"Jacob Was Left Alone"
Genesis 32:24
Esau was coming to meet Jacob with four
hundred men and Jacob was terrified, fearing that he was coming to kill him.
Earlier in the day he kissed his wives and children good-bye and sent them
across the brook Jabbok with all his earthly possessions. "And Jacob was
left alone!" Confused, helpless, and afraid, he sat down and waited to die
by the hand of his only brother.His plotting,scheming,and
manipulating was over. He was shut up to the sovereign power and will of God.
Like
"Jacob was left alone" because
those whom God is pleased to save,to whom he reveals his mercy, love, and grace
in Christ must be brought down and made to know their utter inability. God's
grace and God's work leaves no room for boasting and glorying in the flesh.
Jacob appeared to be in a terribly
miserable condition, but he was in a truly blessed condition. To be left alone
with God is the only way we can gain a true knowledge of ourselves. No man will
ever truly see the corruption of his nature, the depravity of his heart, and
the sinfulness of his deeds until he is left alone with God.It does not matter
what we think of ourselves, or what others think of us, the great question is -
What does God think of us? We can never discover the answer to that question
until we are "left alone." Away from the world, away from self, away
from the thoughts, reasonings, imaginations, and emotions of our proud flesh,
and alone with God - thus, and only thus, can we get a real understanding of who and what we are.
Blessed is that sinner who is left alone
with God! Isolation is the forerunner of revelation, grace, salvation, and
blessing. Before God saves, he always separates. Before God speaks comfort to
the hearts of chosen sinners he allures them into the wilderness alone with him
(Hos.
Don Fortner