Love the True Interpreter
H. W. Beecher. Genesis 32:28 And he said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince have you power with God and with men… There is no such thing as interpreting the will of God unless we have in us the spirit of children. What is the spirit of children? Love — confidence. If a man comes to the interpretation of adverse or of fortunate events in the spirit of pride, he will never know their meaning: God locks up His best blessings, but gives to every man a key wherewith to open the lock. One man takes his key, and goes up to the lock and tries to unlock it; but his key will not fit; it will not go in, because it is pride that he has been trying to unlock with. Another man says, "Let me try my key." He takes vanity; but he finds that vanity will not unlock the door of Divine Providence and reveal the secrets that are within. Another man comes up with the key of wilful selfishness. His key is three times as big as the keyhole, and he can't get in. They all fail to unlock the door, and go away. By and by another man comes. He puts his key to the lock, it slides in; there is not a ward that it does not touch; the bolt slides back without a sound, and the door swings open. He knows the secret. He comes in the spirit of love, obedience, and resignation, and to him God's will is revealed. Pride could not open the door; vanity could not open it; selfishness could not open it: love could open it. (H. W. Beecher.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. WEB: He said, "Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed."