42

Laban departed, and returned unto | went and prayed to Him.

his place.”

When Laban was gone, Jacob
went on towards Canaan, and as he
went, he saw some angels coming to
meet him. They were sent by God
to comfort Jacob, and to tell him
that God was there, to bless and
keep him.
were now near Seir, where his
brother Hsau lived. So Jacob sent
servants before, to tell Esau, that
he had lived many years with Laban,
and was now coming home, and
that he was very rich, and had
many oxen, and asses, and camels,
and servants, and he very humbly
begged Hsau to be kind and friend-
ly to him. But when the servants
came back to Jacob, they said,
“ Kisau is coming to meet thee, and
400 men with him.” Then Jacob
was very much afraid, for he
thought, that perhaps Esau was
still angry with him, and was com-
ing to kill him and all his family.
So he divided the people who were
with him, and prepared to meet
Esau. He took goats, and sheep,
and oxen, and camels, and told a
servant to stand by them, and to
say when Hsau came, “ Thy servant
Jacob gives these to my lord Esau.”
It was very right of Jacob to be-
have humbly to Esau, and very
wise of him too, thus to try to sub-
due Hsau’s anger by kindness. But
after all, Jacob knew he had no
power to help and save himself;

Jacob and his family |

 

JACOB WITH LABAN.

And
when we are sorry and afraid, we

-should do the same, and God prom-

ises to hear us; He says, “Call
upon me in the time of trouble, and
I will deliver thee.” Ps. 1, 15.

God heard Jacob’s prayer. In
the night, when Jacob was alone, a
man came to him, and wrestled
with him. Jacob knew who he was,
and he asked for a blessing from
him. And the Lord blessed Jacob,
and gave him the new name of Israel,
which means a prince with God.
And Jacob called the place, Peniel,
or the face of God, because he had
there seen God face to face. Jacob
felt now peaceful and happy, and
when he saw Esau coming, he had
no fear. He went to meet him, and
bowed to the ground seven times.
And he had now no need to fear:
for God had subdued Esan’s anger,

_In answer to Jacob’s prayer. “ Esau

ran, and fell on Jacob’s neck and
kissed him.” They both wept; for
they thought of their past hatred,
and unkindness to one another; but
now they wished to live in peace
and brotherly love. Jacob’s family
all came, and bowed respectfully to
Esau; and Jacob gaye Esau the
camels, and goats, and oxep. Esau
refused to take them at first, but
Jacob urged him, so he took them:
This was a happy end to all their
anger and disputings. Let us learn

from it “how good and how pleas-

ant it is, for brethren to dwell

only God could save him, so he ! together in unity.” Ps, oxxxiii. 1.