The varied experiences of life
“Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked; and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men.” (Gen 33:1)
Such is life. It is filled with sharply varied experiences. Now the Angel; then the coming of Esau. Now forty days on the brow of Sinai with God; then the golden calf. Now the Mountain of
Transfiguration; then the bitter cross. Now Patmos, with its visions; then the cold grey rock, and the commonplaces of captivity and loneliness.
Yet, how grateful should we be that it is so! Life might have been full of Esaus, and no Jacobs; full of Gethsemanes, and no glimpses into Heaven; full of grey commonplaces, and no rapturous visions. The bright days of our lives outnumber the dark ones. There are more sweets than bitters; more smiles than tears; more mercies than miseries.
How often do we find that a great blessing like that which came to Jacob by the fords of the Jabbok is sent to prepare us for a great trial. God prevents us, and prepares us, with the blessings of His goodness.
He takes us up the Hill Difficulty; into the House Beautiful: where we sleep in the Chamber of Peace, which looks toward the sun rising. Not that we should stay there - but that we should be rested, and accoutered, and prepared to meet Apollyon in the Valley; and to pass unscathed through the Shadow of Death and Vanity Fair.
Do not be surprised or discouraged if a time of fiery trial should follow a season of unusual blessing; indeed, you may be rather surprised if it does not. But when it comes, be sure to do as Jacob did not do, and draw heavily upon all those resources of strength and comfort which have been stored up during the previous days of clear shining and peace. There are two ways of meeting troubles: the one is the way of the flesh; the other, of the Spirit.
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