Wrestling With God

Genesis 32:24-32

Even after seeing God’s host there to protect him, and doing everything he could to ensure that Esau wouldn’t kill him, Jacob was still afraid. Just as Adam and Eve hid from God in fear as a result of their sense of guilt, Jacob was unable to trust God because of his.

“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.” (Genesis 32:24-25)

Jacob had done everything he could possibly do and his guilt had him convinced there was no hope, because Esau was approaching with four hundred men, enough to completely wipe out his entire party, Jacob was cringing in fear on the other side of the brook, completely alone. It is at the lowest point in his life and the Lord confronted him again. Jacob refused to yield, but at the same time not willing to let the Lord go. It is a scene that is played out by many people, although not always physically. Like so many, Jacob refused to yield until God used physical loss of health, loved ones or belongings to get his attention.

“And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” (Genesis 32:26)

All night Jacob wrestled with God trying to get God’s blessing his own way. At Bethel, Jacob had left the impression he was doing God a favor by accepting his blessings. After all the struggles, and wrestling with the Lord all night Jacob was willing to give anything to obtain God’s blessing. It is a point everyone who wants to be a Christian must come to according to Luke 14:26. “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” For some it seems much harder than others, because they are more controlled by pride.

“And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.” (Genesis 32:27)

Once Jacob committed to wanting God’s blessings, he still needed one thing. The Lord asked his name. It must have been unpleasant confessing he was called Jacob, “the supplanter or cheat” because of his nature, but until we acknowledge our sin, our pride keeps us from receiving salvation, according to I John 1:8-10. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” By admitting his name, Jacob was admitting that was what he was.

“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.” (Genesis 32:28)

Twenty seven years after his attempt to bargain with God, and experiencing God’s protection and blessing for the entire time, though he thought it was the result of his own efforts, Jacob finally surrendered to God. From that moment he was no longer Jacob, “the cheat,” but Israel, “a prince with God”.

II Corinthians 5:17 declares, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Like Jacob, we are no longer the sinner, but a new person. I Corinthians 6:9-10 lists lifestyles that will not be admitted to heaven. The next verse, 11, states, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” While we may fall back into the old habits occasionally, we have a new nature, and will be very uncomfortable. I wonder what would have happened if Jacob had believed God at Bethel?

“And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.” (Genesis 32:29)

When Jacob wanted to know the Lord’s name he asked him why. Jacob already knew who he was. A formal name was less important than that Jacob knew he was God. It is far more important to a little child to know this is “Daddy” than to know his name is John Henry Smith III. It is far more important we Know God as our father than to know his name. He then gave Jacob the blessing he had sought.

“And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.” (Genesis 32:30-32)

Since we are repeatedly told that no man hate seen God at any time, it is obvious that Jacob had not seen God the father, but Jesus Christ. Jacob called the place Peniel or Penuel, meaning “the face of God”. The physical injury he’d sustained would remain with him for the rest of his life as a reminder of his meeting with God, both to him and his descendants.

The removal of his guilt took away Jacob’s reason for fear, and he wasted no time crossing the brook.