And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
Jacob was left alone at night after sending his family over the Jabbok, and wrestled silently until daybreak with One he at first took for an enemy seeking his life, who was Christ the Angel of the covenant. That wrestling was conflict in persevering prayer, a helpless sinner clinging with agonizing, importunate faith to God's promises and mighty arm until every power was on the stretch. He prevailed not by strength but by humiliation, confession, self-surrender and persistent trust, holding on though crippled and suffering until assured of pardon, when his name was changed from supplanter to Israel as a prince having power with God and men. The night of anguish for deliverance from Esau represents the experience of God's people in the time of Jacob's trouble just before Christ's second coming, when they will cling in earnest intercession with sins confessed beforehand while Satan accuses them. The faith needed then must be exercised daily now, wrestling as Jacob did with fervent earnestness that will not be denied, to gain victory over self and sin and power to intercede for souls.
Night Setting and Background
Jacob was left alone at night by the Jabbok after sending his family across the river so they would not witness his distress, remaining behind to intercede alone with God and looking to Him as his only hope. He was on his return to Canaan at God's command after many years, twenty years, of exile with wives and children and flocks and herds, weighed down by his past deception in securing his father's blessing intended for Esau and by his flight for his life from his brother's deadly threats. On reaching the borders he was filled with terror at Esau's approach with a band of warriors bent on revenge, while his own company was unarmed and defenseless against violence and slaughter.
He tried to secure safety and make peace, addressing Esau as lord and calling himself servant, declaring he had property of his own rather than returning to claim his father's inheritance, leaving nothing undone to atone for the wrong to his brother and to avert the threatened danger. With anxiety and fear came crushing self-reproach because his own sin had brought the peril upon himself and upon the innocent, leaving him solitary and unprotected and in deep distress over danger to his loved ones. His only hope was in the mercy of God and his only defense was prayer.
It was midnight in a lonely, mountainous, dangerous region haunted by wild beasts and robbers and murderers, where heavenly angels guarded him on his return. The memory of the Bethel vision and of God's favor and promises of help and guidance gave him hope and courage, even as his past deception and exile weighed on his conscience. In darkness and solitude, with everything at stake in the crisis of his life, he continued praying and humbling himself before God.
When suddenly a hand was laid on his shoulder, and a strong hand seized him, he thought an enemy sought his life and wrestled silently with all the energy of despair and all his strength without relaxing, struggling for mastery until near daybreak. During that struggle God sent another heavenly messenger to Esau, whose dream showed him Jacob's grief and the hosts of God around him and that God was with him, leading Esau to command his soldiers not to harm Jacob.
Divine Opponent Recognized
The One who wrestled with Jacob alone through the night until the breaking of day was Christ the Saviour, the Son of God, the Angel of the covenant, a heavenly messenger come to him in prevailing prayer. He came to Jacob as he prayed alone, unrecognized, and met him as an opponent while the struggle seemed to shift between them, yet Jacob held Him fast through the night until he received the blessing he sought. That night wrestling obtained blessings that would not otherwise be received, brought assurance that pardoned sin and ended a life burdened by doubt, perplexity and remorse over sin, and proved that great things are done for men of prayer. Victory and blessing came because Jacob refused to let go, laying hold of the Lord through faith and persevering in dependence on Him.
At first Jacob did not recognize Him, taking the strong hand laid upon him in the darkness for an enemy seeking his life. He therefore struggled silently for mastery with all his strength and with almost superhuman effort, yet he could not gain victory because he was contending with Christ the Angel of the covenant. Only as day began to break was the One revealed whom he had not yet known.
As day began to break the Stranger put forth superhuman and divine power, and by a touch upon the thigh the strong man was paralyzed, crippled and left in keenest pain. Wounded, disabled and helpless, he fell a weeping suppliant upon the neck and breast of his mysterious antagonist. Though in keenest pain after long perplexity he clung to Him in pain and would not let go without a blessing, pleading for mercy and for assurance that his sin was pardoned and trusting God's faithfulness rather than his own worthiness. The struggle shows that trials may be mistaken for the work of an enemy and wrestled blindly until exhausted, yet they can bring benefit and reveal Christ's healing presence, and that victory of conquering faith comes only after weakness and surrender.
At that touch Jacob knew with whom he had been contending, that he had been contending with the Angel of the covenant. At first he had thought his attacker an enemy, then he recognized the Angel, disabled and in pain yet clinging for assurance and blessing. The divine touch at daybreak revealed his Contender and turned helpless weeping into clinging for the longed-for blessing.
That spirit of persistence with which Jacob held fast and would not be turned aside or cease intercession was inspired and implanted by Him who wrestled with him. Christ inspired Jacob with persevering faith in the mysterious conflict at the Jabbok that continued until daybreak, and Christ rewarded the confidence He had implanted.
The verse shows that a divine visitation can be mistaken for hostile opposition. God's coming with quickening power to lead sinners to confess sin and to wash out and cleanse moral impurity can go unrecognized and be resisted as if hostile, as when Jacob wrestled through the night with a visitor he thought an enemy when it was God visiting him. Failure to recognize God shuts out the quickening influence of the Spirit of God and leaves people destitute of Him, and to oppose His work in confession under revival as spurious fanaticism instead of letting the Spirit flow repeats Jacob's mistake.
Wrestling as Prevailing Prayer
The wrestling until daybreak was conflict in prayer, teaching the power of importunate, persevering, determined, earnest, agonizing faith that clings to God's promises and lays hold on the mighty arm of power, by which through humiliation, repentance and self-surrender a helpless, unworthy sinner prevails with heaven. The greatest victories for the church and the individual Christian are gained in the audience chamber with God by such earnest agonizing faith, and this lesson of prevailing prayer must be learned now. Jacob's example teaches that God answers the prayer of faith with power and brings results like those seen then.
Wrestling with God is laying hold of God's promises with earnest, persevering, self-denying agony, praying long with intensity of desire until every power is on the stretch. It is clinging with unyielding faith to the promises when waves of inexpressible despair sweep over the suppliant. It is a faith that can endure weariness, delay and hunger without fainting though severely tried.
