Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/285

Rh Jacob and Bsau

Now

267

fear, for there seemed little But he would take what chance there

even more did Jacob

chance of escape.

Better to sacrifice half his possessions, than that every-

was.

thing be

with him and

camps, so even

it

his

the flocks, the herds,

that,

other might

camp, the people who were and the camels, into two the one camp, the should attack if Esau It was a cunning plan, although escape.

So he divided

lost.

still

seemed

to offer little

promise.

Nor

did

it

serve to

restore Jacob's confidence or lessen his fear.

And

then,

suddenly,

he bethought

himself

of

the

one

source of protection and help, which had never failed him

During the last six years trial, God. Laban he had come to rely more and more upon himself and his own strength and cunning, and But his less and less upon God's promise to be with him. narrow escape from Laban's wrath had made him realize once again what he had almost forgotten, that without God human strength and earthly devices avail little. Now, in this moment of greatest peril, when it seemed that his clever plans had come to naught, he turned to God with a prayer of humility and supplication, acknowledging his unworthiness of all God's guidance and bounty, and imploring His help and protection against Esau. in

all

these years of

of his sojourn with

We are all too prone which the Bible warns, and to commit the very error against to say in prosperity, "My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth" (Deuteronomy VHI, 17f.). But when distress and danger confront us, and all earthly help seems weak and futile, then we, too, become mindful How

typical

of God, and

we

is

Jacob's conduct

turn to Him, as Jacob did, with prayers of

humility and supplication. late

for

prayers,

motive.

prayer,

!

for

w^e

when offered in As the Psalmist

It is

may

not too late

be

sincerity says.

sure that of

heart



it

is

God

never too hears

all

and purity of \n