- 119-
CHAPTER 18: Jacob at Mahanaim - The Night of Wrestling -
Reconciliation between Jacob and Esau - Jacob settles at Shechem -
Jacob proceeds to Bethel to pay his Vow - Death of Rachel - Jacob
settles at Hebron (GENESIS 32-36)
WE are now nearing what may be described as the high point in the spiritual history
of Jacob. Quite different as the previous history of Abraham had been from that of
Jacob, yet, in some sense, what Mount Moriah was to Abraham, that the fords of
Jabbok became to his grandson: a place of trial and of decision, - only that while the
one went to it, the other only left it, with a new name, and all that this implied.
One dreaded meeting was past, and its apprehended dangers averted. Jacob had in his
fear "stolen away" from Laban. He had been pursued as by an enemy, but God had
brought peace out of it all. Standing by his "Mizpah," he had seen Laban and his
confederates disappearing behind the range of Gilead, their spears and lances
glistening in the sunlight, as they wound through the pine and oak forests which
cover the mountain side. One enemy was now behind him; but another and far more
formidable had yet to be encountered. In dealing with Laban, Jacob could justly plead
his long service and the heartless selfishness of his employer. But what could he say
to Esau in excuse or palliation of the past? How would he meet him? and did his
brother still cherish the purpose of revenge from which he had fled twenty years ago?
To these questions there was absolutely no answer, except the one which faith alone
could understand: that if he now returned to his own country, and faced the danger
there awaiting him, it was by the express direction of the Lord Himself. If so, Jacob
must be safe. Nor was he long in receiving such general assurance of this as might
strengthen his faith. Leaving the mountains of Gilead, Jacob had entered the land of
promise, in what afterwards became the possession of Gad. A glorious prospect here
opened before him. Such beauty, fruitfulness, freshness of verdure, and richness of
pasturage; dark mountain forests above, and rich plains below, as poor Palestine,
denuded of its trees, and with them of its moisture - a land of ruins - has not known
these many, many centuries! And there, as he entered the land, "the angels of God
met him." Twenty years before they had, on leaving it, met him at Bethel, and, so to
speak, accompanied him on his journey. And now in similar pledge they welcomed
him on his return. Only then, they had been angels ascending and descending on their
ministry, while now they were "angel hosts" to defend him in the impending contest,
whence also Jacob called the name of that place Mahanaim, "two hosts," or "two
camps." And if at Bethel he had seen them in a "dream," they now appeared to him
when waking, as if to convey yet stronger assurance.
Such comfort was, indeed, needed by Jacob. From Mahanaim he had sent to his
brother Esau a message intended to conciliate him. But the messengers returned
(^)