READING 6 – Jacob’s Anguish

By Henry Dering

The close of probation

“At that time shall Michael stand up, the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every- one that shall be found written in the book.” Daniel 12:1.

Very soon, Jesus will end His high priestly work in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary. Then there will be no more mercy extended to the lawless and disobedient. Before the myriad of angels, Jesus will say with a loud voice, “It is done.” He will also make another solemn announcement: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” Revelation 22:11. What does this pronouncement mean? It signifies that the case of every human being on earth has been decided–to be rewarded with eternal life or to be doomed to eternal death.

Some people believe that there will be a second chance. They count on having a second probation when all who then choose to know God will be saved. “In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Christ shows that in this life men decide their eternal destiny. During probationary time the grace of God is offered to every soul. But if men waste their opportunities in self-pleasing, they cut themselves off from everlasting life. No after-probation will be granted them. By their own choice they have fixed an impassable gulf between them and their God.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 260.

Therefore, NOW is the time of our probation! This life is man’s time of preparation for the future life. We will not be able to accept Christ after death or after His second coming. Every man’s record will have been sealed by then. That is a very serious matter to be considered by all who are alive. In the classic book, The Great Controversy, p. 614, a vivid description is presented of one of the last scenes of earth’s history. “When He [Jesus] leaves the sanctuary, darkness covers the inhabitants of the earth. In that fearful time the righteous must live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor. The restraint which has been upon the wicked is removed, and Satan has entire control of the finally impenitent. God’s longsuffering has ended. The world has rejected His mercy, despised His love, and trampled upon His law. The wicked have passed the boundary of their probation; the Spirit of God, persistently resisted, has been at last withdrawn. Unsheltered by divine grace, they have no protection from the wicked one. Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble. As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old.”

A vivid view of coming events

The close of probation marks the beginning of the great time of trouble, when Satan will plunge the world into misery much worse than anything that has ever occurred. But the enactment of the death decree will mark the beginning of the greatest emotional crisis for God’s faithful people, called the time of Jacob’s trouble. “I saw that the four an- gels would hold the four winds until Jesus’ work was done in the sanctuary, and then will come the seven last plagues. These plagues enraged the wicked against the righteous; they thought that we had brought the judgments of God upon them, and that if they could rid the earth of us, the plagues would then be stayed. A decree went forth to slay the saints, which caused them to cry day and night for deliverance. This was the time of Jacob’s trouble.” –Early Writings, pp. 36, 37.

On Friday, January 18, 1884, God’s special messenger for the end times, Sister Ellen G. White, was shown what would be the final crisis for God’s people. “The time of trouble was upon us. I saw our people in great distress, weeping and praying, pleading the sure promises of God, while the wicked were all around us mocking us and threatening to destroy us. They ridiculed our feebleness, they mocked at the smallness of our numbers, and taunted us with words calculated to cut deep. They charged us with taking an in- dependent position from all the rest of the world. They had cut off our resources so that we could not buy or sell, and they referred to our abject poverty and stricken condition. They could not see how we could live without the world. We were dependent on the world, and we must concede to the customs, practices, and laws of the world, or go out of it. If we were the only people in the world whom the Lord favored, the appearances were awfully against us.

“They declared that they had the truth, that miracles were among them; that angels from heaven talked with them and walked with them, that great power and signs and wonders were performed among them, and that this was the temporal millennium they had been expecting so long. The whole world was converted and in harmony with the Sunday law, and this little feeble people stood out in defiance of the laws of the land and the law of God, and claimed to be the only ones right on the earth….” –Selected Messages, book 3, pp. 427, 428.

When the death decree is enacted, the people of God will be plunged into that great affliction and distress that is described by the prophet as the time of Jacob’s trouble: “Thus saith the Lord: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace…. All faces are turned into paleness. Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” Jeremiah 30:5-7.

For God’s people, it will also be a time of wrestling in prayer. While Satan is urging the wicked to destroy the lit- tle company who keep God’s commandments, they make God their defense. Additionally, Satan accuses the people of God on account of their sins. Their confidence in God and their faith will be severely tested. As they review their lives, their hopes sink as they are fully conscious of their un- worthiness.

