THE interpretation of Jacob's arduous struggle with error which Mrs. Eddy so strikingly sets forth in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," contains a valuable lesson for the student of Christian Science. The Biblical story makes clear that Jacob, living in fear of his brother Esau, from whom he was separated, conceived the high purpose of a reconciliation; for thus would all sense of fear be destroyed. Hoping to bring about this state through a show of good will toward his estranged kinsman, Jacob sent him valuable gifts—flocks of camels, sheep, goats—in short, a portion of all the creatures which in large measure constituted the wealth of those nomadic husbandmen.
Accordingly, these proffered gifts were sent forward in the hope that the herdsmen in charge of the various flocks, who had been duly instructed as to the part they should play on meeting Esau, would manifest so friendly an attitude that he would be moved to forgiveness and reconciliation, both because of such great munificence on the part of his brother, as the flocks represented, and also because of the kindly demeanor of the herdsmen. As an earnest of his right purpose, Jacob even sent forward his whole family across the brook Jabbok—and was alone, struggling. With what? His own mental condition, his own anxious thoughts, with fear and doubt as to the success of his enterprise undertaken for the high purpose of securing a reconciliation with his brother, whereby the noble promise of their lives might be fulfilled.
This night-long struggle was not peculiar to Jacob alone. Many a pilgrim on the journey of life, conscious of the enmity of another, has passed through the same experience, has encountered the same constricting fears and misgivings, the same hopes and expectations, now rising, now falling, like the ebb and flow of the restless sea. And Jacob, who was destined to play so large a part in the history of the chosen people, wrestled with the same false sense of life and existence which has beset all mortals before and since the day of the ancient patriarchs. In short, this son of Isaac was passing through that age-long struggle between Spirit and matter, between good and evil, the true and the false, which falls to the common lot of mankind.
