Peniel

November 3, 2015

Jabbok.

We are here at Jabbok River and just had a beautiful devotional by Brother Muhlestien. We talked about how Jacob had to go through his Abrahamic test by sending his family back to Esau with the possibility of them being killed, but the Lord asked them to do it. Then he says a prayer near here to thank the Lord for His goodness, but also to remind Him  of His promise with the Abrahamic covenant to save his family. This all takes place on Peniel. He is struggling to much in prayer that an he starts wrestling with an angel. He even hurts his thigh during the wrestle. Dr. Muhlestien mentioned that this was not uncommon for that time period. When something was hurting from the inside, they would inflict pain or make uncomfortable the outside of their body. When they were feeling sad or uncomfortable they would put ashes on their head or a sack cloth around their neck (hence the phrase “in sackcloth and ashes”). Or when they were torn or frustrated, they would rent their clothes (sidenote: we also have learned that renting their clothes was a form of their covenant).

Anyway, Jacob is wrestling with this Messanger and Dr. Muhlestien elaborates and talks about how this is possibly his calling and election made sure. He is on a mountain—Peniel—and he is given the new name of Israel. He asks the Messanger what His name is, but the Savior says “Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?” Think about the temple endowment! It all fits in contextually.     Peniel means something like “Seeing God face to face.” We believe it was the Savior. See Genesis 32.

Then Dr. Muhlestien talked about how we all go through our Abrahamic Trials like they did. Sometimes we go through really hard things that are almost too impossible to bear (Abraham sacrificing Issac, Jacob going back to Esau with the possibility of his family being killed), but the Lord is just testing our faithfulness. I thought of my family and my parents losing Devin. Dr. Muhlestien’s testimony was powerful. He said that if we hang in there the “veil would burst” (quoted a lot of Elder Holland), and we could see God too, whether it is in this life or the next. Chanise and I were bawling.

Then we sang “Nearer My God to Thee.” Look at the text! It has Abraham written all over it.

We also found Mustard Seed plants. The seeds were so small. Think of it! These are what Christ would have looked at and decided to teach with as a cool object lesson. I brought some home. 

And random. . . I ate camel!! A camel burger!