After they are born this is continued in their lives for we are told, "He (Jacob) believed that the promise concerning himself could not be fulfilled so long as Esau retained the rights of the first-born, and he constantly studied to devise some way whereby he might secure the blessing" � and again "Jacob had learned from his mother of the divine intimation that the birthright should fall to him, and he was filled with an unspeakable desire for the privileges which it would confer. It was not the possession of his father's wealth that he craved; the spiritual birthright was the object of his longing � to inherit the immortal possessions embraced in the blessings of the covenant-here were the privileges and honors that kindled his most ardent desires. His mind was ever reaching forward to the future, and seeking to grasp its unseen blessings." Patriarchs and Prophets 178-179 This, striving to obtain that which was promised, led Jacob to deceive his father and "he obtained by fraud the coveted blessing." ibed p. 180 At his mothers prompting a plan of action was set into motion that, filled him with self condemnation, separated him from his mother, and caused him to flee for his life into a strange land.
Here we find Jacob alone, "without the camp" afraid that in his very attempt to obtain the birthright, he had lost it forever and on "the evening of the second day" he confessed his sin. The scriptures represent him as taking a stone for his pillow ( Christ the Rock for a foundation ) and laying down to sleep. Now Jacob is where Christ can bless him and He could wait no longer, He revealed to Jacob just what the lonely fugitive needed, redemption from a life of sin and in this is wrapped up all that the birthright offered. O'wonderful redeemer! Jacob stops fighting for the prized possession and with nothing to offer but a broken and contrite heart, Christ comes to him with words of comfort and assurance. "I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land for I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of." Gen. 28:15 Thank God that the story doesn't end with Jacob left to wander alone in a strange and hostile land without hope, without the promise of divine guidance.
Jacob spent the first part of his life in the old covenant, grasping after the birthright possession that had been promised. Esau exclaimed "Is not he rightly named Jacob?" for he hath supplanted me these two times." Gen. 27:36 But from whom was Jacob in reality trying to obtain (supplant) the birthright? Since the birthright included the land for "an everlasting possession" the heavenly Canaan, then included in the promise was eternal life and Christ's righteousness. To try to obtain this promise by any other means than as a promise from God is righteousness by works. Another gospel that is not another. Gal. 1:6-7 Worse than that, it is attempting to usurp God's glory. We are told: "When we take into our hands the management of things with which we have to do, and depend upon our own wisdom for success, we are taking a burden which God has not given us, and are trying to bear it without His aid. We are taking upon ourselves the responsibility that belongs to God, and thus are really putting ourselves in His place. We may well have anxiety and anticipate danger and loss, for it is certain to befall us." MB p. 100-101 But when Jacob stopped attempting to supplant the birthright, and "with weeping and deep humiliation he confessed his sin, and entreated for some evidence that he was not utterly forsaken." PP p. 184 then he received the promise. Now Jacob is in the New Covenant, fully entered into "that rest" Heb. 4 Allowing Christ to write his laws in his heart. The divine stamp on our character can only be placed there by promise.
This change in Jacob is dramatically portrayed in the night of wrestling with the angel. Twenty years after his flight from the wrath of Esau finds Jacob on the road back to Canaan under divine direction. Even now he is tempted to fear his elder brother although " two host of heavenly angels seemed to encompass him behind and before, advancing with his company, as if for their protection." PP p. 195
"Jacob felt that he had something to do to secure his own safety " PP p. 195 and after sending messengers ahead with "oxen, an asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants" only to have them return with the message of Esau's approach. He divided the people and stayed behind to pray. With the knowledge that it was his sin that caused the endangerment of all he prays for deliverance, only to be interrupted by the touch of "a strong hand". Jacob wrestled to save himself from this supposed assailant nonstop until " the divine touch at break of day revealed the One with whom he had been contending-- the Angel of the covenant; and, weeping and helpless, he fell upon the breast of Infinite Love, to receive the blessing for which his soul longed." MB. P. 11 "But when tribulation comes upon us, how many of us are like Jacob! We think it the hand of an enemy; and in the darkness we wrestle blindly until our strength is spent, and we find no comfort or deliverance." MB. p. 11
This night of wrestling with all his strength against Christ is symbolic of the life of Jacob before Bethel. Fighting a loosing battle to obtain the promise, a false gospel, a life of bondage, but at "the dawning of the day", the dawning of Jacob's conversion, he realizes that it is the Angel of the Covenant that he is contending with and falls on his neck weeping, no longer hindering, the mission of Christ. This is the new covenant, this is symbolic of Jacob's life after Bethel.
How about us? When will we stop contending with "The Angel of the Covenant", he comes to us with unfathomable blessings and infinite love only to be stopped in His tracks by our grasping, NO! our usurping of His glory. If we could only see, as Jacob did, what we are doing in its true nature and stop, then Christ could effect the change in us that we see in Jacob. Then we would receive the promised blessings, the Heavenly Canaan, everlasting life, and more importantly the mind of Christ. Phil. 2:5-8 No longer grasping after those things that belong to God, ( Isaiah 14;13, 14 ) but trusting those things to Him who promised them and losing self in service for others, edifying, uplifting, the "Israel" of God.
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