†. Gen 32:25b . . And a man wrestled with him until the break of
dawn.
There's been some speculation regarding the identity of this man. Some say
it was the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ. Some say it was Esau's evil angel.
Some say it was one of God's holy angels. And some say it was God himself
in a human form. Hosea can help settle this.
†. Hos 12:3-5 . .The Lord once indicted Judah, and punished Jacob for his
conduct, requited him for his deeds. In the womb he tried to supplant his
brother; grown to manhood, he strove with a divine being, he strove with an
angel and prevailed-- the other had to weep and implore him. At Bethel
[Jacob] would meet him, there to commune with him.
There can be no doubt who Jacob communed with at Bethel. Jacob met Yhvh
there on his way north when he left home. And he met Yhvh there again in
Bethel after returning. The angel that Jacob wrestled with that night was no
evil angel, that's for sure; and Jacob very well knew it too.
Their conflict shouldn't be construed as some sort of combat or an athletic
event. It wasn't that at all. When Jacob perceived that the man was actually
a Divine being (like the ones who dined with Abraham before going down to
Sodom to destroy it) he clutched and hung on; refusing to let The Lord
depart until He blessed him.
When my boy was little, sometimes he would cling to my ankles like a little
boa constrictor and I would have to drag him around the room for a while
before he'd let go. Well, that's what Jacob did. No one since has ever been
so dogged determined with God like that. The angel was reluctant to bless
Jacob for good reason: so Bible students could see just how much Jacob
really valued spiritual things. Some people extol David's love for God, but I
prefer to extol Jacob for his stubborn refusal to let go. It's easy to see now
why God wanted the patriarchy for him instead of his brother Esau. Jacob
was a pretty amazing guy.
There is a really good story about a Gentile woman in the New Testament
who was persistent with God like Jacob. Not quite as physical as he, but, in
her own way, just as persistent nonetheless. (Mtt 15:21-18)
Some people lose heart, and give up on God way too soon. It's not that He's
stubborn and doesn't really want to bless, or that we have to somehow
overcome His reluctance. No, that's not it. For some reason God is very
pleased when we cling and show Him we mean business. Dogged prayer,
like tough love, gets results and shows God we mean business and that we
won't take "no" for an answer. Is God annoyed by that? Far from it.
Compare the "persistence" parables at Luke 11:5-10 and Luke 18:2-8.
Many years prior to where we are now in Genesis, Jacob had a dream. He
saw a staircase with Yhvh standing at the top. At the time, Jacob just
gawked in awe; but were he to have that same dream at this point in his
life, Jacob would have run up those stairs and tackled the Lord before He
could get away. The man coming back down from the north isn't the same
man that ran away from home. He's different.
†. Gen 32:26 . .When he saw that he had not prevailed against him,
he wrenched Jacob's hip at its socket, so that the socket of his hip
was strained as he wrestled with him.
In spite of the injury, Jacob still hung on and refused to let go. The injury
served a purpose. It wasn't to make Jacob let go; after all, the angel could
ust as easily broken both of Jacob's arms. The injury served to handicap
Jacob, and force him to depend even more upon God's providence; and less
upon himself.
†. Gen 32:27a . .Then he said: Let me go, for dawn is breaking.
Time is of the essence for Jacob to get ready for his brother. Dawn wasn't a
problem for the angel. His carriage wasn't going to turn back into a pumpkin
or anything like that nor was he going to burn up in the sunlight like
vampires do.
†. Gen 32:27b . . But he answered: I will not let you go, unless you
bless me.
Jacob is pretty amazing. He risked giving Esau the advantage over him by
staying with that angel; but this is one guy not to squander an opportunity
with God.
†. Gen 32:28a . . Said the other: What is your name?
Like he didn't know already? Of course he knew it. But the angel's question
is a type of question we call a leading question. You could restate it like this:
And what *strategic pause* is your name?
†. Gen 32:28b . . He replied: Jacob.
His name was actually Ya'aqob (yah-ak-obe') which means: heel-catcher
(i.e. supplanter). But that is all over now. From this point on; it won't be
necessary for Jacob to supplant somebody in order to gain the advantage.
†. Gen 32:29a . . Said he: Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but
Israel
"Israel" is from Yisra'el (yis-raw-ale') which means: he will rule as God. We
might call Jacob's new name his spiritual name and it's very curious. It
doesn't mean rule like God; but rather: as God.
Although Jacob was a patriarch, and a great sheik, he was never a
conqueror. There's a huge difference between ruling as God and ruling as a
conqueror. Conquerors typically rule for their own profit, making slaves out
of their subjects and exacting taxes and tributes. But God always rules for
man's benefit; helping him achieve his greatest potential from within a
peaceful environment.
Through the ages, God has used Jacob's spiritual name to identify the nation
that sprang from him. True, Jacob's progeny has not always ruled as God.
But his ultimate progeny, Messiah, certainly will. No question about it.
†. Zech 12:8 . . In that day, the Lord will shield the inhabitants of
Jerusalem; and the feeblest of them shall be in that day like David, and the
House of David like a divine being-- like an angel of the Lord-- at their head.
