What a moment in one’s life when it could be said by any of us, “I have seen God face to face”! Let us see how this came about with Jacob. An interval of considerable time had elapsed since he had said, “this is the gate of heaven,” of the place where he is seen as a poor, weary wanderer at sundown with only the stones of the earth for his pillow. His circumstances have changed considerably since then. Now he is full, now he is rich, he has a stake in the world. While in Laban’s country he has grown and increased, “oxen and asses, flocks and men servants and women servants,” declare his wealth and possessions, but his faith is poor and his heart oppressed, “greatly afraid and distressed” tells the sad tale of him who dreads Esau’s host, and how like us oftentimes when we look at him, fearing and praying and calculating and settling all with human skill and to the best of man’s device.
It is well for us to remember that there is such a thing as an exercise of spirit, which is the product of pure unbelief; under its influence we are awake in nature’s dread, and we pray in unbelief and want of confidence. Oh how often is it with us like the disciples in the storm, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?”
Now this state brings us under discipline, our God and Father is at issue with this, yet so wonderful is His grace that He makes that which calls forth the discipline the occasion of our blessing; such is His grace that all is laid under tribute, as it were, for His own glory and His children’s blessing.
But to return to the history before us, so full of profit and instruction to the soul. It is well to observe that in poor Jacob’s mind and thoughts it was quite otherwise to seeing God face to face. He was full of the dread and horror of meeting Esau; this, and this alone, engrossed his mind, hence it is he has recourse afresh to the means of unbelief. Wives and children are sent on before, and present upon present prepared for Esau: “I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face: peradventure he will accept of me.” This is Jacob’s plan and hope. Alas! how vain, his strength was not there; neither human wisdom, nor carnal stratagem, nor skill of craft, can supply this. God Himself now draws nigh to deal with Jacob, He delivers him from Esau’s hands, but, blessed be His name, He takes him in his own blessed hands, as He wrestles with him. Oh what a sight! a poor weak worm grasped by almighty power under the mystic form of a man; here is Jacob, in the crisis of his life, singly and alone, face to face with the Invisible, Himself!
Again, observe how blessedly God sustains his faith in the wrestling; it was needful, nay, it was indispensable that Jacob should be withered, pulverized, crushed; how blessed to see that all this is accomplished, yet Jacob is sustained—withered, yet sustained!
Oh that our hearts may rightly take in the precious wisdom and grace unfolded to us here!
Further, observe how he is victorious—he is made to feel his weakness for life; God touches him in the hollow of his thigh, the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint as he wrestled with Him; this closes the scene of wrestling, as soon as the limb commences to shrink it is over. Yes; but victory is his with God who wrestles with him. Jacob is, as a crippled, withered man, a prince with God, and prevails with God and with men.
Let us note well here the nature of the blessing—in figure and type all is new; we have here a new day, a new name, and a new kind of conqueror—a halting victor.
Oh that our hearts may be made sensible of the glory of all this—all, as it were, new and all of God. It may be, some who read this page have proved it, how their God and Father has brought to an end practically the strong nerve and muscle which has been their stay and resource—how He has said to us, as He wrestled with us: “My child, all this must come to an end.” No more self-dependence, no more self-confidence, no more human skill and craft, and carnal, worldly wisdom; but simple, guileless, childlike weakness, that casts itself wholly on and waits only on Me.
Lastly, observe how that here it is victory but not communion—there is no revelation of His name, it is a secret and hidden; it is a blessed scene here in the grace witnessed, but how unlike the calm and peaceful and restful communion of Abraham with Jehovah, interceding for others instead of wrestling for himself.
May we know what it is to be halting victors, but also having the joy of communion with Himself.
“Lame as I am, I take the prey;
Hell, earth, and sin with ease o’ercome;
I leap for joy, pursue my way,
And, as a bounding hart, fly home –
Through all eternity to prove
Thy nature and Thy name is Love.”