34 COVENANT RENEWED WITH FACOB.

 

think you or I would have felt very much the same. He
was filled with joy also, for it was a great honor to have a
visit from God and his angels. The ladder he saw reach-
ing up to heaven, taught him that there was a way of
communication between earth and heaven. Jacob needed
this, for he had just defrauded his brother of his birth-
right, and might have felt that heaven was closed. to him.
God gave him this vision to show him that there was
mercy for him, and that heaven was not closed .to a pray-
ing soul. The angels he saw going up and down over the
stairway, were to show him that God was not only merci-
ful, and would forgive, but that he had sent ministering
angels to help him in the difficult ascent.

We have the same privilege, and may have the same
honor, of a visit from the Lord, only we are not permitted
to see God with our eyes; but he has told us if we open
our hearts to him, he will come in and dwell with us.

This. is much better for us than it would be to see
him. How do we know that he is with us, if we cannot
see him? We feel his presence and love in our hearts.
We do not see the wind ‘blow, but we feel it on our face,
and are just as certain that it is blowing, as though we saw
it-with our eyes. So we know Jesus is. with us, by his
power in our hearts.

Jacob went on his way rejoicing, assured that God
would keep his covenant, and bring his pesteny into the
good land of promise.