God ; and takes occasion from it to urge them to an imitation of his example. We shall consider,
I. Jacob's victory —
In a season of great distress he betook himself to prayer —
[Jacob was greatly alarmed at the tidings that his brother Esau was coming against him with four hundred men to destroy him. He therefore used all the most prudential means to pacify his brother, or at least to prevent the total destruction of him- self and his family. But he did not trust in the means he had devised. He determined to seek protection from God, well knowing that no means whatever could succeed without him, and that his favour would be a sure defence.
When Jacob staid behind in order to call upon his God, God instantly came forth to meet him. The person who is said to have wrestled with him is sometimes called a man, sometimes an angel, and sometimes Goda. It was none other than the Son of God, " the Angel of the Covenant," who assumed on this occasion, as he did on many other occasions, a human shape : and by his condescending to come to Jacob in this manner, he shewed, both to him and us, that none should ever seek his face in vain.
As for Jacob's wrestling with the angel, the prophet explains the import of that phrase, by saying, that Jacob " wept and made supplication unto him." He " stirred up himself, as it were, to lay hold on God ; " and pleaded his cause before him with boldness and confidence. Assured of a successful issue, he persevered in the conflict till break of day ; and when soli- cited by his apparent adversary to terminate his exertions, he replied, " I will not let thee go until thou bless me." Yet we are particularly informed, that with this boldness there was a mixture of the deepest humility ; for he urged his petitions as our Lord himself did in his incarnate state b, with strong crying and tears.
Thus did Jacob shew us to whom we should go in an hour of trouble, and in what manner we should endeavour to interest him in our behalf.]
By this means he obtained the desired relief —
[We are told twice in the text, that " he had power, and prevailed." He prevailed with God ; and by God's assistance prevailed over man. The great object of his suit was to defeat the malice, and assuage the wrath, of his brother Esau. But
a Compare Gen. xxxii. 24, 28, 30. with ver. 4, 5. b Heb. v. 7.