Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed at the time he spoke these words and we may marvel at his unbelief, particularly in view of his encounter with the angels a little before this. Nevertheless his words are beautiful and full of truth and instruction. Jacob was a man by whose name the whole family of the elect would thereafter be called (See for instance Deut. 32:9), yet he knew his place as a servant of God and felt his unworthiness of the least of God's mercies. We would that all of God's people were of a similar mind, and that they all occupied a like posture before the Lord. 

    No man has ever filled a truly significant place in God's service, or been of any real worth to the cause of Christ without humility. And no man is truly humble unless he is aware of the fact that in and of himself he is not worthy of even the least of God's mercies. Look how great a man John the Baptist was (Matt. 11:11 & Luke 7:28) and yet he freely acknowledged that he was not worthy to stoop down and unloose the latchet of Christ's shoes (See Luke 1:7). Look at the eminent apostle Paul as he refers to himself as "less than the least of all saints," and as the chief of sinners (Eph. 3:8 & I Tim. 1:15). These men could never have been of any real use to God's people if they had not been made to know what they were by nature. 

    Jacob also gave credit where credit was due for what measure of divine truth he understood. He acknowledged that God showed it unto him. It was revealed truth---truth that he could not have known otherwise. 

    Again, he acknowledged his servitude to God, which is a further mark of his humility. All of those who have been blest to be a part of the household of faith are servants. They are not Lords over God's heritage. Our Lord said to His disciples, "Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them...but it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant" (Matt. 20;25-27). We will have no difficulty heeding this instruction if our hearts are in harmony with the words of Jacob in Genesis 32.