The Necessary Wrestle

Introduction

Have you ever watch wrestling before?

how would you feel if you could have a time with someone importan face to face?

background of this passage: Jacob’s return after 20 years of hiding from his brother, Esau.

Jacob’s wrestle with God: It has been a subject of much discussion whether the incident described was an actual conflict or a visionary scene. Many think that as the narrative makes no mention in express terms either of sleep, or dream, or vision, it was a real transaction; while others, considering the bodily exhaustion of Jacob, his great mental anxiety, the kind of aid he supplicated, as well as the analogy of former manifestations with which he was favored—such as the ladder—have concluded that it was a vision

the wrestling presents Jacob’s struggle on his faith with the Lord. it is a point where his faith and faithless cross over with one another. on one hand, he has a faith in the Lord’s promise in Bethel 20 years ago. t the time, he knows God as a living and present protector. on the other hand, he shows his faithless in a new forms with his return to the land. during the years, Jacob shows real faith, but not perfect reliance. Returning home, he feared Esau’s anger. No help in man, God’s promise is his only refuge. Could he trust to it? He wrestled. it is a real conflict of both mind and body, a work of the spirit with intense effort of the body”. outward conflict of bodily wrestling, and the spiritual conflict with prayer and tears

here, we see Jacob at three different points in life. pre-wrestlling Jacob, wrestling Jacob and post-wrestling Jacob. At each point, there is some relevance to us.

Pre-wrestilng : when we have nowhere to go (v22-24)

background of the passage: Jacob has planned for the worst scenario. a momentous crisis had arisen in Jacob’s history is universally admitted. He was now returning to the land of Canaan a man of mature age, being in his ninety-seventh year, and of a singularly diversified experience, both natural and spiritual. In his early life he had twice supplanted Esau by means of craft, depriving him of his birthright and blessing, and now he was on the eve of meeting that formidable brother whom he had wronged

“Jacob was left alone”. He wrestled alone for his whole family, his livestock and his servants.

He has been blessed by his father, but now seek for the greatest blessing.

The great encounter with God came when Jacob knew himself to be exposed to a situation wholly beyond him. The threat of it had already driven him to prayer (9–12), and both his renewed desire to be alone (see on verse 23, below), and the form that the night struggle took, indicate a hunger now for God himself; a hunger awakened by the crisis but not determined by it.

the more we are in our crisis, the more we need to wrestle with God.

in the Wrestle: we get to know ourselves and know God (v24-27)

“What is your name?” the Bible regards the name as potentially a pointer to his character. To declare one’s name could sometimes be an act of self-disclosure.

Now the blessing which he obtained from his father by cunning and deceit, must be sought with tears from this mysterious divine man.

“I will not let u go unless you bless me”. It is evident that Jacob was aware of the character of Him with whom he wrestled; and, believing that His power, though by far superior to human, was yet limited by His promise to do him good, he determined not to lose the golden opportunity of securing a blessing. And nothing gives God greater pleasure than to see the hearts of His people firmly adhering to Him.

Post-Wrestling: we experience change of life (v28-33)

from Jacob to Israel: the significance of this change? what is the relevance to us? in the Old Testament, one’s name is linked to his nature. Jacob’s pattern of life had to be radically changed! In saying his name, Jacob had to reveal his whole nature. Here the “heel-catcher” was caught, and had to confess his true nature before he could be blessed.

The blessing took the form of a new name—Israel. This name probably means “God fights,” as the popular etymology signifies. The explanation was then given that Jacob had fought with God and with men. It is easy to comprehend his having fought with men but that he fought “with God” is more difficult to understand. Throughout Jacob’s entire life he had been dragging God’s blessing out under all circumstances for his own use, under “his own steam.” He was too self-willed and too proud to let the blessing be given to him. So “God fights” was now his name. This meant, first, that God chose, because of the patriarch’s stubbornness and pride, to fight against him. Second, it meant that God would fight for Israel. Jacob’s new name would remind him and others of this fight in which he had overcome. These words were full of hope to the Israelites. If one could contend successfully with God, he could then win the battle with man. Thus the name “God fights” and the explanation that Jacob had “overcome” obtained the significance of a promise for the nation’s forthcoming struggles.

