Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/292

Rh The Book of Genesis

274 ows.

It

only the radiant, illuminating, searching light of

is

it must flee and must endure through all the long night. Victory is but the crowning triumph of a single, final moment. True existence means to strive steadfastly with God and with men for the right, and with the morning dawn, which marks the close of life's struggle, even while it ushers in the new day of radiant, eternal light, to step forth victoriously as Israel, "the Champion of God", to receive God's This blessing, and to return in peace to the Father's house. is the true life of struggle and of service, which God, in His wisdom and love, has bidden each one of His children to live. So with the dawn Jacob became a new man. Jacob, "the Deceiver", was gone forever; Israel, "the Champion of God", had taken his place. And he crossed the river to rejoin his family and to meet his brother, however he might receive him. There would be no more fear nor deceit, nor unworthy attempts to appease his brother's just anger. He would submit himself to Esau and accept whatever punishment the latter might inflict. So he went to meet his brother, no And imagine his longer fearful, but humble and repentant. surprise when Esau, in turn, ran to meet him and threw his It was so much arms around his neck and kissed him. more than he dared expect that he could not but see God's hand in it. And we may be sure that God's hand was in it. But we may be sure, too, that it was Jacob himself, above all else, who had brought about the change in Esau. In all likelihod Esau had come with his four hundred men He, too, could })icture Jacob only as the to seek revenge. deceiver of twenty years before. But when Jacob approached humbly and submissively, his anger was disarmed he forgot all, save that this was his brother, with whom he had grown up, as a child, and whom, he now acknowledged, he had missed during these twenty years, and whom deep down in his heart he still loved. i ger and revenge were forgotten

day which

vanish.

it

The

can not withstand, before which battle

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