Jacob Wrestles With God
March 27, 2022
Commentary
Since God had told Jacob to return to Canaan, he had been obedient. Now he had an unseen angel escort him all the way (vv. 1-2). After Laban is gone Jacob began to think about how he would face Esau and he became greatly afraid. The greater part of this chapter is concerned with all the expensive and unnecessary plans Jacob made to be reconciled to his brother. (1) He tried negotiating (vv. 3-8), sending messengers to Esau to give him flattering messages. Esau responded with 400 men (v. 6), a warning of his ability to deal with Jacob from strength, not weakness. Next (2) He tried intercession (vv. 9-12). He pleaded the purposes of God (v. 9), the providence of God (v. 10), the protection of God (v. 11), and the promises of God (v. 12). Finally (3) He tried reconciliation (vv. 13-21). Not willing to leave matters in God’s hands, he prepared 200 she-goats, 20 he-goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 30 camels with their colts, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 donkeys and 10 birds to be given to Esau as a gift. Jacob hoped the gifts would make Esau glad to see him.
In the middle of the night, Jacob took his family with their possessions across the brook Jabbok for safety (vv. 22-23). He then returned alone to the other side for the night (v. 24). That night, Jacob wrestled with a man who many commentators believe to have been the pre-incarnated Christ (vv. 25-32). The old, carnal, stubborn, self-sufficient, and unyielding Jacob was very much alive. It was not until the assailant touched Jacob’s hip and it went out of joint that he realized his need for a full and unconditional surrender to God. Jacob, now a man broken by God (vv. 24-27), was no longer fighting but clinging. He was told that his name would be changed from Jacob to Israel as he was blessed (vv. 28-29). He left Peniel limping as he said, “I have seen God face-to-face” (vv. 30-32). That is why even today the people of Israel don’t eat the hip muscle of any animal. Jacob’s wrestling match left him with a painful limp but a better understanding of God, and because of this painful encounter, he took a giant spiritual leap forward.
Application
I can have instant food, instant travel, instant communication, and instant everything, but I cannot have instant holiness. God uses time and some painful experiences to bring us to Spiritual maturity.
Genesis 32:1– 32 (NET)
1 So Jacob went on his way and the angels of God met him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he exclaimed, “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim.
3 Jacob sent messengers on ahead to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the region of Edom. 4 He commanded them, “This is what you must say to my lord Esau: ‘This is what your servant Jacob says: I have been staying with Laban until now. 5 I have oxen, donkeys, sheep, and male and female servants. I have sent this message to inform my lord, so that I may find favor in your sight.’”
6 The messengers returned to Jacob and said, “We went to your brother Esau. He is coming to meet you and has 400 men with him.” 7 Jacob was very afraid and upset. So he divided the people who were with him into two camps, as well as the flocks, herds, and camels. 8 “If Esau attacks one camp,” he thought, “then the other camp will be able to escape.”
9 Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, O Lord, you said to me, ‘Return to your land and to your relatives and I will make you prosper.’ 10 I am not worthy of all the faithful love you have shown your servant. With only my walking stick I crossed the Jordan, but now I have become two camps. 11 Rescue me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, as well as the mothers with their children. 12 But you said, ‘I will certainly make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand on the seashore, too numerous to count.’”
13 Jacob stayed there that night. Then he sent as a gift to his brother Esau 14 200 female goats and 20 male goats, 200 ewes and 20 rams, 15 30 female camels with their young, 40 cows and 10 bulls, and 20 female donkeys and 10 male donkeys. 16 He entrusted them to his servants, who divided them into herds. He told his servants, “Pass over before me, and keep some distance between one herd and the next.” 17 He instructed the servant leading the first herd, “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘To whom do you belong? Where are you going? Whose herds are you driving?’ 18 then you must say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They have been sent as a gift to my lord Esau. In fact Jacob himself is behind us.’”
19 He also gave these instructions to the second and third servants, as well as all those who were following the herds, saying, “You must say the same thing to Esau when you meet him. 20 You must also say, ‘In fact your servant Jacob is behind us.’” Jacob thought, “I will first appease him by sending a gift ahead of me. After that I will meet him. Perhaps he will accept me.” 21 So the gifts were sent on ahead of him while he spent that night in the camp.
22 During the night Jacob quickly took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream along with all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone. Then a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not defeat Jacob, he struck the socket of his hip so the socket of Jacob’s hip was dislocated while he wrestled with him.
26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” “I will not let you go,” Jacob replied, “unless you bless me.” 27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” He answered, “Jacob.” 28 “No longer will your name be Jacob,” the man told him, “but Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have prevailed.”
29 Then Jacob asked, “Please tell me your name.” “Why do you ask my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there. 30 So Jacob named the place Peniel, explaining, “Certainly I have seen God face to face and have survived.”
31 The sun rose over him as he crossed over Penuel, but he was limping because of his hip. 32 That is why to this day the Israelites do not eat the sinew which is attached to the socket of the hip, because he struck the socket of Jacob’s hip near the attached sinew.