†. Gen 32:29 . . for you have striven with beings divine and human,
and have prevailed.
If ever any human being came close to becoming a god, it was Jacob. Lots of
men have grappled with men. And some have even grappled with beasts.
But not many have grappled with Yhvh the way Jacob did-- one on one; up
close and personal. Moses never even got to do that.
The word for "prevailed" is from yokel (yaw-kole') which means: to be able,
literally (can, could) or morally (may, might). In other words: he was up to
the challenge; and able to see it through. Jacob was indeed a very
remarkable man.
†. Gen 32:30a . .Then Jacob inquired, and he said: Divulge, if you
please, your name. And he said: Why then do you inquire of my
name?
In other words: Do you really have to ask? No; Jacob knew very well who he
was grappling with. But sometimes we just want things said for the record.
†. Gen 32:30b . . and he blessed him there.
I sure wish we had the wording of that blessing Jacob worked so hard to
obtain.
†. Gen 32:31 . . So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel-- For I
have seen the Divine face to face, yet my life was spared.
I really like the Stone Tanach's version. Jacob believed the angel was not
just a divine, but "the" Divine. Yes, he knew exactly who grappled with him.
It's true he didn't actually see The Almighty God in his true form; but what
he saw and touched was pretty close enough. (cf. 1John 1:1-3)
In the past, when the people of God were frightened, a sighting of angels
has proved very comforting. (e.g. 2Kgs 6:13-17)
Jacob was ready for anything now. Esau would be small potatoes what with
The Almighty God and a host of His holy angels in the vicinity looking out for
Jacob's safety.
†. Gen 32:32-33 . .The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel,
limping on his hip. That is why the children of Israel to this day do
not eat the thigh muscle that is on the socket of the hip, since
Jacob's hip socket was wrenched at the thigh muscle.
God didn't command such a practice; it became a man-made tradition;
which doesn't make it eo ipso bad. I mean; wine with Passover dinner is a
rabbinical invention, but Jesus went along with it at his last supper. The Lord
was sometimes a bit peeved with the Jews' traditions; but not always since
they were his heritage too. Most of the world's Christians opt to celebrate
Jesus' birth on Dec 25. He never asked anybody to do that but so what?
But Jacob's experience does indicate the importance of the event in the
minds of the Jews. Some people think Jacob is some sort of a squeaky little
gerbil when it comes to ranking the saints' mettle. But The Almighty was
very impressed with him. That has to count for something.
Cont.
/
dawn.
There's been some speculation regarding the identity of this man. Some say
it was the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ. Some say it was Esau's evil angel.
Some say it was one of God's holy angels. And some say it was God himself
in a human form. Hosea can help settle this.
†. Hos 12:3-5 . .The Lord once indicted Judah, and punished Jacob for his
conduct, requited him for his deeds. In the womb he tried to supplant his
brother; grown to manhood, he strove with a divine being, he strove with an
angel and prevailed-- the other had to weep and implore him. At Bethel
[Jacob] would meet him, there to commune with him.
There can be no doubt who Jacob communed with at Bethel. Jacob met Yhvh
there on his way north when he left home. And he met Yhvh there again in
Bethel after returning. The angel that Jacob wrestled with that night was no
evil angel, that's for sure; and Jacob very well knew it too.
Their conflict shouldn't be construed as some sort of combat or an athletic
event. It wasn't that at all. When Jacob perceived that the man was actually
a Divine being (like the ones who dined with Abraham before going down to
Sodom to destroy it) he clutched and hung on; refusing to let The Lord
depart until He blessed him.
When my boy was little, sometimes he would cling to my ankles like a little
boa constrictor and I would have to drag him around the room for a while
before he'd let go. Well, that's what Jacob did. No one since has ever been
so dogged determined with God like that. The angel was reluctant to bless
Jacob for good reason: so Bible students could see just how much Jacob
really valued spiritual things. Some people extol David's love for God, but I
prefer to extol Jacob for his stubborn refusal to let go. It's easy to see now
why God wanted the patriarchy for him instead of his brother Esau. Jacob
was a pretty amazing guy.
There is a really good story about a Gentile woman in the New Testament
who was persistent with God like Jacob. Not quite as physical as he, but, in
her own way, just as persistent nonetheless. (Mtt 15:21-18)
Some people lose heart, and give up on God way too soon. It's not that He's
stubborn and doesn't really want to bless, or that we have to somehow
overcome His reluctance. No, that's not it. For some reason God is very
pleased when we cling and show Him we mean business. Dogged prayer,
like tough love, gets results and shows God we mean business and that we
won't take "no" for an answer. Is God annoyed by that? Far from it.
Compare the "persistence" parables at Luke 11:5-10 and Luke 18:2-8.
Many years prior to where we are now in Genesis, Jacob had a dream. He
saw a staircase with Yhvh standing at the top. At the time, Jacob just
gawked in awe; but were he to have that same dream at this point in his
life, Jacob would have run up those stairs and tackled the Lord before He
could get away. The man coming back down from the north isn't the same
man that ran away from home. He's different.
