The life of Jacob is fraught with many lessons for the ages. The history of this grand old patriarch, as found in Genesis, is a great one; and many and varied are the experiences therein related. Take for example his experience with his brother Esau. After many years of absence, under God's direction Jacob was returning to the land where his brother dwelt. His dealings with his father-in-law, Laban, and his short sojourn at Bethel had helped to chasten him. It seemed as if his whole character and outlook on life had been changed. When nearing his journey's end, he heard that his brother had gathered together a force of men and was on his way to meet him. Why this warlike greeting? Jacob thought he had reason to believe that it boded him no good; for had he not, in days gone by, wrongfully taken from his father the blessing that belonged to Esau?
Things were changed for Jacob. He had gone away from home a poor man; he was returning with flocks and herds and other signs of prosperity, which he had acquired in his years of labor. By returning to the land in which his kinsman dwelt he was putting himself, with his family and the fruits of his toil, in jeopardy. Jacob's thought was to appease his brother's wrath by sending him many material gifts. But would such gifts heal his brother of anger and resentment? He doubted it. While his servants were already on their way with these material peace offerings, Jacob, recognizing his utter helplessness, prayed to God. "Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear," is God's promise as given by the prophet Isaiah. Undoubtedly, this was a turning point in Jacob's career. All that he had learned of God was now to be put to the supreme test. In this connection it is noteworthy that before asking God for help, Jacob first expressed gratitude for the good which he had already received: he began his prayer by recognizing and counting his blessings.
What followed at Peniel is well known to Bible students. From the thirty-second chapter of Genesis we learn that Jacob wrestled all night with the angel of the Lord, and that the angel said at length, "Let me go, for the day breaketh." But the patriarch would not let go his hold till he had received the full blessing which the angelic messenger of God had come to confer upon him. Later, as Jacob "passed over Penuel" we are told that "the sun rose upon him," which might symbolize the fact that the sunshine of Truth, entering his consciousness and becoming active there, had caused him to cease to see Esau as an angry, revengeful, fleshly mortal, bent on harming him. As a result of his all-night struggle with the angel, he had come to see his brother as God saw him, in love. And we hear Jacob exclaim upon meeting Esau, "I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me." God is always pleased with His children. How could He be otherwise, when they are created expressly for the purpose of manifesting His goodness and love!