Jacob’s anguish

“Jacob’s night of anguish, when he wrestled in prayer for deliverance from the hand of Esau (Genesis 32:24-30), represents the experience of God’s people in the time of trouble.” –The Great Controversy, p. 616.

One night, while he was still working for Laban, the An- gel of God spoke to Jacob in a dream and said, “I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto Me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.” Gene- sis 31:13. Although Jacob obeyed the divine instruction, he had many misgivings as he retraced the road home. His sin in deceiving his father and brother was ever before him and weighed heavily on his conscience. When his messengers informed him that his brother Esau was coming to meet him and that four hundred men were with him, Jacob was filled with terror. He realized that it was his own sin that had brought this danger upon himself and his family. His only hope was trusting in God by faith.

Following is the account that we find in God’s word about the struggle and victory that occurred at that critical point in Jacob’s life: “And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had. Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Ja- cob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, ‘Let Me go, for the day breaks.’ But he said, ‘I will not let You go unless You bless me!’ So He said to him, ‘What is your name?’ He said, ‘Jacob.’ And He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.’ Then Jacob asked, saying, ‘Tell me Your name, I pray.’ And He said, ‘Why is it that you ask about My name?’ And He blessed him there. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: ‘For I have seen God face to face, and my life is pre- served.’” Genesis 32:22-30, New King James Version.

It is noteworthy that Jacob was all alone when he faced the crisis in his life. His two wives, eleven sons and two women servants were not with him. Jacob needed divine help in this extremely serious and dangerous situation, and he reached out to God in humility, earnestly praying to Him for help. He agonizingly searched his soul. “Jacob in his distress was not overwhelmed. He had repented, he had endeavored to atone for the wrong to his brother. And when threatened with death through the wrath of Esau, he sought help from God…. ‘He wept, and made supplication.’ Hosea 12:4. ‘And He blessed him there.’ Genesis 32:29…. The power of evil in his own nature was broken; his character was transformed….” –Conflict and Courage, p. 10.

Hold on

Some years ago, on a hot summer day in South Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his family’s house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt. He jumped into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. In the house his mother was looking out the window when she saw the two getting clos- er and closer to each other. In sheer terror, she ran toward the water, calling out to her son as loudly as she could.

Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and quickly turned around to swim back to his mother. But it was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, his mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator grabbed his legs. This began a tremendous tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too tenacious to let go. At that moment a farmer happened to drive by, heard the screams, raced from his truck, took aim, and shot the alligator.

Remarkably, after many weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were badly scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. But on his arms were deep scratches where his mother’s fingernails had dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to her beloved son. When interviewed by a local reporter, the boy, after being asked, showed him the scars left by the alligator. Beaming with pride he told him, “I have huge scars on my arms, too. I have them because my mom wouldn’t let go.” Likewise, we need to hold on to Jesus with all our being and not let go! –Author unknown.

“Jacob’s experience during that night of wrestling and anguish represents the trial through which the people of God must pass just before Christ’s second coming.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 201. Jacob’s experience was much more than a physical struggle; it was a highly spiritual battle between the forces of light and darkness. Thank the Lord, Jacob was saved out of his trouble.

“In the time of trouble, if the people of God had unconfessed sins to appear before them while tortured with fear and anguish, they would be overwhelmed; despair would cut off their faith, and they could not have confidence to plead with God for deliverance. But while they have a deep sense of their unworthiness, they have no concealed wrongs to reveal. Their sins have gone beforehand to judgment, and have been blotted out; and they cannot bring them to remembrance.” –The Great Controversy, 620.

A new name

Reading Genesis 32:28 again, “And He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob [the supplanter], but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” The James Moffatt Bible replaced the word “prevailed” with the word “won.” There is a sentence from the inspired writings of Sister Ellen G. White that tells about the outcome of Jacob’s wrestling with God: “His sin as a supplanter and deceiver had been pardoned.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 198. The change of name represented Ja- cob’s transformation from a deceiver of men to the “victor of God.” Likewise, upon the heads of the overcomers Jesus will with His own right hand place the crown of glory. For each there is a crown, bearing his own “new name.” Rev- elation 2:17. With Jesus everyone can have victory over sin and win the heavenly race for life eternal; no one needs to be eternally lost!

