Victory by Surrender by C. P. Bollman

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 27, 1914

Victory by Surrender

By C. P. Bollman

ONE of the paradoxes of the Christian life is that by surrender we gain victory. Indeed, it is only by surrender, absolute and unconditional surrender, that we are brought into a position to receive anything from God.

Of him who is resisting the divine will the Lord says, "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me." Isa. 27:5.

The meaning of the text is made plain by the experience, the conflict, the surrender, and the victory of Jacob in that night of wrestling by the brook Jabbok. Gen. 32: 24-30.

Like many Christians to-day, for years, though a child of God, Jacob had carried a burden of guilt, and had felt a conscious lack of power, because while reaching out after God, and knowing some of His goodness, he had never made a full surrender, and had not therefore received the fulness of the divine blessing.

But the time had come when Jacob must know that his sin was forgiven. He was about to meet his wronged brother, and he knew not the result of the meeting. His life might pay the forfeit of his overreaching in his younger days, and he felt that he was not prepared for the issue. Whether he was to die or to live, Jacob felt that he must know he was forgiven. He felt that he must experience in his soul the transforming power which would take out of his life the overreaching disposition that had been the bane of his existence all those years, weakening him at every step in his experience in the service of God.

And so Jacob went out alone to seek God. He prayed for the assurance of divine acceptance and protection. But instead of experiencing the sweet peace he sought, he was beset, as it seemed to him, by an enemy. The struggle was long and desperate. Sometimes victory seemed on the side of Jacob, and again he realized that he was in the grasp of some one who was stronger than he, and hope well-nigh died in his bosom.

But Jacob struggled on, till at last his antagonist touched the hollow of his thigh, and immediately "the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint." This ended the contest. Jacob was now disabled, and the victory rested with his antagonist. But that touch did more than put out of joint Jacob's thigh. It revealed to him the supernatural character of his antagonist, and broke his hard and stubborn heart.

And the angel of the Lord said, "Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob."

Ah, there was the weak spot in Jacob's character. "Jacob" meant supplanter. That name stood for character, the character that Jacob had learned to hate, but from which he had not been able to free himself. Doubtless he had again and again resolved to be no more overreaching, but generous; no more selfish, but liberal,—only to find that to will was present with him, but how to perform he found not. He felt his need of a power which he did not possess. But here he was in touch with supernatural, yea, even with divine power. He would not miss the opportunity. Before, his selfish disposition had led him to struggle for the supremacy; now that he is brought face to face with God, he cries out for deliverance from himself, and in the agony of his heart he says, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me."

It was this cry that brought the blessing, and his name was changed from Jacob—supplanter—to Israel—a prince of God. Jacob had surrendered, and in his surrender had gained the most glorious victory of his life, the greatest victory that can come to any man—victory over self, and oneness with God. By laying hold of God's strength, he had made peace with Him, and also with his own brother Esau; for "when a man's ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him."

"So each of us must, Jacob-like, Surrender to our God; Must feel the weakness of our flesh, The power of His word." C. P. BOLLMAN.