Genesis 32:1-32

THOUGH this promise was given to Jacob, it was not confined to him, but is intended for all his spiritual seed. It is thus God speaks to us this morning. How gracious! We know not what a day may bring forth, but we know our God, who superintends every event, will do us good. We may mistake as to what will be for our good, but He is infinite in wisdom and goodness, and therefore cannot. We may look at afflictions, losses, and crosses, and cry out, "All these things are against me!" But read...

POOR Jacob, full of fears and alarm, retired to plead with his God; he wept and made supplication, he had power with God, and prevailed. AND HE BLESSED HIM THERE. Our God delights to bless us; therefore He began so early, for He blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Jesus, before the foundation of the world; He gave us grace in His Son, before He gave us a being: but yet He will have us plead with Him, and weep before Him. He is THE BLESSING GOD. There never was a want, that ever...

SO the Lord promised Jacob; and the promises made unto our fathers, He will fulfill unto us their children. But such a promise does not exclude great trials, sore temptations, deep personal afflictions, fiery persecutions, poverty, disappointments, and perplexity; all these things may happen unto us, and yet the Lord deal well with us. The promise secures the sanctification of our troubles, the communication of grace, deliverance from all real evils, the supply of all wants, and the...

"And Thou saidst, I will surely do thee good." Genesis 32:12

This is the sure way of prevailing with the LORD in prayer. We may humbly remind Him of what He has said. Our faithful God will never run back from His word, nor will He leave it unfulfilled; yet He loves to be enquired of by His people and put in mind of His promise. This is refreshing to their memories, reviving to their faith, and renewing to their hope. God's Word...

When Jacob was on the other side of the brook Jabbok, and Esau was coming with armed men, he earnestly sought God's protection, and as a master reason he pleaded, "And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good." Oh, the force of that plea! He was holding God to his word-"Thou saidst." The attribute of God's faithfulness is a splendid horn of the altar to lay hold upon; but the promise, which has in it the attribute and something more, is a yet mightier holdfast-"Thou saidst, I will surely do...

The Bible is full of paradoxes, that is, truths that seem contrary to what we would normally suppose or truths that seem to contradict one another. G. K. Chesterton maintained that paradox is truth standing on its head to attract attention. Here are a few of the paradoxes trying to attract our attention.

We save our lives by losing them; we lose our lives by loving them (Mark 8:35).

We are strong when we are weak (

There is an erroneous idea of submission abroad in the world. Quite likely, the error obtains in the Church to some extent. There are many things in our condition here to which we are simply called to submit. God has placed them, and woe to him who would seek to displace them. But there are other things which have been placed in our way expressly that we might enter into conflict with them and overcome them. There are difficulties placed in our path, to give us opportunities of evincing what...

Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me.O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire. § According to your faith let it be to you. § Let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.They drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would...

In his strength he struggled with God. Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; he wept, and sought favor from Him. § [Abraham] did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  Therefore I...

Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him”; and he will answer from within and say, “Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you”? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as...