February 14

“All these things are against me.” Genesis 42:36

We must not imagine that Jacob no longer needed God’s discipline after Peniel. He did, and he got it. From the time that Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, he experienced all sorts of family troubles. His beloved Rachel was taken from him. Simeon and Levi made the family name stink. Reuben, his eldest son, grievously wronged him.

Then Joseph also disappeared, and Jacob had every reason to think he was dead and anticipated that he would go down to the grave mourning for this dear son of his. Only little Benjamin had been left to him, but now the time came when Benjamin, his last treasure, had to go. Everything seemed to be against him.

In fact, Jacob was just about to enter into his brightest period. His last days were not days of decline, but compare quite favorably with those of Peter and Paul and John. In some ways Abraham and Isaac faded away, whereas Jacob became quietly, blessedly fruitful.