Jacob is the example of persevering, determined faith that holds on for God's blessing, refuses to give up when the answer is delayed, and succeeds through earnestness. Those unwilling to deny self, agonize before God and pray long and earnestly will not obtain the blessing. His all-night struggle continued until daybreak and would not let go without a blessing, and his prayer was answered with renaming as Israel and the word that he had prevailed with God and with men, teaching persevering, unyielding faith that holds on to God for a blessing. The same wrestling prayer, offered fervently and in faith and not in a cold, listless, lazy manner, is the pattern for messengers who bear the last solemn warning, who must acquaint themselves with God by proving His promises, take time to pray, and refuse selfish gratification and worldly absorption rather than neglect communion, with the result that they will find many places of seeing God face to face with life preserved and will be accounted princes having power to prevail with God and with men.
The wrestling is anguished prayer in utter helplessness, throwing oneself face down with broken, heart-rending cries that only God fully understands, the soul fastening upon Christ the mighty deliverer. Trials may at first seem like an enemy's attack and be wrestled blindly until exhausted, yet they can bring benefit and reveal Christ's healing presence and bring a person to depend on God and receive His blessing. At daybreak the divine touch revealed contending with the Angel of the covenant, and helpless and weeping Jacob clung and received the blessing his soul longed for.
The wrestling was not for personal safety but for the success of the truth against forces combined against it when faith falters and the powers of darkness seem to prevail. Prevailing brings strengthened assurance of not standing alone, with strength, restored peace, and rejoicing at being permitted to uphold and defend the word of God before rulers of the nation even at the cost of blood. The night struggle beside the lonely stream parallels such prayerful conflict in utter helplessness clinging to God by faith, as when one wrestled not for own safety but for the triumph of the gospel and because weakness might harm the cause of truth, and found strength and peace by relying on Christ with assurance of not facing the council alone. God permits the wrestler to feel peril so as not to trust own strength and wisdom or rush presumptuously into danger, thus preparing for the great work ahead.
Wrestling means having the whole soul stirred to earnest, persevering prayer to the Father for divine grace and strength to overcome fiery temptations, holding on and refusing to let go without blessing. If the beloved and sinless Son felt necessity of such earnest communion, much more do those called to be heirs of salvation, who are tempted and dependent, need it, instead of letting hearts become overcharged with cares of this life and neglecting God and His word. It means praying much with broken heart and contrite spirit until prevailing, laying the foundation right by building on Christ instead of trusting self and self-effort, getting the mind off every living mortal so the work is between God and the soul alone, with life and death at stake as thorough work for eternity. It requires humbling self under the mighty hand of God without waiting to be humbled, and in due time He will lift up. It is being earnest and sincere in the closet, pleading and refusing to leave until strength in God is felt, until unutterable longing for salvation is awakened and sweet evidence of pardoned sin is obtained, giving victory over the world, with grace appearing in the life when watching and praying are continued after leaving the closet. It is taking time alone apart from confusion and common things to examine self, test the heart, and offer earnest secret prayer for divine aid instead of living satisfied with self and past experience, the opposite of formal, spiritless prayer and self-exaltation, bringing moral transformation in which self is divested so Jesus receives undivided worship. It is earnest, persevering supplication seeking God until victory is gained and the soul surrenders itself to God, holding a case before the Lord, grasping the promises, and wrenching away from the mooring and fortress of self-righteousness to be freed, which can continue for hours and requires experience in how to seek the Lord and how to surrender, without which a person does not know how to grasp the promises and gain victory, and when resisted dense darkness follows.
Such earnest, persevering, humble prayer ascends to heaven and is made wholly efficacious because Jesus mingles with it the holy incense of His own merit and righteousness, by which the petitioner is accepted. In days of peril this kind of wrestling is needed, and those who like Jacob wrestle will like Jacob prevail, grasping the rich promises of God and receiving the Holy Spirit in proportion to earnest, humble supplication to meet needs and give power for lifting the standard of truth. The struggle alone until daybreak illustrates wrestling with God through earnest, persistent prayer to receive the Holy Spirit.
Repentance Faith and Victory
Alone through the night Jacob confessed his wrong, gratefully acknowledged mercy received, and with deep humiliation pleaded the covenant made with his fathers and the promises given to himself in the night vision at Bethel and in the land of exile. He pointed to his repentance and appealed to mercy with sorrow and tears for past wrongs while seeking deliverance. His pleading was for assurance that sin was pardoned as well as for blessing.
He prevailed not by strength but through humiliation, repentance, self-surrender and persistent trust in mercy and pledged word. He fastened his trembling grasp upon the promises, which the heart of Infinite Love cannot turn away. His persistence rested not on pride or worthiness or boastful presumption, but on confessed weakness and unworthiness trusting a covenant-keeping God.
Though disabled and suffering keenest pain after long perplexity, remorse and trouble for sin, he would not relinquish his purpose to gain assurance of pardon. He clung and urged his petition with earnest agonizing cries, exclaiming he would not let go except he be blessed, with a confidence, firmness and perseverance that was not boastful presumption bringing instant destruction. He held on despite pain in the thigh and despite remembrance of sins brought before him, refusing to let go until blessing came. His struggle shows earnest supplication whose persevering appeal is answered, revealing strength of faith, perseverance and unshaken confidence that God can deliver.
His earlier sorrow and repentance for obtaining the blessing and birthright by fraud mattered, for without it prayer would not have been heard and life would not have been preserved. God does not excuse wrongdoing or overlook unfaithfulness even in lesser matters, yet does not abandon those who return with true repentance and trust in pledged word. Genuine repentance rather than mere fear of punishment or regret over consequences is essential, and the encounter brought past deception into view, marked pardon, and ended the crisis with assurance of restored favor.
That for which he had vainly wrestled in his own strength was won through self-surrender and steadfast faith. As evidence of triumph and encouragement to others his name was changed from one reminding of sin to Israel, commemorating victory as a prince having power with God and with men. Having prevailed with God he would prevail with men and need no longer fear his brother's anger, because the Lord was his defense. His prevailing prayer obtained blessings that would not otherwise be received, and his persevering unyielding holding on teaches that prayer is answered.
The night marked a change in which self-confidence and reliance on cunning gave way to simple trust in God and humble submission to His will, with faith refined through trial. Cherished sins were renounced and he stood conqueror, rising no longer the supplanter but a forgiven prince with God. He gained not merely deliverance from an outraged brother but deliverance from himself, with the power of evil in his nature broken and character transformed. God does not annul His laws or undo the work of sin, but transforms the curse into blessing through grace. By learning to trust, believe and confide everything to Jesus, a man of feebleness and defects is raised to be a prince with God.
