Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/286

Rh The Book of Genesis

268 God

A

is

our refuge and strength,'

very present help in trouhle.

Therefore

will

And though

we not

though the earth do change,

fear,

the mountains be

moved

into the heart of the seas.

And

as the rabbis told, the gates of heaven are constantly opened wide, that the prayers of those who seek Him truly may come unto God. The pity of it is that many pray so little, and that most of us turn to God only in moments of need, peril and distress. We have so much for which to thank God and to utter His praise. Day by day and hour by hour our lives are enriched with His bounties. And surely it w^ere not too much if every day we would turn to God to thank Him for all His boundless love, and, even as Jacob did, to acknowledge our littleness and unworthiness, and to pray to

Him

gifts

gives them.

So our fathers prayed

daily

aright,

for

the purpose in

for

use

which

ages past.

all

He

Thrice

they acknowledged God's greatness and besought the

continuance of His favor. in

we may

for help and strength and wisdom, that

His precious

God

And

their prayers

kept them and kept Judaism alive.

ample should inspire

us,

their

children,

and

their faith

Verily their exto

like

faith

and

devotion.

So Jacob prayed. But even prayer alone is not enough. Prayer must lead to renewed faith and nobility of action. Some prayer is actuated chiefly by selfish fear, or ecjually and springs from the lips rather than from But the true prayer, which is most pleasing to God, is that prayer which wells forth from the depths of a trusting, God-seeking s.oul, and brings with it that strength of faith and exaltation of purpose, wliicli find their only expression in right and noble living. Was Jacob's an altogether true prayer? He had uttered beautiful words and noble sentiments, and had ])roperly acknowledged God's greatness and goodness and his own unworthiness. But selfish

desire,

the heart. \n