Chapter XXXI.—Let us see by what means we may obtain the divine blessing.

Let us cleave then to His blessing, and consider what are the means¹²⁴¹²⁴    Literally, “what are the ways of His blessing.” of possessing it. Let us think¹²⁵¹²⁵    Literally, “unroll.” over the things which have taken place from the beginning. For what reason was our father Abraham blessed? was it not because he wrought righteousness and truth through faith?¹²⁶¹²⁶    Comp. Jas. ii. 21. Isaac, with perfect confidence, as if knowing what was to happen,¹²⁷¹²⁷    Some translate, “knowing what was to come.” cheerfully yielded himself as a sacrifice.¹²⁸¹²⁸    Gen. xxii. Jacob, through reason¹²⁹¹²⁹    So Jacobson: Wotton reads, “fleeing from his brother.” of his brother, went forth with humility from his own land, and came to Laban and served him; and there was given to him the sceptre of the twelve tribes of Israel.