†. Gen 32:26 . .When he saw that he had not prevailed against him,
he wrenched Jacob's hip at its socket, so that the socket of his hip
was strained as he wrestled with him.
In spite of the injury, Jacob still hung on and refused to let go. The injury
served a purpose. It wasn't to make Jacob let go; after all, the angel could
ust as easily broken both of Jacob's arms. The injury served to handicap
Jacob, and force him to depend even more upon God's providence; and less
upon himself.
†. Gen 32:27a . .Then he said: Let me go, for dawn is breaking.
Time is of the essence for Jacob to get ready for his brother. Dawn wasn't a
problem for the angel. His carriage wasn't going to turn back into a pumpkin
or anything like that nor was he going to burn up in the sunlight like
vampires do.
†. Gen 32:27b . . But he answered: I will not let you go, unless you
bless me.
Jacob is pretty amazing. He risked giving Esau the advantage over him by
staying with that angel; but this is one guy not to squander an opportunity
with God.
†. Gen 32:28a . . Said the other: What is your name?
Like he didn't know already? Of course he knew it. But the angel's question
is a type of question we call a leading question. You could restate it like this:
And what *strategic pause* is your name?
†. Gen 32:28b . . He replied: Jacob.
His name was actually Ya'aqob (yah-ak-obe') which means: heel-catcher
(i.e. supplanter). But that is all over now. From this point on; it won't be
necessary for Jacob to supplant somebody in order to gain the advantage.
†. Gen 32:29a . . Said he: Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but
Israel
"Israel" is from Yisra'el (yis-raw-ale') which means: he will rule as God. We
might call Jacob's new name his spiritual name and it's very curious. It
doesn't mean rule like God; but rather: as God.
Although Jacob was a patriarch, and a great sheik, he was never a
conqueror. There's a huge difference between ruling as God and ruling as a
conqueror. Conquerors typically rule for their own profit, making slaves out
of their subjects and exacting taxes and tributes. But God always rules for
man's benefit; helping him achieve his greatest potential from within a
peaceful environment.
Through the ages, God has used Jacob's spiritual name to identify the nation
that sprang from him. True, Jacob's progeny has not always ruled as God.
But his ultimate progeny, Messiah, certainly will. No question about it.
†. Zech 12:8 . . In that day, the Lord will shield the inhabitants of
Jerusalem; and the feeblest of them shall be in that day like David, and the
House of David like a divine being-- like an angel of the Lord-- at their head.
†. Gen 32:29 . . for you have striven with beings divine and human,
and have prevailed.
If ever any human being came close to becoming a god, it was Jacob. Lots of
men have grappled with men. And some have even grappled with beasts.
But not many have grappled with Yhvh the way Jacob did-- one on one; up
close and personal. Moses never even got to do that.
The word for "prevailed" is from yokel (yaw-kole') which means: to be able,
literally (can, could) or morally (may, might). In other words: he was up to
the challenge; and able to see it through. Jacob was indeed a very
remarkable man.
†. Gen 32:30a . .Then Jacob inquired, and he said: Divulge, if you
please, your name. And he said: Why then do you inquire of my
name?
In other words: Do you really have to ask? No; Jacob knew very well who he
was grappling with. But sometimes we just want things said for the record.
†. Gen 32:30b . . and he blessed him there.
I sure wish we had the wording of that blessing Jacob worked so hard to
obtain.
†. Gen 32:31 . . So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel-- For I
have seen the Divine face to face, yet my life was spared.
I really like the Stone Tanach's version. Jacob believed the angel was not
just a divine, but "the" Divine. Yes, he knew exactly who grappled with him.
It's true he didn't actually see The Almighty God in his true form; but what
he saw and touched was pretty close enough. (cf. 1John 1:1-3)
In the past, when the people of God were frightened, a sighting of angels
has proved very comforting. (e.g. 2Kgs 6:13-17)
Jacob was ready for anything now. Esau would be small potatoes what with
The Almighty God and a host of His holy angels in the vicinity looking out for
Jacob's safety.
†. Gen 32:32-33 . .The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel,
limping on his hip. That is why the children of Israel to this day do
not eat the thigh muscle that is on the socket of the hip, since
Jacob's hip socket was wrenched at the thigh muscle.
God didn't command such a practice; it became a man-made tradition;
which doesn't make it eo ipso bad. I mean; wine with Passover dinner is a
rabbinical invention, but Jesus went along with it at his last supper. The Lord
was sometimes a bit peeved with the Jews' traditions; but not always since
they were his heritage too. Most of the world's Christians opt to celebrate
Jesus' birth on Dec 25. He never asked anybody to do that but so what?
But Jacob's experience does indicate the importance of the event in the
minds of the Jews. Some people think Jacob is some sort of a squeaky little
gerbil when it comes to ranking the saints' mettle. But The Almighty was
very impressed with him. That has to count for something.
Cont.
/