The time of Jacob’s trouble will be a final, special test, like a special degree of character perfection. To understand this properly, we need to compare it with the test that Christ passed through in Gethsemane. It was there that He took the cup and the baptism of suffering. By it He was perfect- ed. “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Hebrews 5:8, 9. Yet, before entering upon that final test, Christ was already without sin. So the final test will be, not for the removal of sin, but a special experience in trusting the Father in the midst of very crucial trials.

“Now, while our great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ…. It is in this life that we are to separate sin from us, through faith in the atoning blood of Christ. Our precious Saviour invites us to join ourselves to Him, to unite our weakness to His strength, our ignorance to His wisdom, our unworthiness to His merits….

“Jacob’s history is also an assurance that God will not cast off those who have been deceived and tempted and be- trayed into sin, but who have returned unto Him with true repentance. While Satan seeks to destroy this class, God will send His angels to comfort and protect them in the time of peril. The assaults of Satan are fierce and determined, his delusions are terrible; but the Lord’s eye is upon His people, and His ear listens to their cries. Their affliction is great, the flames of the furnace seem about to consume them; but the Refiner will bring them forth as gold tried in the fires. God’s love for His children during the period of their severest trial is as strong and tender as in the days of their sunniest prosperity: but it is needful for them to be placed in the furnace of fire; their earthliness must be consumed, that the image of Christ may be perfectly reflected.” –The Great Controversy, pp. 623, 621.

Protection by angels

“In the day of fierce trial He [Christ] will say, ‘Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.’ Isaiah 26:20. What are the chambers in which they are to hide? They are the protection of Christ and holy angels. The people of God are not at this time all in one place. They are in different companies, and in all parts of the earth.

“I saw the saints leaving the cities and villages, and associating together in companies, and living in the most solitary places. Angels provided them food and water, while the wicked were suffering from hunger and thirst.

“During the night a very impressive scene passed before me. There seemed to be great confusion and the conflict of armies. A messenger from the Lord stood before me, and said, ‘Call your household. I will lead you; follow me.’ He led me down a dark passage, through a forest, then through the clefts of mountains, and said, ‘Here you are safe.’ There were others who had been led to this retreat. The heavenly messenger said. ‘The time of trouble has come as a thief in the night, as the Lord warned you it would come.’

“In the time of trouble just before the coming of Christ, the righteous will be preserved through the ministration of heavenly angels; but there will be no security for the transgressor of God’s law. Angels cannot then protect those who are disregarding one of the divine precepts.

“In the closing period of earth’s history the Lord will work mightily in behalf of those who stand steadfastly for the right…. In the midst of the time of trouble–trouble such as has not been since there was a nation–His chosen ones will stand unmoved. Satan with all the hosts of evil cannot destroy the weakest of God’s saints. Angels that excel in strength will protect them, and in their behalf Jehovah will reveal Himself as a ‘God of gods,’ able to save to the utter- most those who have put their trust in Him.” –Maranatha, p. 270.

God promises to preserve the righteous through the ministration of heavenly angels. “In the midst of the time of trouble that is coming–a time of trouble such as has not been since there was a nation–God’s chosen people will stand unmoved. Satan and his host cannot destroy them, for angels that excel in strength will protect them.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 17.

Dear brothers, sisters, and friends, I believe it is high time to confess all our sins today before the time of Jacob’s trouble begins. Why not do this during this Week of Prayer? Pray for the forgiveness of your sins, your misdeeds, and your shortcomings. Pray for cleansing of your hearts, pray for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in your lives, and pray and work for others as the time of trouble and Jesus’ second coming approach.

My sincere wish and prayer during this Week of Prayer is that we all will come closer to Jesus and soon be welcomed into His eternal kingdom.
Amen!