Genesis 32:22-32 NKJV 22 And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. 23 He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had. 24 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. 25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. 26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”
But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
27 So He said to him, “What is your name?”
He said, “Jacob.”
28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
29 Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.”
And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” 31 Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank.
Martin Luther wrote this about this passage of Scripture: “This passage is regarded by all as among the most obscure passages of the whole Old Testament” (LW 6:125). And no wonder! A very unusual event is described here in Genesis 32. Jacob did not wrestle with flesh and blood, nor did he wrestle with the devil. Jacob wrestled with God Himself…and yet he was not defeated. God Himself fought against Jacob with such hostility that it appeared He would take Jacob’s life. What a battle! Jacob must truly be a holy man, for whoever can wrestle with God and come out alive must truly be a Christian!
The “Man” who wrestled against Jacob is the Lord of Glory, God Himself. Specifically, He is the Son of God, who was to become incarnate, and so appeared many times in the Old Testament and spoke to the ancient fathers. In this passage God, in His goodness, dealt with Jacob in a most personal way. He disciplined Jacob by wrestling with him. This was not intended to kill Jacob, for God purposely did not overcome him. Yet, the discipline which God sends often means grief and anguish of heart. In the end, however, Jacob received the blessing. God’s wrestling is a sign of His Fatherly love. “For whom the Lord loves, He chastens,” says the writer to Hebrews (12:6). He wrestled with Jacob, even as He wrestles with you, to discipline you and to strengthen your faith.
In your trials, do not despair. Cling to God in Christ. Hear and believe His promises, for they are all for you. You will face difficulty; you will face temptation; this cannot be avoided. But in the midst of such trials, be cheered and comforted; be strengthened by God’s promises. You have been baptized in the blood of Christ. You are regularly fed with the body and blood of Christ in His Supper. You are regularly absolved and forgiven, not by your pastor, but by God Himself through the words spoken by your pastor.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for paying for my sins. Teach me to trust that all things are allowed by You for my ultimate good. Amen.