He learned that human help and strength could not save him and his only help must come from God against whom he had sinned. Helpless and unworthy he pleaded the promise of mercy to the repentant sinner, which assured pardon and acceptance and sustained him through the conflict. The victory of conquering faith came only after he was crippled and helpless, and physical weakness afterward became the sign of strength found in dependence. Thus surrender brings victory through weakness.
In the midnight struggle he surrendered all to God and exercised conquering faith, laying himself before God to let God's will prevail. This surrender melts the cold iron of self that keeps God out of assemblies, yet little is now known of this wrestling experience. Those in positions of responsibility especially need to know this struggle.
Holding fast as Jacob did is clinging to God and the Saviour without failing or discouragement, trusting Him who is righteousness, grace and truth as strength and efficiency. It is a battle to overcome self requiring constant grace, crying to convert the inmost soul and pleading for transforming power until God reveals the sinner to himself and reveals Himself as strength, brightness, support and power never before realized. If faith perseveringly grasps the promises it will prevail, and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even faith. Those who so hold fast are converted day by day as emptied vessels filled to pour truth into others.
Type of Final Trouble
The night of anguish when Jacob was left alone wrestling in prayer for deliverance from Esau represents the experience of God's people in the time of trouble and the time of Jacob's trouble just before Christ's second coming. He had secured by deception his father's blessing intended for Esau and had fled for his life from his brother's deadly threats, and after many years of exile he returned at God's command with wives and children and flocks and herds to his native country. On reaching its borders he was filled with terror at Esau's approach at the head of a band of warriors bent on revenge, while his own company was unarmed and defenseless against violence and slaughter. To anxiety and fear was added crushing self-reproach because his own sin had brought the danger, so his only hope was in the mercy of God and his only defense was prayer, yet he left nothing undone to atone for the wrong to his brother and to avert the threatened danger. So followers of Christ as they approach the time of trouble must make every exertion to place themselves in a proper light before the people, to disarm prejudice, and to avert the danger threatening liberty of conscience.
It pictures the final season of distress after Christ's work as mediator ends and each case is decided, when the wicked surround the righteous and they are in danger from them. A decree goes forth to put them to death, measures are taken against them, darkness thickens around them, and to human sight they must soon seal their testimony with blood. Like Jacob they wrestle in prayer and cry to God day and night without ceasing for deliverance and a way of escape. They plead with a deep sense of unworthiness and entire submission to the will of God, asking that God's will be done and that if it can glorify His name He will make a way of escape and bring salvation by His arm. Like Jacob they will cling to God in earnest, persistent intercession even when they fear He has left them to their enemies and their prayers seem unanswered.
Their struggle tests and reveals their faith, perseverance, and firm confidence that God can deliver. Reviewing their past they humble themselves, confess and repent beforehand, lay hold of the promise and plead earnestly, knowing their unworthiness yet having no concealed sins left unconfessed and unrepented to turn them to despair. Deliverance then depends on prior confession, for their sins have gone beforehand to judgment and have been blotted out so they cannot bring them to remembrance. If unconfessed sins appeared before them while tortured with fear and anguish they would be overwhelmed, despair would cut off their faith, and they could have no confidence to plead with God for deliverance.
During the long night Satan accuses them before God's angels, claiming the right to destroy them because of sin, moving the wicked and Esau to march against them, and endeavoring to force upon them a sense of guilt to discourage them and break their hold upon God until they are driven almost to despair. He urges his accusations against the little company who keep the commandments of God and resist his supremacy, presenting their sins before God in exaggerated light from his accurate knowledge of the sins he tempted them to commit, declaring God cannot in justice forgive them yet destroy him and his angels, and claiming them as his prey demanding them to destroy. The Lord keeps His eye upon them, listens to their cries, and sends His angels to comfort and protect them in peril. Holy angels have charge over them and continually waft their wings over them to scatter the thick darkness pressed around them, while evil angels crowd around pressing darkness to shut Jesus from view and draw eyes to surrounding darkness so they will distrust God and murmur against Him, and their only safety is keeping their eyes directed upward.
Their internal struggle shows outwardly in pale faces marked with deep anxiety and inward struggle, firmness and great earnestness, large drops of perspiration on their foreheads, faces at times lighting up with God's approbation and then settling again into solemn anxiety, and paleness sits on every face, yet they do not stop earnest intercession. The painful delay is the best answer to their petitions, leading them as they wait trustingly for God to work to exercise faith, hope and patience, drinking of the cup and being baptized with the baptism appointed them until the end comes. God will not cast off those who have been deceived, tempted and betrayed into sin but have returned to Him with true repentance. Their great affliction is the furnace fire that must consume their earthliness so the image of Christ may be perfectly reflected, and God's love is as strong and tender in that severest trial as in prosperity, bringing them forth as gold tried in the fire.
The episode is linked to Jesus pleading with the Father to spare the unsealed remnant until God's servants are sealed. Those who patiently wait will be delivered by the voice of God and by the display of His power for the glory of His name at the appointed time. Those who are indifferent and careless, who do not join in agonizing and pleading and do not resist the darkness, are shut in as with a thick cloud and left by God's angels. While every one who struggles with all energy to resist evil angels and helps himself by calling upon God with perseverance is hastened to and aided by angels, and as the earnest cries continue rays of light from Jesus come to encourage the heart and lighten the countenance.
Pattern for Present Believers
The faith that will endure the future trial must be exercised daily now, for the present probation is granted to prepare for the coming season of distress and anguish. Those with little faith now are in greatest danger of falling under satanic delusions and the decree to compel conscience, and even if they endure they will face deeper distress because they never made trusting God a habit. That preparation is persevering, determined, importunate prayer that lays hold of God's promises with earnestness, self-denial and agony, praying long with intensity of desire until every power is on the stretch. It clings with unyielding faith when waves of inexpressible despair sweep over the suppliant, and endures weariness, delay and hunger without fainting though severely tried, for all who so lay hold will succeed while those unwilling to deny self, agonize before God and pray long and earnestly will not obtain the blessing.
