As you might know, a few weeks ago we began a journey that we titled "The Journey" in which we are going over the 5 core books written by author Ellen G. White. The first of those books is titled 'Patriarchs and Prophets' and we currently discussing it in our journey. A few episodes ago I covered the chapter in which Jacob fights with an Angel overnight, an Angel whom the story indicates is none other than Jesus Himself. That fact alone makes the story amazing but there's much more to the story.
To provide some context, Jacob was on His way back to Canaan from Mesopotamia. He had originally left Canaan because he had deceived his father into giving him the birthright blessing and his older brother was so angry that, out of fear of losing his life, he ran away from home. There are many things here at play which we won't discuss but, almost 20 years later, God calls Jacob back to Canaan and he obeys. On his journey back he is of course fully aware that he is going back to the land where his older brother lives and who, some time ago, wanted to kill him. Because their parents had died at this point, and given the rules of inheritance, Jacob's return could've been interpreted by his older, stronger brother, that he wanted to come claim what was his of the inheritance. Once again, fearing for his life, he sends out messengers to Esau (his brother) to basically let him know that he's returning but that he has no interest in inheritance and that he's just coming back to settle with his own family. Some days later, the messengers return with no message from Esau but with scary news: Esau was on his way to meet him with 400 of his men.
I don't know about you but, 400 strong men coming at you and your family, men whose leader you know wanted to kill you in the past... is not a great feeling. In distress Jacob separates his family into two groups so that should one get intercepted the other half could leave, and he stays behind to talk to God prior to the encounter. Now here we arrive at the night of wrestling. In the middle of the night, Jacob feels a hand touching him and as you might expect, Jacob is nervous and on the lookout. Thinking it might be someone there to kill him we wrestles back and, from the context, it seems like he does so for a few hours. At some point in that wrestling he realizes that he's not wrestling with a man but with an Angel of God and his countenance changes. Now he's not defensive, but he holds on to the Angel and refuses to let go until he is given the blessing and assurance that all would be ok. It's truly a beautiful story that has much more than meets the eye.
There was only ONE reason why Jacob was able to hold on to the Angel and claim the promise of protection and guidance God had told him: He had put all of his sins out in the open with God. None was hidden, none was not confessed. Jacob was sure that he had been honest with God and now, Jacob holds on asking God to fulfill his end of the bargain. Needless to say, that night for Jacob was not just any night... was certainly a night of mental battles and exhaustion. The same will be experienced with the people living during the end of times.
The Bible says:
"Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it." - Jeremiah 30:7
The prophet in this verse is referring to the last days in the history of the world. My friend, that time is nearing. Satan was more than happy to press unto Jacob all of his past mistakes to try to make him feel unworthy and miserable... try to make him feel he had no chance asking anything from God. But, Jacob knew... he knew all of his mistakes were out in the open, he had confessed all his sins, he had done everything to not commit them again... and because of that, he was able to hold on to God's promises. What about you? Is everything out in the open between you and God? Or are you carrying "hidden" sins that, when they come out, they will scare you and trouble you from thinking you are worthy of God's promises? Ellen White writes that during the those end times Satan will speedily start reminding us of all of our past mistakes and sins, all of our fails... should we carry sins that were never confessed, the anguish will overwhelm us and separate us from God... forever.
One of the lessons to be learned from the story is this: do not hide your sins or think they are maybe too small to even need to be confessed. Everything will come out in the open again... the question is, did you confessed them and trusted that God forgave you, or did you carried them with you? The answer to that, will determine whether you can hold on to God's promises or not...
Until next one.
Opmerkingen