Heroes of Israel

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894 Excerpt: ...message announcing his approach; and in this message, so far from assuming the superiority which had been divinely conferred on him, he addresses him as "my lord Esau," and styles himself "thy servant Jacob." To show, moreover, that he is not returning as a beggar, and that there is no risk of his laying claim to anything that was Esau's, or that Esau might look for from their father, he informs him that he has ample possessions, oxen and asses, flocks, and men-servants and women-servants, and that the sole object of the message which he now sends is to bespeak a friendly reception. To this humble message Esau deigns no reply, and the mood he is in may be inferred from his setting out to meet Jacob with four hundred men. If anything could mean war, surely it is this. No wonder that Jacob was "greatly afraid and distressed." ' Notwithstanding, his self-possession did not forsake him. Deliberately considering the situation, he set about the best means of protection he could devise, dividing his company into two sections, so that if Esau were to come and massacre the foremost of them, the other might have some chance of escape. Then recognizing God in a way, but not (as we shall see) so fully as he ought to have recognized him, he implores the divine protection on himself and his company, reminds God of his command to him to return to Canaan, gratefully acknowledges the goodness and mercy that had followed him since he crossed the Jordan, with his staff as his only property, owns his terror of Esau, and rehearses the promise that his seed would be as the sand of the sea. This shows the reality of Jacob's piety; but there was a reserve in his mind, as if he did not feel an absolute dependence on God, or cherish an absolute assuranc...