Believers are now to wrestle as Jacob did with fervent, effectual earnestness that will not be denied, holding God with the firm hold of unquestioning faith that refuses to let go without blessing. Heaven full of blessings awaits such demand and will be given in answer to it, consecrating the life unreservedly to God, preparing the heart to receive God's power, and giving the holding power God's work needs. This means praying much to Jesus with broken heart and contrite spirit until prevailing, bringing every difficulty to Him in earnest, persistent prayer, taking Him at His Word, resting the case with Him and trusting with all the heart with a confidence that will never be betrayed. It means building on Christ instead of self and self-effort, getting the mind off mortals so the work is between God and the soul alone, humbling self under God's mighty hand without waiting to be humbled, watching unto prayer with sincere mingled faith, allowing nothing to divert the mind, pressing for a deep living experience of knowing Him, and devoting time to such prayer instead of seeking encouragement and sympathy from others, which brings freedom, whole consecration, deliverance from temptation and neglected duty, light and peace and joy.
The same wrestling is urgent intercession for souls, for watchmen, ministers, those weak in faith, backsliders, relatives and neighbors, pleading with tears, confession, burden and perseverance for conversion, pardon and salvation. It is the work of professing Christians individually and as a whole to be men and women of intercession, acting with heavenly angels and showing by action love for Jesus and the souls bought with His blood, letting prayer follow laborers in the harvest field like sharp sickles. That kind of faith presses petitions at the mercy-seat, gains its object, brings peace in Christ and longing for others to share the blessing, fulfills every duty, wins souls to the Saviour, and when continued gives a far richer experience than where there is too little prayer, too little conviction of sin and lack of living faith.
Where this wrestling prayer and faith abound there are pentecostal seasons even now, and the world sees a steady light shining from a bright family religion that leaves impressions for eternity. It means entering the work individually instead of waiting for some compelling power to come upon the church or hoping to see the whole church revived, praying more and talking less. It requires being converted, searching the heart, putting away sin and correcting evil tendencies, refusing the form of godliness without Spirit and power, distrusting self with the abiding sense that sufficiency is of God, and pleading earnestly for the Holy Spirit to come into every heart and for Christ's presence to renew service, for God can turn human thoughts and hearts as He turns the water of the sea.
It is the pattern for wrestling alone with God to obtain victory over self, powerful habit, sin, perverted ideas and natural temperament, pleading alone for grace and strength until victory over the powers of darkness comes and triumph is found in God. Those seeking to overcome must persist, not be discouraged, ask others to pray with them, pray in faith without doubting, and trust that Jesus is touched by infirmities. Such earnest wrestling cries to convert the inmost soul until God reveals the sinner to himself and reveals Himself as strength, brightness and power never before realized, bringing assurance of answer, freedom, consecration, light amid darkness, changed hearts and minds and feelings, removal of hatred and revenge, peace and joy and new life and reconciliation to loss; if faith perseveringly grasps the promises it will prevail, and this is the victory that overcomes the world.
By that communion a man of feebleness, defects and sin becomes a prince with God, and men and women become of high and holy purpose who will not for any consideration be swayed from truth, right and justice. That communion is most needed when positions are difficult, burdens heavy, cares and duties urgent and temptation near in rescuing others from vice and ruin, giving peace and rest shining in the countenance, persuasive power in the voice, ennobled character and life, and a power nothing else can give for rescuing the tempted and fallen through living connection with God through Christ by supplicating day and night. Those who hold fast without failing or discouragement, trusting Him who is righteousness, grace and truth as strength and efficiency, have God reveal Himself to them, are converted day by day as emptied vessels filled to pour truth into other prepared vessels, and become instruments to give the warning message to prepare the way of the Lord, needing this new living experience every day with more faith, greater trust and firmer reliance while laying the most secret things open to omniscient God in converse.
Jacob's struggle illustrates Spirit-led, agonized supplication of a soul that will not rest without a special manifestation of God's power, which can make a longer public prayer fitting though ordinary public petitions should be brief. Such earnest wrestling when prompted by God's Spirit is pleasing to God and in keeping with His will, a model of pleading alone with God and not giving up until strengthened, not a reason to stop watching and praying once strength comes.
The messengers who bear the last solemn warning must follow this pattern of fervent, faithful prayer, not cold, listless or lazy, acquainting themselves with God by proving His promises, taking time to pray, and refusing selfish gratification and worldly absorption rather than neglecting communion. They will find many places of seeing God face to face with life preserved, will be accounted princes having power to prevail with God and men, and will know His presence and preservation.
Luther's crisis was like Jacob's struggle beside the lonely stream, picturing one who in utter helplessness clings to God by faith. He wrestled with God in prayer not for personal safety but because he feared his weakness might harm the cause of truth, and in helplessness faith clung to Christ until God strengthened him with assurance that he would not face the council alone and gave him strength and peace for the triumph of the gospel.
The verse assures that God is far stronger than Satan the adversary, so those cooperating with divine agency need not fear being overcome. The same all-sufficient power and grace that gave Jacob special victories will bring believers off more than conquerors.
The same wrestling belongs to daily life and labor: humbling self in earnest seeking, overcoming evil besetments to receive grace, laying hold of the Lord's strength to make peace with Him, and coming into close connection with heaven in order to reach people through God, where self dies and Jesus becomes the tower of strength. It means persevering while working diligently, seeking God's teaching above own plans through Scripture, maintaining a good fight seeking God's favor rather than applause then acting prayers, praying and working and watching on every side, taking hold of the Lord's work with energy like daily labor, serving heartily with delight, and wrestling for the spirit of labor before going out in wisdom given, believing the rich promises are abundant and showing faith by works to have what is asked and receive heaven's rich blessings, with believing prayer bringing God's power in answer to conscious weakness.
God's commandment-keeping people must have this experience of taking hold of Christ's strength and making peace with Him when challenged in the coming conflict of perplexity, trouble and deception. Their only safety then is being of one heart bound with Christ and one another, hid with Christ in God, through which He claims His everlasting covenant of peace, places and multiplies them, sets His sanctuary among them forever to be their God and make them His people and make nations know He sanctifies Israel, filling hearts with gladness and lips with praise at glad deliverance.
Wrestling means praying with drawn-out heart under heavy pressure, holding a case before the Lord, grasping the promises and wrenching away from self-righteousness until the soul surrenders and is freed, which can continue for hours and through the night with hope for the one prayed for. It requires learning how to seek the Lord and surrender, for without that experience one does not know how to grasp the promises and gain victory, and when the struggle is resisted and the soul is not freed dense darkness follows. Held without letting go until breakthrough comes, it brings triumph over evil that can be shouted, as those who take hold of the Lord's work with daily-labor energy serve heartily, love to serve and find delight in it.
