patriarchs and prophets-µÚ39²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
over¡¡this¡¡Jordan£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡I¡¡am¡¡become¡¡two¡¡bands¡£¡¡Deliver¡¡me£»¡¡I¡¡pray¡¡Thee£»
from¡¡the¡¡hand¡¡of¡¡my¡¡brother£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hand¡¡of¡¡Esau£º¡¡for¡¡I¡¡fear¡¡him£»¡¡lest¡¡he
will¡¡come¡¡and¡¡smite¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡mother¡¡with¡¡the¡¡children¡£¡¨
They¡¡had¡¡now¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡river¡¡Jabbok£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡night¡¡came¡¡on£»¡¡Jacob¡¡sent¡¡his
family¡¡across¡¡the¡¡ford¡¡of¡¡the¡¡river£»¡¡while¡¡he¡¡alone¡¡remained¡¡behind¡£¡¡He¡¡had
decided¡¡to¡¡spend¡¡the¡¡night¡¡in¡¡prayer£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡desired¡¡to¡¡be¡¡alone¡¡with¡¡God¡£
God¡¡could¡¡soften¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡Esau¡£¡¡In¡¡Him¡¡was¡¡the¡¡patriarch's¡¡only¡¡hope¡£
It¡¡was¡¡in¡¡a¡¡lonely£»¡¡mountainous¡¡region£»¡¡the¡¡haunt¡¡of¡¡wild¡¡beasts¡¡and¡¡the
lurking¡¡place¡¡of¡¡robbers¡¡and¡¡murderers¡£¡¡Solitary¡¡and¡¡unprotected£»¡¡Jacob
bowed¡¡in¡¡deep¡¡distress¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡earth¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡midnight¡£¡¡All¡¡that¡¡made¡¡life
dear¡¡to¡¡him¡¡were¡¡at¡¡a¡¡distance£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡197
exposed¡¡to¡¡danger¡¡and¡¡death¡£¡¡Bitterest¡¡of¡¡all¡¡was¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was
his¡¡own¡¡sin¡¡which¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡this¡¡peril¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡innocent¡£¡¡With¡¡earnest
cries¡¡and¡¡tears¡¡he¡¡made¡¡his¡¡prayer¡¡before¡¡God¡£¡¡Suddenly¡¡a¡¡strong¡¡hand¡¡was
laid¡¡upon¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡an¡¡enemy¡¡was¡¡seeking¡¡his¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡he
endeavored¡¡to¡¡wrest¡¡himself¡¡from¡¡the¡¡grasp¡¡of¡¡his¡¡assailant¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡darkness
the¡¡two¡¡struggled¡¡for¡¡the¡¡mastery¡£¡¡Not¡¡a¡¡word¡¡was¡¡spoken£»¡¡but¡¡Jacob¡¡put
forth¡¡all¡¡his¡¡strength£»¡¡and¡¡did¡¡not¡¡relax¡¡his¡¡efforts¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡£¡¡While¡¡he
was¡¡thus¡¡battling¡¡for¡¡his¡¡life£»¡¡the¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡his¡¡guilt¡¡pressed¡¡upon¡¡his
soul£»¡¡his¡¡sins¡¡rose¡¡up¡¡before¡¡him£»¡¡to¡¡shut¡¡him¡¡out¡¡from¡¡God¡£¡¡But¡¡in¡¡his
terrible¡¡extremity¡¡he¡¡remembered¡¡God's¡¡promises£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡whole¡¡heart¡¡went
out¡¡in¡¡entreaty¡¡for¡¡His¡¡mercy¡£¡¡The¡¡struggle¡¡continued¡¡until¡¡near¡¡the¡¡break
of¡¡day£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡stranger¡¡placed¡¡his¡¡finger¡¡upon¡¡Jacob's¡¡thigh£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was
crippled¡¡instantly¡£¡¡The¡¡patriarch¡¡now¡¡discerned¡¡the¡¡character¡¡of¡¡his
antagonist¡£¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡in¡¡conflict¡¡with¡¡a¡¡heavenly¡¡messenger£»
