his helpless condition, instantly seized the opportunity to drive a hard bargain, and tempted him to yield up his birthright. Esau, being pressed with hunger, consented. In a rash moment he bartered away the advantages which belonged to him as the elder brother. As Jacob was his mother's favourite, it is more than likely that she was at the bottom of this ungenerous and wicked act; and that, instead of endeavouring to keep her son in the right path, she was the one to lead him astray.

About twenty years after this, Jacob seized another opportunity to overreach his Brother. And here again Rebecca helped him to do Isaac had now grown

what was wrong.

His eyes

were dim, and his

He was almost in Having expressed a blessing to his two

very old. strength was failing. his second childhood. wish to give his last sons, he desires them to be sent for. And Jacob, being on the spot at the moment, contrives to deceive his aged Parent, and obtains the blessing which was intended for his brother.

He was right to set a high value on his

father's blessing; but he was wrong, very wrong, to get it by stealth, and to deprive his brother of that which was so plainly intended for him. "Bread of deceit (says Solomon) is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel." Jacob no doubt found it to be so; and when, after Isaac's death, Esau threatened to take away his life, his conscience must indeed have smarted for his unjust conduct.

Jacob's faults were great; but his repentance was deep, and his sorrow sincere. And he showed, by his after conduct, that he had become a changed and a holy man.

And now let us dwell on the bright side of Jacob's history.

When he was on his way to Padan-aram, where he was going to escape his brother's wrath, a circumstance occurred which showed how dear he was to his Father in heaven. He had passed the night with the rough ground for his bed, and a hard stone for his pillow. But no prince in his palace ever spent a more blessed night. The Lord appeared to him, and assured

him that, as he had been with Abraham and Isaac, so he would be with him-that the very land through which he had been passing would one day become his own-and that he would give him a large and prosperous family. When Jacob awoke, he felt persuaded that God was near him; "Surely," he said, "the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not."

Often does it happen that God's children experience their greatest joy, when their head lies hardest, and they are exposed to the sorest trials. God is most ready to help them, when they seem to be altogether cut off from the aid of their fellow-men. So it was with Jacob. Happy was he to be thus assured that he was not alone in the wide world, but that God was with him to guide and cheer him on his way. And may not this assurance be also ours? Does not Jesus say to each one of his people, “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world?" We need no vision to assure us of this. The Lord has declared it in His word. We should trust His promise, and be ready to sing the Psalmist's song,

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Then will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge." Jacob was a man of prayer; and it is to such that God reveals Himself, and vouchsafes His presence.

After an absence from home of twenty years, Jacob returns to Canaan. He did so with some little fear, as he knew not how his Brother would receive him. His conduct on this occasion was manly and straightforward. He does not shrink from a meeting, but rather desires it. He sends forward messengers to Esau to tell him of his intention. And when Esau comes forth to meet him, Jacob, not knowing what the issue would be, commits himself to the guardian care of God, and prays that He will help him, and make the meeting a happy one.

The night before this interview between the two Brothers was a very solemn one to Jacob. He had left his family for a while, to be alone with God. And then, we are

told,

"there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day." Jacob's earnestness on this occasion was so great, that he exclaimed, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me."

This was a most mysterious circumstance, and a difficult one to explain. But the lesson for us is plain-namely, that we should wrestle with God in prayer-that we should be earnest and persevering in our supplications-that we should not let Him without a blessing.

go

From that day Jacob's name was changed, and a new name was given him. He was called Israel, which means a Prince with God, for "as a prince he had power with God, and prevailed."

And now see the blessed effect of his prayer. He now meets his brother without fear, and words of peace and kindness passed between them.

When Jacob at length reached his native place, he did not forget the God who had led him thus far, who had watched over him in all his dangers, and restored him safely to the home from which he had so long been