Thou Traveller Unknown

[cavell]

Thou Traveller Unknown


Come O Thou traveller unknown, Whom still I hold but cannot see. My company before is gone and I am left alone with Thee, With Thee all night i mean to stay, And wrestle till the break of day.

I need not tell Thee who I am, My misery or sin declare, Thyself hast called me by my name, Look on Thy hands and read it there, But who I ask Thee who art Thou? Tell me Thy name and tell me now.

Yield to me now for I am weak, But confident in self despair; Speak to my heart in blessings speak, Be conquered by my instant prayer: Speak or Thou never hence shall move, And tell me if Thy name is love.

Tis Love, Tis Love Thou diedst for me! I hear thy whisper in my heart: The morning breaks the shadows flee, Pure universal love Thou art, To me to all Thy mercies move, Thy nature and Thy name is love.

My prayer hath power with God: the grace Unspeakable I now receive; Through faith I see Thee face to face, I see Thee face to face and live, In vain I have not wept and strove; Thy nature and Thy name is love.

I know Thee Savour who Thou art, Jesus the feeble sinners friend; Nor wilt Thou with the night depart, But stay and love me to the end. Thy mercies never shall remove; Thy nature and Thy name is love.

(Charles Wesley)

I recall singing this hymn when a boy. It relates to Jacob and that memorable night when the Angel came along and wrestled with him. Jacob was changed that night.

Leonard Ravenhill was the last Methodist I recall reciting this hymn as he preached.
Any others recall this Wesley hymn? How it grasps that experience of Jacob, when he met the Lord. Jacob was lame'd, the flesh was weakened. The only way to Him.

[cavell]

Gen 32

"Mahanahim" indicate two hosts....one before and one behind. The one behind belonged to Jacob The host ahead belonged to Esau. "Easu cometh with 400 men..." Jacob was distressed. He recalled his deceit, treachery, cheating.

Jacob met his match in Laban. For years they swindled each other.

v 11 "Deliver me I pray thee from the hand of my brother" Jacob was aware he was looking at death. Esau wanted revenge for the wrong, the deceit he had suffered.

v 16 Jacob sent small presents to Easu. A little each time,,,trying to soften his brother. A Jew indeed maybe, trying to keep the cost down. Sending just a little, not wanting to send too much. Wanting to satisfy his brother with as little as possible........

v 19 A second section...and then a third section...trying to appease his brother

v 20 - 21 At that point he had sent everything he owned ahead. Everthing had to go

v 24 "He was left alone" God is trying to get us alone. God was separating this man from his wealth....his position...from everything. It was not Jacob wrestling with an Angel....but the Angel wrestled with Jacob.

v 24 "a man with him" At the start this man wrestled with Jacob....later Jacob wrestled with the man. In the darkness, the hunger, the isolation....he is alone. "Jacob was left alone" There wrestled with him......why did he not get an answer immediately? It is a test of character to be alone. It is a teat of character to spend time alone wrestling in orayer

v 25 First part the Angel lays hold of Jacob....second part Jacob lays hold of the Angel.

John Wesley preached theology. Charles put it to verse.

The natural order is to be strong......but such is incorrect. "To those who have no power He increaseth strength".

This hymn is rich with dependency upon God Almighty.

When human endeavor proves to be..... just human endeavor. God is just waiting to make a change, to change all that we have depended upon, into a complete dependance upon Him.

Jacob was changed that night..................."