Jacob was left alone at night after sending his family over the Jabbok, and wrestled silently until daybreak with One he at first took for an enemy seeking his life, who was Christ the Angel of the covenant. That wrestling was conflict in persevering prayer, a helpless sinner clinging with agonizing, importunate faith to God's promises and mighty arm until every power was on the stretch. He prevailed not by strength but by humiliation, confession, self-surrender and persistent trust, holding on though crippled and suffering until assured of pardon, when his name was changed from supplanter to Israel as a prince having power with God and men. The night of anguish for deliverance from Esau represents the experience of God's people in the time of Jacob's trouble just before Christ's second coming, when they will cling in earnest intercession with sins confessed beforehand while Satan accuses them. The faith needed then must be exercised daily now, wrestling as Jacob did with fervent earnestness that will not be denied, to gain victory over self and sin and power to intercede for souls.
Night Setting and Background
Jacob was left alone at night by the Jabbok after sending his family across the river so they would not witness his distress, remaining behind to intercede alone with God and looking to Him as his only hope. He was on his return to Canaan at God's command after many years, twenty years, of exile with wives and children and flocks and herds, weighed down by his past deception in securing his father's blessing intended for Esau and by his flight for his life from his brother's deadly threats. On reaching the borders he was filled with terror at Esau's approach with a band of warriors bent on revenge, while his own company was unarmed and defenseless against violence and slaughter.
He tried to secure safety and make peace, addressing Esau as lord and calling himself servant, declaring he had property of his own rather than returning to claim his father's inheritance, leaving nothing undone to atone for the wrong to his brother and to avert the threatened danger. With anxiety and fear came crushing self-reproach because his own sin had brought the peril upon himself and upon the innocent, leaving him solitary and unprotected and in deep distress over danger to his loved ones. His only hope was in the mercy of God and his only defense was prayer.
It was midnight in a lonely, mountainous, dangerous region haunted by wild beasts and robbers and murderers, where heavenly angels guarded him on his return. The memory of the Bethel vision and of God's favor and promises of help and guidance gave him hope and courage, even as his past deception and exile weighed on his conscience. In darkness and solitude, with everything at stake in the crisis of his life, he continued praying and humbling himself before God.
When suddenly a hand was laid on his shoulder, and a strong hand seized him, he thought an enemy sought his life and wrestled silently with all the energy of despair and all his strength without relaxing, struggling for mastery until near daybreak. During that struggle God sent another heavenly messenger to Esau, whose dream showed him Jacob's grief and the hosts of God around him and that God was with him, leading Esau to command his soldiers not to harm Jacob.
Divine Opponent Recognized
The One who wrestled with Jacob alone through the night until the breaking of day was Christ the Saviour, the Son of God, the Angel of the covenant, a heavenly messenger come to him in prevailing prayer. He came to Jacob as he prayed alone, unrecognized, and met him as an opponent while the struggle seemed to shift between them, yet Jacob held Him fast through the night until he received the blessing he sought. That night wrestling obtained blessings that would not otherwise be received, brought assurance that pardoned sin and ended a life burdened by doubt, perplexity and remorse over sin, and proved that great things are done for men of prayer. Victory and blessing came because Jacob refused to let go, laying hold of the Lord through faith and persevering in dependence on Him.
At first Jacob did not recognize Him, taking the strong hand laid upon him in the darkness for an enemy seeking his life. He therefore struggled silently for mastery with all his strength and with almost superhuman effort, yet he could not gain victory because he was contending with Christ the Angel of the covenant. Only as day began to break was the One revealed whom he had not yet known.
As day began to break the Stranger put forth superhuman and divine power, and by a touch upon the thigh the strong man was paralyzed, crippled and left in keenest pain. Wounded, disabled and helpless, he fell a weeping suppliant upon the neck and breast of his mysterious antagonist. Though in keenest pain after long perplexity he clung to Him in pain and would not let go without a blessing, pleading for mercy and for assurance that his sin was pardoned and trusting God's faithfulness rather than his own worthiness. The struggle shows that trials may be mistaken for the work of an enemy and wrestled blindly until exhausted, yet they can bring benefit and reveal Christ's healing presence, and that victory of conquering faith comes only after weakness and surrender.
At that touch Jacob knew with whom he had been contending, that he had been contending with the Angel of the covenant. At first he had thought his attacker an enemy, then he recognized the Angel, disabled and in pain yet clinging for assurance and blessing. The divine touch at daybreak revealed his Contender and turned helpless weeping into clinging for the longed-for blessing.
That spirit of persistence with which Jacob held fast and would not be turned aside or cease intercession was inspired and implanted by Him who wrestled with him. Christ inspired Jacob with persevering faith in the mysterious conflict at the Jabbok that continued until daybreak, and Christ rewarded the confidence He had implanted.
The verse shows that a divine visitation can be mistaken for hostile opposition. God's coming with quickening power to lead sinners to confess sin and to wash out and cleanse moral impurity can go unrecognized and be resisted as if hostile, as when Jacob wrestled through the night with a visitor he thought an enemy when it was God visiting him. Failure to recognize God shuts out the quickening influence of the Spirit of God and leaves people destitute of Him, and to oppose His work in confession under revival as spurious fanaticism instead of letting the Spirit flow repeats Jacob's mistake.
Wrestling as Prevailing Prayer
The wrestling until daybreak was conflict in prayer, teaching the power of importunate, persevering, determined, earnest, agonizing faith that clings to God's promises and lays hold on the mighty arm of power, by which through humiliation, repentance and self-surrender a helpless, unworthy sinner prevails with heaven. The greatest victories for the church and the individual Christian are gained in the audience chamber with God by such earnest agonizing faith, and this lesson of prevailing prayer must be learned now. Jacob's example teaches that God answers the prayer of faith with power and brings results like those seen then.
Wrestling with God is laying hold of God's promises with earnest, persevering, self-denying agony, praying long with intensity of desire until every power is on the stretch. It is clinging with unyielding faith to the promises when waves of inexpressible despair sweep over the suppliant. It is a faith that can endure weariness, delay and hunger without fainting though severely tried.