and¡¡this¡¡was¡¡why¡¡his¡¡almost¡¡superhuman¡¡effort¡¡had¡¡not¡¡gained¡¡the¡¡victory¡£¡¡It
was¡¡Christ£»¡¡¡¨the¡¡Angel¡¡of¡¡the¡¡covenant£»¡¨¡¡who¡¡had¡¡revealed¡¡Himself¡¡to¡¡Jacob¡£
The¡¡patriarch¡¡was¡¡now¡¡disabled¡¡and¡¡suffering¡¡the¡¡keenest¡¡pain£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡would
not¡¡loosen¡¡his¡¡hold¡£¡¡All¡¡penitent¡¡and¡¡broken£»¡¡he¡¡clung¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Angel£»¡¡¡¨he
wept£»¡¡and¡¡made¡¡supplication¡¨¡¡£¨Hosea¡¡12£º4£©£»¡¡pleading¡¡for¡¡a¡¡blessing¡£¡¡He¡¡must
have¡¡the¡¡assurance¡¡that¡¡his¡¡sin¡¡was¡¡pardoned¡£¡¡Physical¡¡pain¡¡was¡¡not
sufficient¡¡to¡¡divert¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡from¡¡this¡¡object¡£¡¡His¡¡determination¡¡grew
stronger£»¡¡his¡¡faith¡¡more¡¡earnest¡¡and¡¡persevering£»¡¡until¡¡the¡¡very¡¡last¡£¡¡The
Angel¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡release¡¡Himself£»¡¡He¡¡urged£»¡¡¡¨Let¡¡Me¡¡go£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡day¡¡breaketh£»¡¨
but¡¡Jacob¡¡answered£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡let¡¡Thee¡¡go£»¡¡except¡¡Thou¡¡bless¡¡me¡£¡¨¡¡Had¡¡this
been¡¡a¡¡boastful£»¡¡presumptuous¡¡confidence£»¡¡Jacob¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡instantly
destroyed£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡was¡¡the¡¡assurance¡¡of¡¡one¡¡who¡¡confesses¡¡his¡¡own
unworthiness£»¡¡yet¡¡trusts¡¡the¡¡faithfulness¡¡of¡¡a¡¡covenant¡keeping¡¡God¡£
Jacob¡¡¡¨had¡¡power¡¡over¡¡the¡¡Angel£»¡¡and¡¡prevailed¡£¡¨¡¡Hosea¡¡12£º4¡£¡¡Through
humiliation£»¡¡repentance£»¡¡and¡¡self¡surrender£»¡¡this¡¡sinful£»¡¡erring¡¡mortal
prevailed¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Majesty¡¡of¡¡heaven¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡fastened¡¡his¡¡trembling¡¡grasp
upon¡¡the¡¡promises¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡Infinite¡¡Love¡¡could¡¡not¡¡turn¡¡away
the¡¡sinner's¡¡plea¡£
The¡¡error¡¡that¡¡had¡¡led¡¡to¡¡Jacob's¡¡sin¡¡in¡¡obtaining¡¡the¡¡birthright¡¡by¡¡fraud
was¡¡now¡¡clearly¡¡set¡¡before¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡not¡¡trusted¡¡God's¡¡promises£»¡¡but¡¡had
sought¡¡by¡¡his¡¡own¡¡efforts¡¡to
198
bring¡¡about¡¡that¡¡which¡¡God¡¡would¡¡have¡¡accomplished¡¡in¡¡His¡¡own¡¡time¡¡and¡¡way¡£
As¡¡an¡¡evidence¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡forgiven£»¡¡his¡¡name¡¡was¡¡changed¡¡from¡¡one¡¡that
was¡¡a¡¡reminder¡¡of¡¡his¡¡sin£»¡¡to¡¡one¡¡that¡¡commemorated¡¡his¡¡victory¡£¡¡¡¨Thy¡¡name£»¡¨
said¡¡the¡¡Angel£»¡¡¡¨shall¡¡be¡¡called¡¡no¡¡more¡¡Jacob¡¡£§the¡¡supplanter£§£»¡¡but¡¡Israel£º
for¡¡as¡¡a¡¡prince¡¡hast¡¡thou¡¡power¡¡with¡¡God¡¡and¡¡with¡¡men£»¡¡and¡¡hast¡¡prevailed¡£¡¨
Jacob¡¡had¡¡received¡¡the¡¡blessing¡¡for¡¡which¡¡his¡¡soul¡¡had¡¡longed¡£¡¡His¡¡sin¡¡as¡¡a
supplanter¡¡and¡¡deceiver¡¡had¡¡been¡¡pardoned¡£¡¡The¡¡crisis¡¡in¡¡his¡¡life¡¡was¡¡past¡£
Doubt£»¡¡perplexity£»¡¡and¡¡remorse¡¡had¡¡embittered¡¡his¡¡existence£»¡¡but¡¡now¡¡all¡¡was
changed£»¡¡and¡¡sweet¡¡was¡¡the¡¡peace¡¡of¡¡reconciliation¡¡with¡¡God¡£¡¡Jacob¡¡no¡¡longer
feared¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡his¡¡brother¡£¡¡God£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡forgiven¡¡his¡¡sin£»¡¡could¡¡move¡¡the