Jacob saw God face to face, but life was spared. If his life is spared by God, who else is able to take his life. Has he overcome in his wrestling with God, he need have no further fears as to his meeting with Esau. For us, if we have assurance from the Lord after our wrestle with him, who else could bring us fear. Whatever enemies we have, if we can but make God our friend, we are well off

V30 Luther’s translation and my soul is healed, saved, is equally beautiful and correct. For it is impossible that the idea here is that of the later popular notion: he rejoices that he had seen the face of God and did not die. The sun not only rose, but rose especially upon him; and with a joyful mind he begins with the sunrise his journey to meet Esau.

the limping Jacob. The symbol of humility. Jacob’s lameness was to keep him mindful of this mysterious scene, and that it was in gracious condescension the victory was yielded to him. In the greatest of these spiritual victories which, through faith, any of God’s people obtain, there is always something to humble them.

the limping of Jacob. the results of wrestle is not only individual, but towards the family. it becomes a legacy for next generations. our wounds can be a mark of grace. Wrestling believers may obtain glorious victories, and yet come off with broken bones; for when they are weak then are they strong, weak in themselves, but strong in Christ

Conclusion:

the lesson of that night was to trust God’s promise entirely. we wrestle with God in a cycle of faith, to faithless, to craving for peace, to restless disquiet, to prayer. We might go through a spiral way of wrestling with God, but the wrestling is necessary.

The moral design of it was to revive the sinking spirit of the patriarch and to arm him with confidence in God, while anticipating the dreaded scenes of the morrow. To us it is highly instructive; showing that, to encourage us valiantly to meet the trials to which we are subjected, God allows us to ascribe to the efficacy of our faith and prayers, the victories which His grace alone enables us to make

the process of wrestle is intense but it is necessary and beneficial.

In what way, we are to wrestle with God. Searching, seeking, understanding God through every aspect of our lives. Hosea 12:4 He wept and begged for his favor. We ought to continue instant in prayer, always to pray and not to faint: frequency and importunity in prayer prepare us for mercy. While Jacob was earnest in prayer, stirring up himself to take hold on God, an angel takes hold on him. the Angel of the Lord definitely had the power to overcome Jacob, but He honour Jacob’s faith and prayer. in fact, the Lord has mercy on JAcob, as it was day breaks and He would not want to detain Jacob any longer, as Jacob had a journey to go, a family to look after.

The wrestle happened when Jacob was alone and during the night. The night time is the quietest time from self-examination, meditation and devotion. In solitude, the human sould discovers most of itself and enjoys most frequent interviews with God. it is at this time that Jacob encountered God. God comes to us when when we are alone in solitude. it is probable that Jacob was employed in fervent supplication, and that, without knowing how, he suddenly became conscious of being involved in a close physical struggle with a powerful antagonist. Perhaps this was designed to suggest that God’s approaches to the praying soul are mostly sudden and inexplicable.

Beginning probably at midnight, it was protracted until dawn, a circumstance suggestive of Jacob’s earnestness and determination, and yet attesting the severe character of all true spiritual conflicts, and the extraordinary difficulty of achieving victories with God

The fact that the match lasted till daybreak is significant. For the darkness symbolized Jacob’s situation. Fear and uncertainty seized him. If Jacob had perceived that he was to fight God, he would never have engaged in the fight, let alone have continued all night. Some of us, we have just started our wrestling with God at night. For some other, we might have come near to day break. Whereever we are now, be persevere.

For JAcob, Peniel is that place where he had a wrestle with God, but also the place where he saw God face to face. where is the peniel of your life?