What does EGW write about...
Ellen Gould White über: "Jacob's Flight and Return"
Answer
Jacob had to flee from his parents' house as a refugee because of his brother Esau's anger, after he obtained the blessing through deceit. After twenty years in exile with Laban, God commanded him to return to his homeland, and Jacob, despite divine guidance, was plagued by deep remorse for his past sins and fear of an encounter with Esau. During his return journey, he wrestled in prayer with an angel, received forgiveness, and experienced a profound character transformation, becoming from a deceiver a \"Prince of God\".
\n\nThe Flight from Esau's Anger
\n\n\n»Threatened with death by Esau's wrath, Jacob fled as a refugee from his father's house; yet he carried his father's blessing with him; Isaac had renewed the covenant promise to him and, as its heir, instructed him to seek a wife from his mother's family in Mesopotamia. Yet with a deeply troubled heart Jacob set out on his solitary journey.«
God's Promise in Bethel
\n\n\n»\"Behold, I am with you and will guard you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.\«
The Divine Command to Return
\n\n\n»But recalling the gracious promise of Bethel, he presented his case before God and sought His guidance. In a dream his prayer was answered: \"Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives; and I will be with you.\«
Inner Struggles on the Way Home
\n\n\n»Although Jacob had left Padan-Aram in obedience to the divine instruction, he embarked on the path he had taken twenty years earlier as a refugee, not without many reservations. His sin in deceiving his father was constantly before his eyes. He knew that his long exile was the direct result of that sin...«
Jacob's Prayer for Preservation
\n\n\n»\"Save me, I plead with you, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear that he will come and strike me, the mother and the children. And you have said: I will surely do you good and make your seed as the sand on the sea...\«
Transformation of Character
\n\n\n»In the power of His might the forgiven one rose, no longer a deceiver but a Prince of God. He had not only obtained deliverance from his angry brother, but deliverance from himself. The power of evil within his own nature was broken; his character was transformed.«
- \n
- Jacob's struggle with the angel \n
- Jacob and Esau reconciliation \n
- God's promise to Jacob \n
Original Sources (English)
