for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. 12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

Genesis xxxiii.-1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. 2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. 3 And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

Note. Let God's people in times of alarm and perplexity, fill their mouth with God's promises. So did Jacob, and he was heard in that which he feared.

Jacob for a blessing. Answered immediately. Genesis xxxii.-24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh: and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but

And

Israel for as a prince hast thou power with God and
with men, and hast prevailed. 29 And Jacob asked
him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name.
he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my
name? And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob
called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen
God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Note.-We have here a sensible representation of the
prevailing power of prayer.
It teaches us the
wondrous condescension of the Hearer of prayer,
and the importance of that earnest, persevering
importunity which says, 'I will not let thee go
except thou bless me.'

Jacob for favour to his sons from Joseph. Answered forthwith.

Genesis xliii.-13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man: 14 And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

Note. However little we ourselves may be able to do for the protection of those we love, we can go on their behalf to a gracious God, who can protect and help them.

Jacob for a blessing on Joseph and Joseph's two sons. Answered.

Genesis xlviii.-15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and

Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day. 16 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

Note.-When asking God to be the God of our children, it is great encouragement when we can speak of him as our own God, and the God of our fathers.

EXODUS.

The Israelites because of their bondage in Egypt. Heard and answered in due season.

Exodus ii.-23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried and their cry came up unto God, by reason of the bondage. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

Note. We may expect help from God when we are led to begin in earnest to cry to him. Nothing is previously said of Israel applying to God in their trouble. Now when they did cry to him, God heard -God remembered his covenant-God looked on them - God had respect unto them.

Moses. Answered immediately.

Exodus v.-22 And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil-entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.

Chapter vi.-Then the Lord said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh : for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.

Note.-When we are disappointed in our expectations whilst we are trying to do God's bidding, we should not give up God and his commands, but go to God and spread the matter before him, asking him anew what he would have us to do.

Exodus vi.-10 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 11 Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. 12 And Moses spake before the Lord, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips? 13 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

Note.-Our difficulties and objections from a sense of weakness and unworthiness should be silenced and set aside by God's commands. It is not humility but rebellion to reply against God.

Moses for the removal of the plague of frogs. Answered immediately.

Exodus viii.-8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Entreat the Lord, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the Lord. 9 And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me; when shall I entreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only? 10 And he said, To-morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the Lord our God. 11 And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only. 12 And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh ; and Moses cried unto the Lord because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh. 13 And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields.

Note.-Even ungodly men do often, in their day of trouble, acknowledge God, and prayer as a power with God-how much more ought God's children to do so!

Moses for the removal of the plague of flies. Answered immediately.

Exodus viii.-29 And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will entreat the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his