heart¡¡of¡¡Esau¡¡also¡¡to¡¡accept¡¡his¡¡humiliation¡¡and¡¡repentance¡£
While¡¡Jacob¡¡was¡¡wrestling¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Angel£»¡¡another¡¡heavenly¡¡messenger¡¡was
sent¡¡to¡¡Esau¡£¡¡In¡¡a¡¡dream£»¡¡Esau¡¡beheld¡¡his¡¡brother¡¡for¡¡twenty¡¡years¡¡an¡¡exile
from¡¡his¡¡father's¡¡house£»¡¡he¡¡witnessed¡¡his¡¡grief¡¡at¡¡finding¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡dead£»
he¡¡saw¡¡him¡¡encompassed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡hosts¡¡of¡¡God¡£¡¡This¡¡dream¡¡was¡¡related¡¡by¡¡Esau
to¡¡his¡¡soldiers£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡charge¡¡not¡¡to¡¡harm¡¡Jacob£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡God¡¡of¡¡his
father¡¡was¡¡with¡¡him¡£
The¡¡two¡¡companies¡¡at¡¡last¡¡approached¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡the¡¡desert¡¡chief¡¡leading
his¡¡men¡¡of¡¡war£»¡¡and¡¡Jacob¡¡with¡¡his¡¡wives¡¡and¡¡children£»¡¡attended¡¡by¡¡shepherds
and¡¡handmaidens£»¡¡and¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡long¡¡lines¡¡of¡¡flocks¡¡and¡¡herds¡£¡¡Leaning
upon¡¡his¡¡staff£»¡¡the¡¡patriarch¡¡went¡¡forward¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡the¡¡band¡¡of¡¡soldiers¡£¡¡He
was¡¡pale¡¡and¡¡disabled¡¡from¡¡his¡¡recent¡¡conflict£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡walked¡¡slowly¡¡and
painfully£»¡¡halting¡¡at¡¡every¡¡step£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡countenance¡¡was¡¡lighted¡¡up¡¡with
joy¡¡and¡¡peace¡£
At¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡that¡¡crippled¡¡sufferer£»¡¡¡¨Esau¡¡ran¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡embraced¡¡him£»
and¡¡fell¡¡on¡¡his¡¡neck£»¡¡and¡¡kissed¡¡him£º¡¡and¡¡they¡¡wept¡£¡¨¡¡As¡¡they¡¡looked¡¡upon
the¡¡scene£»¡¡even¡¡the¡¡hearts¡¡of¡¡Esau's¡¡rude¡¡soldiers¡¡were¡¡touched¡£
Notwithstanding¡¡he¡¡had¡¡told¡¡them¡¡of¡¡his¡¡dream£»¡¡they¡¡could¡¡not¡¡account¡¡for
the¡¡change¡¡that¡¡had¡¡come¡¡over¡¡their¡¡captain¡£¡¡Though¡¡they¡¡beheld¡¡the
patriarch's¡¡infirmity£»¡¡they¡¡little¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡this¡¡his¡¡weakness¡¡had¡¡been
made¡¡his¡¡strength¡£
In¡¡his¡¡night¡¡of¡¡anguish¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡Jabbok£»¡¡when¡¡destruction¡¡seemed¡¡just
before¡¡him£»¡¡Jacob¡¡had¡¡been¡¡taught¡¡how¡¡vain¡¡is¡¡the
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡201
help¡¡of¡¡man£»¡¡how¡¡groundless¡¡is¡¡all¡¡trust¡¡in¡¡human¡¡power¡£¡¡He¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡his
only¡¡help¡¡must¡¡come¡¡from¡¡Him¡¡against¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡had¡¡so¡¡grievously¡¡sinned¡£
Helpless¡¡and¡¡unworthy£»¡¡he¡¡pleaded¡¡God's¡¡promise¡¡of¡¡mercy¡¡to¡¡the¡¡repentant
sinner¡£¡¡That¡¡promise¡¡was¡¡his¡¡assurance¡¡that¡¡God¡¡would¡¡pardon¡¡and¡¡accept¡¡him¡£
Sooner¡¡might¡¡heaven¡¡and¡¡earth¡¡pass¡¡than¡¡that¡¡word¡¡could¡¡fail£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was
this¡¡that¡¡sustained¡¡him¡¡through¡¡that¡¡fearful¡¡conflict¡£
Jacob's¡¡experience¡¡during¡¡that¡¡night¡¡of¡¡wrestling¡¡and¡¡anguish¡¡represents¡¡the
