}'. But even tlien Jacob woidd not quit his hold ; nay, all the more he would re- tain it, since now he could do nothing more, and since, also, it was plain he had to do with one who had the power of life and death in his hand ; he woidd, there- fore, not let him go till he obtained a blessing. Faith thus wrought mightily out of human weakness — strong by reason of its clinging affection, and its beseeching importunity for the favor of heaven, as expressed in Hos. xii, 4 : "By his strength he had power with God ; yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed ; he wept and made supplication unto him." In attestation of tlie fact, and for a suitable coinmemoration of it, he had his name changed from Jacob to Isi-ael (combatant or wrestler with God) ; " for as a prince," it was added, by way of explanation, " hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." Jacob, in turn, asked after the name of the person who had wrestled with him — not as if am^ longer ignorant who it might be, but wishing to have the character or manifestation of God- head, as this had now appeared to him, embodied in a significant and appropriate name. His request, howev- er, was denied; the divine wrestler withdrew, after hav- ing blessed him. But Jacob himself gave a name to the place, near the Jabbok, where the memorable trans- action had occurred: he called it Peniel {the face of God'), " for," said he, " I have seen (rod face to face, and my life is preserved" (Gen. xxxii, 25-31). The contest indicated that he had reason to fear the reverse ; but his preservation was the sign of reconciliation and blessing.