Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/290

Rh The Book of Genesis

272

of God, Jacob had striven, too, and at struggle,

it

He

had prevailed.

twenty years before, a he emerged from

it,

seltish,

last,

after a bitter

had entered upon the struggle deceitful, young man. Now

purified, noble, victorious, but also old,

He was

wearied and limping; yet erect and happy withal. a dififerent, a new, a better

the

man and

as



symbol thereof came

new name no longer Jacob, "the Deceiver", but Israel, Champion of God", who was henceforth to fight the


 * the

and become a blessing unto all mankind. is typical. Almost from the very moment of birth the two natures within us strive for the mastery. In youth especially we are apt to lend a willing ear to the seductive whisperings of our earthly nature, and allow it to prevail. But to most of us maturity, experience, and wisdom bring the awakening, when we Ijecome conscious of the deeper meaning and possibilities of life, when we come to understand that God has put us here on earth, not for the satisfaction of our appetites and pursuit after battles of the Lord,

Jacob's struggle, too,

the

will-o'-the-wisps

of

pleasure,

but

that

among our fellowmen, and by the right use and gifts which God bestows upon us in

we may of

the powers

such

boundless

measure, help the world to grow better and mankind to

and happier lives. Some awaken only to slumber again, and

live

live

wiser, nobler,

course, so long as

take

its

own

selfish

desires.

it

to let the

world

does not interfere with their

For them there

is

no struggle. They and they

are conquered even before the combat can begin



must remain ever creatures of the dust, over whom the earthly nature has triumphed, and within whom the spirit of

God

is

dead.

But others awake, and

remain

throughout

the

long, dark night, while the battle rages, the battle with

the

other

self.

At

first

awake,

one combatant seems about

to

prevail,

and then the other. The better nature may gain the upper hand for awhile, even as with Jacob during the first four- \n