trial¡¡through¡¡which¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡God¡¡must¡¡pass¡¡just¡¡before¡¡Christ's¡¡second
coming¡£¡¡The¡¡prophet¡¡Jeremiah£»¡¡in¡¡holy¡¡vision¡¡looking¡¡down¡¡to¡¡this¡¡time£»
said£»¡¡¡¨We¡¡have¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡of¡¡trembling£»¡¡of¡¡fear£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡of¡¡peace¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£
All¡¡faces¡¡are¡¡turned¡¡into¡¡paleness¡£¡¡Alas£¡¡¡for¡¡that¡¡day¡¡is¡¡great£»¡¡so¡¡that
none¡¡is¡¡like¡¡it£º¡¡it¡¡is¡¡even¡¡the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡Jacob's¡¡trouble£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡shall¡¡be
saved¡¡out¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡Jeremiah¡¡30£º5¡7¡£
When¡¡Christ¡¡shall¡¡cease¡¡His¡¡work¡¡as¡¡mediator¡¡in¡¡man's¡¡behalf£»¡¡then¡¡this¡¡time
of¡¡trouble¡¡will¡¡begin¡£¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡case¡¡of¡¡every¡¡soul¡¡will¡¡have¡¡been¡¡decided£»
and¡¡there¡¡will¡¡be¡¡no¡¡atoning¡¡blood¡¡to¡¡cleanse¡¡from¡¡sin¡£¡¡When¡¡Jesus¡¡leaves
His¡¡position¡¡as¡¡man's¡¡intercessor¡¡before¡¡God£»¡¡the¡¡solemn¡¡announcement¡¡is
made£»¡¡¡¨He¡¡that¡¡is¡¡unjust£»¡¡let¡¡him¡¡be¡¡unjust¡¡still£º¡¡and¡¡he¡¡which¡¡is¡¡filthy£»
let¡¡him¡¡be¡¡filthy¡¡still£º¡¡and¡¡he¡¡that¡¡is¡¡righteous£»¡¡let¡¡him¡¡be¡¡righteous
still£º¡¡and¡¡he¡¡that¡¡is¡¡holy£»¡¡let¡¡him¡¡be¡¡holy¡¡still¡£¡¨¡¡Revelation¡¡22£º11¡£¡¡Then
the¡¡restraining¡¡Spirit¡¡of¡¡God¡¡is¡¡withdrawn¡¡from¡¡the¡¡earth¡£¡¡As¡¡Jacob¡¡was
threatened¡¡with¡¡death¡¡by¡¡his¡¡angry¡¡brother£»¡¡so¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡God¡¡will¡¡be¡¡in
peril¡¡from¡¡the¡¡wicked¡¡who¡¡are¡¡seeking¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡them¡£¡¡And¡¡as¡¡the¡¡patriarch
wrestled¡¡all¡¡night¡¡for¡¡deliverance¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hand¡¡of¡¡Esau£»¡¡so¡¡the¡¡righteous
will¡¡cry¡¡to¡¡God¡¡day¡¡and¡¡night¡¡for¡¡deliverance¡¡from¡¡the¡¡enemies¡¡that¡¡surround
them¡£
Satan¡¡had¡¡accused¡¡Jacob¡¡before¡¡the¡¡angels¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡claiming¡¡the¡¡right¡¡to
destroy¡¡him¡¡because¡¡of¡¡his¡¡sin£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡moved¡¡upon¡¡Esau¡¡to¡¡march¡¡against¡¡him£»
and¡¡during¡¡the¡¡patriarch's¡¡long¡¡night¡¡of¡¡wrestling£»¡¡Satan¡¡endeavored¡¡to
force¡¡upon¡¡him¡¡a¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡his¡¡guilt£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡discourage¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡break
his¡¡hold¡¡upon¡¡God¡£¡¡When¡¡in¡¡his¡¡distress¡¡Jacob¡¡laid¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Angel£»¡¡and
made¡¡supplication¡¡with¡¡tears£»¡¡the¡¡heavenly¡¡Messenger£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡try¡¡his
faith£»¡¡also¡¡reminded¡¡him¡¡of¡¡his¡¡sin£»¡¡and¡¡endeavored¡¡to¡¡escape¡¡from¡¡him¡£¡¡But
Jacob¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be¡¡turned¡¡away¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡learned¡¡that¡¡God¡¡is¡¡merciful£»¡¡and¡¡he
cast¡¡himself¡¡upon¡¡His¡¡mercy¡£¡¡He¡¡pointed
