Gen. 32:22-3222And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. 23And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. 24And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25And 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. 26And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28And 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. 29And 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. 30And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. 31And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. 32Therefore 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 32:22‑32)
“AND HE rose up that night, and took his two wives and his two women-servants, and his eleven sons...And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.” There was no rest for Jacob that night. His present had been sent to Esau, but he had a bad conscience regarding his brother and was not confident that the gift would appease him. Not content with the measures already taken, in the darkness of night he arose and sent the entire remaining company across the ford Jabbok — considering this, perhaps, a place of a little more safety for them. He was still acting in the force of his own plans, — not according to his prayer.
“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.” v. 24.
It was when Jacob was left alone that God drew near and wrestled with him. Alone, he had no outside influences to hinder this time of exercise of conscience. Although everything he could do of his own devices had been done, he was yet afraid. It was under these conditions that God met him and proved him. Jacob did not know with whom he was wrestling and resisted with all his strength. Does the reader also know what it is to have God manifest a controversy with him in his way of life? Has he ever found himself wrestling against the very One who would show him how very weak he really is — not willing to yield to the greater power? Jacob did just this and no doubt felt a good deal of self-satisfaction in that he seemingly prevailed against his opponent. In Hosea we learn that the “man” was actually an angel sent from God. Although he could have subdued Jacob at any time, he allowed him to continue the controversy through the night. Then as morning light broke, he touched him on the thigh, so that it was out of joint. Thus Jacob was no longer able to prevail. Perhaps it was the crippling of his thigh that opened his eyes so that he realized God was speaking to him. Jacob still clung to his opponent who said, “Let me go.” Jacob replied: “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” v. 26.
It is a good thing to come to the end of one’s strength and cling to the Lord, who readily blesses when the heart is right. But before giving the blessing, Jacob was asked: “What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.” Thus the Lord required him to own his true identity — Jacob, the supplanter, the schemer, the self-sufficient Jacob. Then He graciously tells him: “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel [a prince]: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” v. 28. Jacob asked his opponent His name, but He did not tell him, for Jacob was not yet in a state to know intimately the One with whom he was dealing. The sinew of his thigh was shrunken the rest of his life — a reminder of his own weakness and God’s grace.
“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.” vv. 30,31.
ML-12/04/1966