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He took his brother by the heel - See on Genesis 25:26; (note); Genesis 32:24; (note), etc.
He took his brother by the heel in the womb - Whether or no the act of Jacob was beyond the strength, ordinarily given to infants in the womb, the meaning of the act was beyond man‘s wisdom to declare. Whence the Jews paraphrased, “Was it not predicted of your lather Jacob, before he was born, that he should become greater than his brother?” Yet this was not fulfilled until more than 500 years afterward, nor completely until the time of David. These gifts were promised to Jacob out of the free mercy of God, antecedent to all deserts. But Jacob, thus chosen without desert, showed forth the power of faith; “By his strength he had power with God.”: “The strength by which he did this, was God‘s strength, as well as that by which God contended with him; yet it is well called his, as being by God given to him. “Yet he had power with God,” God so ordering it, that the strength which was in Jacob, should put itself forth with greater force, than that in the assumed body, whereby He so dealt with Jacob. God, as it were, bore the office of two persons, showing in Jacob more strength than He put forth in the Angel.” “By virtue of that faith in Jacob, it is related that God “could” not prevail against him. He could not because he would not overthrow his faith and constancy. By the touch in the hollow of his thigh, He but added strength to his faith, showing him who it was who wrestled with him, and that He willed to bless him.” For thereon Jacob said those words which have become a proverb of earnest supplication, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me, and, I have seen God, face to face, and my life is preserved” Genesis 32:26, Genesis 32:30.: “He was strengthened by the blessing of Him whom he overcame.”
Ephesians 3:6, 7: “That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power.” 3SM 249.1
“Whereof I was made a minister,” not merely to present the truth to the people, but to carry it out in the life.... But it is not this only. There are other things to be considered, in which some have been negligent, but which are of consequence, in the light in which they have been presented before me.... 3SM 249.2
Carefulness in dress is an important item. There has been a lack here with ministers who believe present truth. The dress of some has been even untidy. Not only has there been a lack of taste and order in arranging the dress in a becoming manner upon the person, and in having the color suitable and becoming for a minister of Christ, but the apparel of some has been even slovenly. Some ministers wear a vest of a light color, while their pants are dark, or a dark vest and light pants, with no taste or orderly arrangement of the dress upon the person when they come before the people. These things are preaching to the people. The minister gives them an example of order, and sets before them the propriety of neatness and taste in their apparel, or he gives them lessons in slackness and lack of taste which they will be in danger of following. 3SM 249.3
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