Genesis 32:26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaks. And he said, I will not let you go, except you bless me. I. THE OBJECTS OF JACOB'S PRAYER; or, the blessings implored. It need not be disguised that one of these was the preservation of his own life, and the safety of his family and substance. It would be doing Jacob injustice, however, to deny that higher objects than the preservation of himself, and of his family and substance, occupied his thoughts and prayers on this critical occasion. The very circumstances in which he was placed were calculated to call his sins to remembrance; just as his sons were reminded of their unnatural and criminal conduct towards Joseph, by being thereby involved in difficulties in Egypt many long years after their sin had been committed. Jacob being reminded of the falsehood and deceit by which he had provoked the anger and vengeance of his brother, would humbly confess his sin and earnestly pray for the salvation of his soul, whatever might be the fate of his body at this time. Knowing that the souls of his family were as precious as his own, and remembering the relation in which he stood to them, and the duty that he owed them, he would be very importunate in prayer for their salvation also, though they should fall by the sword of Esau. But he would not despair of their preservation. He would remember the covenant of God with his father Abraham, and the promise that He would make of him a great nation, and that in his seed, which is Christ, all the families of the earth would be blessed. He would pray that he and his family might live to be witnesses for God in a world lying in wickedness, and might introduce the spiritual seed, in whom all the families of the earth were to be blessed. II. THE MANNER IN WHICH THE DUTY SHOULD BE PERFORMED. 1. Jacob sought retirement for devotion. 2. Jacob spent a long time in prayer. 3. We must implore lawful things, and employ proper arguments to attain them. 4. We ought to be earnest and persevering in prayer. 5. We should pray in faith and hope. III. THE ANSWER WHICH JACOB OBTAINED TO HIS PRAYERS. God blessed him there. He obtained a gracious answer. (R. Smith, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. |
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