202
back¡¡to¡¡his¡¡repentance¡¡for¡¡his¡¡sin£»¡¡and¡¡pleaded¡¡for¡¡deliverance¡£¡¡As¡¡he
reviewed¡¡his¡¡life£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡driven¡¡almost¡¡to¡¡despair£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡held¡¡fast¡¡the
Angel£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡earnest£»¡¡agonizing¡¡cries¡¡urged¡¡his¡¡petition¡¡until¡¡he
prevailed¡£
Such¡¡will¡¡be¡¡the¡¡experience¡¡of¡¡God's¡¡people¡¡in¡¡their¡¡final¡¡struggle¡¡with¡¡the
powers¡¡of¡¡evil¡£¡¡God¡¡will¡¡test¡¡their¡¡faith£»¡¡their¡¡perseverance£»¡¡their
confidence¡¡in¡¡His¡¡power¡¡to¡¡deliver¡¡them¡£¡¡Satan¡¡will¡¡endeavor¡¡to¡¡terrify¡¡them
with¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡their¡¡cases¡¡are¡¡hopeless£»¡¡that¡¡their¡¡sins¡¡have¡¡been
too¡¡great¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡pardon¡£¡¡They¡¡will¡¡have¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡their
shortcomings£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡they¡¡review¡¡their¡¡lives¡¡their¡¡hopes¡¡will¡¡sink¡£¡¡But
remembering¡¡the¡¡greatness¡¡of¡¡God's¡¡mercy£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡own¡¡sincere¡¡repentance£»
they¡¡will¡¡plead¡¡His¡¡promises¡¡made¡¡through¡¡Christ¡¡to¡¡helpless£»¡¡repenting
sinners¡£¡¡Their¡¡faith¡¡will¡¡not¡¡fail¡¡because¡¡their¡¡prayers¡¡are¡¡not¡¡immediately
answered¡£¡¡They¡¡will¡¡lay¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡the¡¡strength¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡as¡¡Jacob¡¡laid¡¡hold¡¡of
the¡¡Angel£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡language¡¡of¡¡their¡¡souls¡¡will¡¡be£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡let¡¡Thee¡¡go£»
except¡¡Thou¡¡bless¡¡me¡£¡¨
Had¡¡not¡¡Jacob¡¡previously¡¡repented¡¡of¡¡his¡¡sin¡¡in¡¡obtaining¡¡the¡¡birthright¡¡by
fraud£»¡¡God¡¡could¡¡not¡¡have¡¡heard¡¡his¡¡prayer¡¡and¡¡mercifully¡¡preserved¡¡his
life¡£¡¡So¡¡in¡¡the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡trouble£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡God¡¡had¡¡unconfessed¡¡sins
to¡¡appear¡¡before¡¡them¡¡while¡¡tortured¡¡with¡¡fear¡¡and¡¡anguish£»¡¡they¡¡would¡¡be
overwhelmed£»¡¡despair¡¡would¡¡cut¡¡off¡¡their¡¡faith£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡could¡¡not¡¡have
confidence¡¡to¡¡plead¡¡with¡¡God¡¡for¡¡deliverance¡£¡¡But¡¡while¡¡they¡¡have¡¡a¡¡deep
sense¡¡of¡¡their¡¡unworthiness£»¡¡they¡¡will¡¡have¡¡no¡¡concealed¡¡wrongs¡¡to¡¡reveal¡£
Their¡¡sins¡¡will¡¡have¡¡been¡¡blotted¡¡out¡¡by¡¡the¡¡atoning¡¡blood¡¡of¡¡Christ£»¡¡and
they¡¡cannot¡¡bring¡¡them¡¡to¡¡remembrance¡£
Satan¡¡leads¡¡many¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡God¡¡will¡¡overlook¡¡their¡¡unfaithfulness¡¡in
the¡¡minor¡¡affairs¡¡of¡¡life£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡shows¡¡in¡¡His¡¡dealing¡¡with¡¡Jacob¡¡that
He¡¡can¡¡in¡¡no¡¡wise¡¡sanction¡¡or¡¡tolerate¡¡evil¡£¡¡All¡¡who¡¡endeavor¡¡to¡¡excuse¡¡or
conceal¡¡their¡¡sins£»¡¡and¡¡permit¡¡them¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡books¡¡of¡¡heaven£»
unconfessed¡¡and¡¡unforgiven£»¡¡will¡¡be¡¡overcome¡¡by¡¡Satan¡£¡¡The¡¡more¡¡exalted