Jacob is the example of persevering, determined faith that holds on for God's blessing, refuses to give up when the answer is delayed, and succeeds through earnestness. Those unwilling to deny self, agonize before God and pray long and earnestly will not obtain the blessing. His all-night struggle continued until daybreak and would not let go without a blessing, and his prayer was answered with renaming as Israel and the word that he had prevailed with God and with men, teaching persevering, unyielding faith that holds on to God for a blessing. The same wrestling prayer, offered fervently and in faith and not in a cold, listless, lazy manner, is the pattern for messengers who bear the last solemn warning, who must acquaint themselves with God by proving His promises, take time to pray, and refuse selfish gratification and worldly absorption rather than neglect communion, with the result that they will find many places of seeing God face to face with life preserved and will be accounted princes having power to prevail with God and with men.
The wrestling is anguished prayer in utter helplessness, throwing oneself face down with broken, heart-rending cries that only God fully understands, the soul fastening upon Christ the mighty deliverer. Trials may at first seem like an enemy's attack and be wrestled blindly until exhausted, yet they can bring benefit and reveal Christ's healing presence and bring a person to depend on God and receive His blessing. At daybreak the divine touch revealed contending with the Angel of the covenant, and helpless and weeping Jacob clung and received the blessing his soul longed for.
The wrestling was not for personal safety but for the success of the truth against forces combined against it when faith falters and the powers of darkness seem to prevail. Prevailing brings strengthened assurance of not standing alone, with strength, restored peace, and rejoicing at being permitted to uphold and defend the word of God before rulers of the nation even at the cost of blood. The night struggle beside the lonely stream parallels such prayerful conflict in utter helplessness clinging to God by faith, as when one wrestled not for own safety but for the triumph of the gospel and because weakness might harm the cause of truth, and found strength and peace by relying on Christ with assurance of not facing the council alone. God permits the wrestler to feel peril so as not to trust own strength and wisdom or rush presumptuously into danger, thus preparing for the great work ahead.
Wrestling means having the whole soul stirred to earnest, persevering prayer to the Father for divine grace and strength to overcome fiery temptations, holding on and refusing to let go without blessing. If the beloved and sinless Son felt necessity of such earnest communion, much more do those called to be heirs of salvation, who are tempted and dependent, need it, instead of letting hearts become overcharged with cares of this life and neglecting God and His word. It means praying much with broken heart and contrite spirit until prevailing, laying the foundation right by building on Christ instead of trusting self and self-effort, getting the mind off every living mortal so the work is between God and the soul alone, with life and death at stake as thorough work for eternity. It requires humbling self under the mighty hand of God without waiting to be humbled, and in due time He will lift up. It is being earnest and sincere in the closet, pleading and refusing to leave until strength in God is felt, until unutterable longing for salvation is awakened and sweet evidence of pardoned sin is obtained, giving victory over the world, with grace appearing in the life when watching and praying are continued after leaving the closet. It is taking time alone apart from confusion and common things to examine self, test the heart, and offer earnest secret prayer for divine aid instead of living satisfied with self and past experience, the opposite of formal, spiritless prayer and self-exaltation, bringing moral transformation in which self is divested so Jesus receives undivided worship. It is earnest, persevering supplication seeking God until victory is gained and the soul surrenders itself to God, holding a case before the Lord, grasping the promises, and wrenching away from the mooring and fortress of self-righteousness to be freed, which can continue for hours and requires experience in how to seek the Lord and how to surrender, without which a person does not know how to grasp the promises and gain victory, and when resisted dense darkness follows.
Such earnest, persevering, humble prayer ascends to heaven and is made wholly efficacious because Jesus mingles with it the holy incense of His own merit and righteousness, by which the petitioner is accepted. In days of peril this kind of wrestling is needed, and those who like Jacob wrestle will like Jacob prevail, grasping the rich promises of God and receiving the Holy Spirit in proportion to earnest, humble supplication to meet needs and give power for lifting the standard of truth. The struggle alone until daybreak illustrates wrestling with God through earnest, persistent prayer to receive the Holy Spirit.
Repentance Faith and Victory
Alone through the night Jacob confessed his wrong, gratefully acknowledged mercy received, and with deep humiliation pleaded the covenant made with his fathers and the promises given to himself in the night vision at Bethel and in the land of exile. He pointed to his repentance and appealed to mercy with sorrow and tears for past wrongs while seeking deliverance. His pleading was for assurance that sin was pardoned as well as for blessing.
He prevailed not by strength but through humiliation, repentance, self-surrender and persistent trust in mercy and pledged word. He fastened his trembling grasp upon the promises, which the heart of Infinite Love cannot turn away. His persistence rested not on pride or worthiness or boastful presumption, but on confessed weakness and unworthiness trusting a covenant-keeping God.
Though disabled and suffering keenest pain after long perplexity, remorse and trouble for sin, he would not relinquish his purpose to gain assurance of pardon. He clung and urged his petition with earnest agonizing cries, exclaiming he would not let go except he be blessed, with a confidence, firmness and perseverance that was not boastful presumption bringing instant destruction. He held on despite pain in the thigh and despite remembrance of sins brought before him, refusing to let go until blessing came. His struggle shows earnest supplication whose persevering appeal is answered, revealing strength of faith, perseverance and unshaken confidence that God can deliver.
His earlier sorrow and repentance for obtaining the blessing and birthright by fraud mattered, for without it prayer would not have been heard and life would not have been preserved. God does not excuse wrongdoing or overlook unfaithfulness even in lesser matters, yet does not abandon those who return with true repentance and trust in pledged word. Genuine repentance rather than mere fear of punishment or regret over consequences is essential, and the encounter brought past deception into view, marked pardon, and ended the crisis with assurance of restored favor.
That for which he had vainly wrestled in his own strength was won through self-surrender and steadfast faith. As evidence of triumph and encouragement to others his name was changed from one reminding of sin to Israel, commemorating victory as a prince having power with God and with men. Having prevailed with God he would prevail with men and need no longer fear his brother's anger, because the Lord was his defense. His prevailing prayer obtained blessings that would not otherwise be received, and his persevering unyielding holding on teaches that prayer is answered.
The night marked a change in which self-confidence and reliance on cunning gave way to simple trust in God and humble submission to His will, with faith refined through trial. Cherished sins were renounced and he stood conqueror, rising no longer the supplanter but a forgiven prince with God. He gained not merely deliverance from an outraged brother but deliverance from himself, with the power of evil in his nature broken and character transformed. God does not annul His laws or undo the work of sin, but transforms the curse into blessing through grace. By learning to trust, believe and confide everything to Jesus, a man of feebleness and defects is raised to be a prince with God.
