Page 11 - November 2025 - Truth & Tidings

promises despite his own failure. God is as the Lord had told him, and in it he
working in the circumstances of the lives was reminded of God’s faithfulness and
of those of us who belong to Him for His keeping power. The Lord there renewed
glory and for our ultimate blessing and His promise of blessing to Jacob, and, as
good. a display of his thankfulness for all that
At Peniel, Jacob wrestled with an angel God had done for him, Jacob set up a pillar
of God, determined not to let him go until of stone in the place where God talked to
the Lord blessed him (32:24-31). Jabez, him and poured a drink offering on it and
who was more honourable than his breth- poured oil on it (Gen 35:1-14).
ren, called on the God of Israel and said, Let us too, as those who have been re-
“Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, deemed by precious blood, return daily
and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand to the altar and offer up our worship and
might be with me, and that thou wouldest thanksgiving to God for His unfailing
keep me from evil, that it may not grieve faithfulness. The writer of the epistle to
me.” It is recorded that “God granted him the Hebrews exhorts us, “By him therefore
that which he requested” (1Ch 4:10). let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God
Might we, too, as the people of God, continually, that is, the fruit of our lips
know much of laying hold of God, wres- giving thanks to his name” (Heb 13:15).
tling, as it were, in prayer and supplica- On the way to Bethlehem, Rachel died.
tion. It is His great desire to bless us. We At her death, love marked her burial place
are exhorted to pray without ceasing (1Th with a pillar to keep her name in perpetual
5:17). We are exhorted to pray without remembrance. She had been the object of
fainting or becoming discouraged (Luk Jacob’s love and affection and of his care.
18:1). You and I have been and continue to be the
On that occasion, Jacob’s name was objects of God’s love and affection and of
changed to Israel, meaning “prince of His tender care. He has promised to keep
God.” Twice in the book of Revelation, us until we reach heaven and home.
overcomers are promised a new name. At Jacob left his father’s house with only
the end of the letter to the church in Perga- a staff; he returned with two bands. He
mos, the Lord promised the overcomers a acknowledged his own unworthiness and
new name which no man will know except committed himself to the Lord (Gen 32:10).
the person who receives it (Rev 2:17). In Throughout his pilgrimage, Jacob learned
writing to the church in Philadelphia, the much of the faithfulness of God’s promises
Lord promised the overcomer that He and God’s provision and preservation. The
would write upon him the name of His writer of the book of Hebrews tells us of
God and His new name (3:12). Jacob’s last days: “By faith Jacob, when
The angel touched the hollow of Jacob’s he was a dying, blessed both the sons of
thigh, and from that moment on Jacob Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the
would be reminded of his own weakness top of his staff” (Heb 11:21).
and of his dependence on God. May we, Let us, as the people of God, acknowl-
too, as the people of God, be ever remind- edge the faithfulness of God through the
ed of our dependence on Him. various scenes of life. Let us look back
The Lord told Jacob to return to Bethel upon His faithfulness and reverently
and build an altar. Jacob built an altar worship.

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