Esau's royal and ducal strength—his family greatness before there was any king in Israel—for God reserves His own time, man's time is always—Jacob being but a poor shepherd, a plain man; this closes this part.
The counsels of God are now to be developed more, in the Person of the Lord Jesus; so it is indeed in Isaiah. When Joseph was born, Jacob thought already to pass out of Padan-aram, but all was not then accomplished—the inheritance not yet served for. The power of life and faith with God is however most wonderfully shown in Jacob's wrestling—and even in the wrestling, though not peaceful communion; yet more, this wrestling may be in intercession, as in Epaphroditus, it may be—but perhaps the Lord alone had it purely so—in the conflict of bearing; for in us, though this may be, it is corrective also, but there is prayer that we may not enter, and so passing through the trial with God.