He learned that human help and strength could not save him and his only help must come from God against whom he had sinned. Helpless and unworthy he pleaded the promise of mercy to the repentant sinner, which assured pardon and acceptance and sustained him through the conflict. The victory of conquering faith came only after he was crippled and helpless, and physical weakness afterward became the sign of strength found in dependence. Thus surrender brings victory through weakness.
In the midnight struggle he surrendered all to God and exercised conquering faith, laying himself before God to let God's will prevail. This surrender melts the cold iron of self that keeps God out of assemblies, yet little is now known of this wrestling experience. Those in positions of responsibility especially need to know this struggle.
Holding fast as Jacob did is clinging to God and the Saviour without failing or discouragement, trusting Him who is righteousness, grace and truth as strength and efficiency. It is a battle to overcome self requiring constant grace, crying to convert the inmost soul and pleading for transforming power until God reveals the sinner to himself and reveals Himself as strength, brightness, support and power never before realized. If faith perseveringly grasps the promises it will prevail, and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even faith. Those who so hold fast are converted day by day as emptied vessels filled to pour truth into others.
Type of Final Trouble
The night of anguish when Jacob was left alone wrestling in prayer for deliverance from Esau represents the experience of God's people in the time of trouble and the time of Jacob's trouble just before Christ's second coming. He had secured by deception his father's blessing intended for Esau and had fled for his life from his brother's deadly threats, and after many years of exile he returned at God's command with wives and children and flocks and herds to his native country. On reaching its borders he was filled with terror at Esau's approach at the head of a band of warriors bent on revenge, while his own company was unarmed and defenseless against violence and slaughter. To anxiety and fear was added crushing self-reproach because his own sin had brought the danger, so his only hope was in the mercy of God and his only defense was prayer, yet he left nothing undone to atone for the wrong to his brother and to avert the threatened danger. So followers of Christ as they approach the time of trouble must make every exertion to place themselves in a proper light before the people, to disarm prejudice, and to avert the danger threatening liberty of conscience.
It pictures the final season of distress after Christ's work as mediator ends and each case is decided, when the wicked surround the righteous and they are in danger from them. A decree goes forth to put them to death, measures are taken against them, darkness thickens around them, and to human sight they must soon seal their testimony with blood. Like Jacob they wrestle in prayer and cry to God day and night without ceasing for deliverance and a way of escape. They plead with a deep sense of unworthiness and entire submission to the will of God, asking that God's will be done and that if it can glorify His name He will make a way of escape and bring salvation by His arm. Like Jacob they will cling to God in earnest, persistent intercession even when they fear He has left them to their enemies and their prayers seem unanswered.
Their struggle tests and reveals their faith, perseverance, and firm confidence that God can deliver. Reviewing their past they humble themselves, confess and repent beforehand, lay hold of the promise and plead earnestly, knowing their unworthiness yet having no concealed sins left unconfessed and unrepented to turn them to despair. Deliverance then depends on prior confession, for their sins have gone beforehand to judgment and have been blotted out so they cannot bring them to remembrance. If unconfessed sins appeared before them while tortured with fear and anguish they would be overwhelmed, despair would cut off their faith, and they could have no confidence to plead with God for deliverance.
During the long night Satan accuses them before God's angels, claiming the right to destroy them because of sin, moving the wicked and Esau to march against them, and endeavoring to force upon them a sense of guilt to discourage them and break their hold upon God until they are driven almost to despair. He urges his accusations against the little company who keep the commandments of God and resist his supremacy, presenting their sins before God in exaggerated light from his accurate knowledge of the sins he tempted them to commit, declaring God cannot in justice forgive them yet destroy him and his angels, and claiming them as his prey demanding them to destroy. The Lord keeps His eye upon them, listens to their cries, and sends His angels to comfort and protect them in peril. Holy angels have charge over them and continually waft their wings over them to scatter the thick darkness pressed around them, while evil angels crowd around pressing darkness to shut Jesus from view and draw eyes to surrounding darkness so they will distrust God and murmur against Him, and their only safety is keeping their eyes directed upward.
Their internal struggle shows outwardly in pale faces marked with deep anxiety and inward struggle, firmness and great earnestness, large drops of perspiration on their foreheads, faces at times lighting up with God's approbation and then settling again into solemn anxiety, and paleness sits on every face, yet they do not stop earnest intercession. The painful delay is the best answer to their petitions, leading them as they wait trustingly for God to work to exercise faith, hope and patience, drinking of the cup and being baptized with the baptism appointed them until the end comes. God will not cast off those who have been deceived, tempted and betrayed into sin but have returned to Him with true repentance. Their great affliction is the furnace fire that must consume their earthliness so the image of Christ may be perfectly reflected, and God's love is as strong and tender in that severest trial as in prosperity, bringing them forth as gold tried in the fire.
The episode is linked to Jesus pleading with the Father to spare the unsealed remnant until God's servants are sealed. Those who patiently wait will be delivered by the voice of God and by the display of His power for the glory of His name at the appointed time. Those who are indifferent and careless, who do not join in agonizing and pleading and do not resist the darkness, are shut in as with a thick cloud and left by God's angels. While every one who struggles with all energy to resist evil angels and helps himself by calling upon God with perseverance is hastened to and aided by angels, and as the earnest cries continue rays of light from Jesus come to encourage the heart and lighten the countenance.
Pattern for Present Believers
The faith that will endure the future trial must be exercised daily now, for the present probation is granted to prepare for the coming season of distress and anguish. Those with little faith now are in greatest danger of falling under satanic delusions and the decree to compel conscience, and even if they endure they will face deeper distress because they never made trusting God a habit. That preparation is persevering, determined, importunate prayer that lays hold of God's promises with earnestness, self-denial and agony, praying long with intensity of desire until every power is on the stretch. It clings with unyielding faith when waves of inexpressible despair sweep over the suppliant, and endures weariness, delay and hunger without fainting though severely tried, for all who so lay hold will succeed while those unwilling to deny self, agonize before God and pray long and earnestly will not obtain the blessing.
