A LESSON FOR US

Jacob and Esau are examples of two kinds of people. Jacob represents the righteous and Esau represents the wicked. Jacob was worried when he learned Esau was marching against him with four hundred men. God's people also will be worried shortly before Christ comes when a law is passed that God's people are to be killed. When the wicked gather to kill God's people, God's people will be afraid. The same as Jacob, God's people do not see how they can escape. When the angel came to Jacob, Jacob wrestled with the angel and held him all night. In the same way, in the time of trouble, the righteous will wrestle with God in prayer. In his fear, Jacob prayed all night that God would save him from Esau. God's people in the last days will pray to God day and night to save them from the wicked who want to kill them.SRme 1.357

Jacob confessed, "'I am not worth all the kindness and faithfulness that You have shown me, Your servant" (Gen. 32:10, TEV).SRme 1.358

In the same way, God's people during the time of trouble will feel they are not worth being saved by God. With tears God's people will tell God how unworthy they feel. But, as did Jacob, they will claim the promises made by God through Jesus to sinners who repent and ask God for forgiveness.SRme 1.359

Jacob held tight to the angel in his time of trouble. He would not let the angel go. With tears, Jacob begged the angel to bless him. The angel reminded Jacob of his past wrongs, and tried to escape. The angel was testing Jacob to see if Jacob meant what he said when he said he really was sorry for his sins.SRme 1.360

In the same way, the righteous will be tested, proved, and tried in their day of trouble. Their faith will be tested to show they will not give up--that they trust in God's power to save them.SRme 1.361

Jacob did not give up. He knew the Lord was a God of mercy. Jacob appealed to God's mercy, and reminded God he was sorry for his sins. Jacob had repented of his sins, so now he urged God to deliver him from Esau. He prayed all night. Jacob almost gave up when he remembered his past sins. Jacob knew he must get help from God or he would die. He held the angel tight and kept crying to the angel to help him. Jacob continued the struggle until he won.SRme 1.362

God's people today will go through the same kind of experience. As they think back on their lives, they will almost lose hope. But, realizing theirs is a case of life or death, they will pray earnestly to God. They will ask God to remember they were sorry for their many sins and that they repented. They will claim the promise, "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may makeSRme 1.363

peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me" (Isa. 27:5). They will pray earnestly to God day and night. God would not have heard Jacob's prayer and saved his life if Jacob had not already repented of his sin of obtaining the blessing by deceit. The same as Jacob, the righteous will have a faith that will not give up. They will know they are not worthy of God's mercy, but they will have no sins that have not been confessed to God.SRme 1.364

If the righteous had sins they had not confessed, they would remember them during the time of trouble and would be overcome. They would give up their earnest faith. They would not be able to plead with God to save them from their enemies. They would use their time confessing the sins they had hidden, and would be sad and without hope.SRme 1.365

Now is the time God gives us to prepare for the time of trouble. If we do not prepare, if we fail to pay attention to the warnings God gives us, we will have no excuse. Jacob's earnest wrestling with the angel is an example for us. Jacob overcame because he would not give up his struggle to get God's blessing.SRme 1.366

All of us who desire the blessing of God will follow Jacob's example. We will hold to God's promises, and will keep praying. Then we will receive what we know God wants to give us.SRme 1.367

Few Christians exercise true faith. They claim to believe God's promises, but they are not willing to put forth the effort needed to gain spiritual blessings. They do not feel it is necessary to deny their selfish desires. They do not see the need for continuing to ask earnestly for God's blessing. So, they do not receive the blessing they might receive.SRme 1.368

We must have true faith now. People who do not make strong efforts to use the kind of faith that does not give up, will not have the kind of faith needed for the time of trouble.SRme 1.369