than by his own efforts, that which Jehovah had promised to give.

We know, with almost perfect certainty, the exact spot where the most important transaction in the life of

Jacob took place. It was at the ford of Jabbok, the confluence of the two streams which flow from the East

into Jordan, between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea, and almost midway between these two points.

Indeed, there is only one ford of Jabbok "practicable," "and even here," as a recent traveler records, "the

strong current reached the horse's girths."  49

The beauty and richness of the whole district is most striking - park-like scenery alternating with sweet

glades, covered with rich crops; "trees and shrubs grouped in gra ceful variety;" then peeps into the great

Jordan valley, with its almost tropical vegetation, and of the hills of Palestine beyond. Looking down upon

the ford, the brook Jabbok is almost invisible from the thicket of oleander which covers its banks; while on

the steeper sides, up either way, forests of oak and of evergreen oak merge into the darker pine. It was night

in this solitude. Overhead shone the innumerable stars -once the pledge of the promise to Abraham. The

impressive silence was only broken by t he rushing of Jabbok, and the lowing of the flocks and herds, as

they passed over the brook, or the preparations for transporting the women, children, and servants. Quite a

large number of the cattle and sheep Jacob now sent forward in separate droves, that each, as it

successively came to Esau as a gift from his brother, might tend to appease his feelings of anger, or satisfy

the cupidity of his followers. At last they were all gone, each herdsman bearing a message of peace. The

women also and children were safely camped on the south side of Jabbok. Only Jacob himself remained on

the northern bank. It was a time for solitude - "and Jacob was left alone," quite alone, as when first he left

his father's house. There on the oleander banks of Jabbok occurred what has ever since been of the deepest

significance to the church of God. "There wrestled with him a man till the breaking of day." That "Man" was

the Angel of Jehovah in Whom was His Presence. "And when He saw that He prevailed not against him, He

touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with Him."

The contest by wrestling must now have become impossible. But a far other contest ensued. "And He said,

Let Me go, for the day breaketh. And he (Jacob) said, I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me." Jacob

had now recognized the character of his opponent and of the contest, and he sought quite another victory,

and by quite other means than before. He no longer expected to prevail in his own strength.

He asked to be blessed by Him with whom he had hitherto only wrestled, that so he might prevail. That

blessing was given. But first the Lord brought before him what had been his old name as expressive of his

old history - Jacob, "the cunning, self-helpful supplanter;" then He bestowed on him a new name,

characteristic of his new experience and better contest by prayer: Israel, "a prince with God." In that new

character would he have "power with God and men," and "prevail" against all enemies. But the mysterious

name of the Angel he must not yet know; for "the mystery of godliness" was not to be fully revealed till all

the purposes for which Jacob was to become Israel had been fulfilled. And now "He blessed him there."

"And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel (the face of God): for I have seen God face to face, and my

soul has recovered. 50 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh,

unto this day." And "to this day," literally, is this custom observed among "the children of Israel."

Now what was the meaning of this solemn transaction? Assuredly, it was symbolical - but of what? It was a

real transaction, but symbolical of Jacob's past, present, and future. The "man" who wrestled with Jacob

"until the breaking of day" was Jehovah. Jacob had, indeed, been the believing heir to the promises, but all

his life long he had wrestled with God - sought to attain success in his own strength and by his own

devices. Seeming to contend with man, he had really contended with God. And God had also contended

with him. At last farther contest was impossible. Jacob had become disabled, for God had touched the

hollow of his thigh. In the presence of Esau Jacob was helpless. But before he could encounter his most

dreaded earthly enemy, he must encounter God, with Whom he had all along, though unwittingly,

contended by his struggles and devices. The contest with Esau was nothing; the contest with Jehovah

everything. The Lord could not be on Jacob's side, till he had been disabled, and learned to use other

weapons than those of his own wrestling. Then it was that Jacob recognized with whom he had hitherto