Believers are now to wrestle as Jacob did with fervent, effectual earnestness that will not be denied, holding God with the firm hold of unquestioning faith that refuses to let go without blessing. Heaven full of blessings awaits such demand and will be given in answer to it, consecrating the life unreservedly to God, preparing the heart to receive God's power, and giving the holding power God's work needs. This means praying much to Jesus with broken heart and contrite spirit until prevailing, bringing every difficulty to Him in earnest, persistent prayer, taking Him at His Word, resting the case with Him and trusting with all the heart with a confidence that will never be betrayed. It means building on Christ instead of self and self-effort, getting the mind off mortals so the work is between God and the soul alone, humbling self under God's mighty hand without waiting to be humbled, watching unto prayer with sincere mingled faith, allowing nothing to divert the mind, pressing for a deep living experience of knowing Him, and devoting time to such prayer instead of seeking encouragement and sympathy from others, which brings freedom, whole consecration, deliverance from temptation and neglected duty, light and peace and joy.
The same wrestling is urgent intercession for souls, for watchmen, ministers, those weak in faith, backsliders, relatives and neighbors, pleading with tears, confession, burden and perseverance for conversion, pardon and salvation. It is the work of professing Christians individually and as a whole to be men and women of intercession, acting with heavenly angels and showing by action love for Jesus and the souls bought with His blood, letting prayer follow laborers in the harvest field like sharp sickles. That kind of faith presses petitions at the mercy-seat, gains its object, brings peace in Christ and longing for others to share the blessing, fulfills every duty, wins souls to the Saviour, and when continued gives a far richer experience than where there is too little prayer, too little conviction of sin and lack of living faith.
Where this wrestling prayer and faith abound there are pentecostal seasons even now, and the world sees a steady light shining from a bright family religion that leaves impressions for eternity. It means entering the work individually instead of waiting for some compelling power to come upon the church or hoping to see the whole church revived, praying more and talking less. It requires being converted, searching the heart, putting away sin and correcting evil tendencies, refusing the form of godliness without Spirit and power, distrusting self with the abiding sense that sufficiency is of God, and pleading earnestly for the Holy Spirit to come into every heart and for Christ's presence to renew service, for God can turn human thoughts and hearts as He turns the water of the sea.
It is the pattern for wrestling alone with God to obtain victory over self, powerful habit, sin, perverted ideas and natural temperament, pleading alone for grace and strength until victory over the powers of darkness comes and triumph is found in God. Those seeking to overcome must persist, not be discouraged, ask others to pray with them, pray in faith without doubting, and trust that Jesus is touched by infirmities. Such earnest wrestling cries to convert the inmost soul until God reveals the sinner to himself and reveals Himself as strength, brightness and power never before realized, bringing assurance of answer, freedom, consecration, light amid darkness, changed hearts and minds and feelings, removal of hatred and revenge, peace and joy and new life and reconciliation to loss; if faith perseveringly grasps the promises it will prevail, and this is the victory that overcomes the world.
By that communion a man of feebleness, defects and sin becomes a prince with God, and men and women become of high and holy purpose who will not for any consideration be swayed from truth, right and justice. That communion is most needed when positions are difficult, burdens heavy, cares and duties urgent and temptation near in rescuing others from vice and ruin, giving peace and rest shining in the countenance, persuasive power in the voice, ennobled character and life, and a power nothing else can give for rescuing the tempted and fallen through living connection with God through Christ by supplicating day and night. Those who hold fast without failing or discouragement, trusting Him who is righteousness, grace and truth as strength and efficiency, have God reveal Himself to them, are converted day by day as emptied vessels filled to pour truth into other prepared vessels, and become instruments to give the warning message to prepare the way of the Lord, needing this new living experience every day with more faith, greater trust and firmer reliance while laying the most secret things open to omniscient God in converse.
Jacob's struggle illustrates Spirit-led, agonized supplication of a soul that will not rest without a special manifestation of God's power, which can make a longer public prayer fitting though ordinary public petitions should be brief. Such earnest wrestling when prompted by God's Spirit is pleasing to God and in keeping with His will, a model of pleading alone with God and not giving up until strengthened, not a reason to stop watching and praying once strength comes.
The messengers who bear the last solemn warning must follow this pattern of fervent, faithful prayer, not cold, listless or lazy, acquainting themselves with God by proving His promises, taking time to pray, and refusing selfish gratification and worldly absorption rather than neglecting communion. They will find many places of seeing God face to face with life preserved, will be accounted princes having power to prevail with God and men, and will know His presence and preservation.
Luther's crisis was like Jacob's struggle beside the lonely stream, picturing one who in utter helplessness clings to God by faith. He wrestled with God in prayer not for personal safety but because he feared his weakness might harm the cause of truth, and in helplessness faith clung to Christ until God strengthened him with assurance that he would not face the council alone and gave him strength and peace for the triumph of the gospel.
The verse assures that God is far stronger than Satan the adversary, so those cooperating with divine agency need not fear being overcome. The same all-sufficient power and grace that gave Jacob special victories will bring believers off more than conquerors.
The same wrestling belongs to daily life and labor: humbling self in earnest seeking, overcoming evil besetments to receive grace, laying hold of the Lord's strength to make peace with Him, and coming into close connection with heaven in order to reach people through God, where self dies and Jesus becomes the tower of strength. It means persevering while working diligently, seeking God's teaching above own plans through Scripture, maintaining a good fight seeking God's favor rather than applause then acting prayers, praying and working and watching on every side, taking hold of the Lord's work with energy like daily labor, serving heartily with delight, and wrestling for the spirit of labor before going out in wisdom given, believing the rich promises are abundant and showing faith by works to have what is asked and receive heaven's rich blessings, with believing prayer bringing God's power in answer to conscious weakness.
God's commandment-keeping people must have this experience of taking hold of Christ's strength and making peace with Him when challenged in the coming conflict of perplexity, trouble and deception. Their only safety then is being of one heart bound with Christ and one another, hid with Christ in God, through which He claims His everlasting covenant of peace, places and multiplies them, sets His sanctuary among them forever to be their God and make them His people and make nations know He sanctifies Israel, filling hearts with gladness and lips with praise at glad deliverance.
Wrestling means praying with drawn-out heart under heavy pressure, holding a case before the Lord, grasping the promises and wrenching away from self-righteousness until the soul surrenders and is freed, which can continue for hours and through the night with hope for the one prayed for. It requires learning how to seek the Lord and surrender, for without that experience one does not know how to grasp the promises and gain victory, and when the struggle is resisted and the soul is not freed dense darkness follows. Held without letting go until breakthrough comes, it brings triumph over evil that can be shouted, as those who take hold of the Lord's work with daily-labor energy serve heartily, love to serve and find delight in it.