seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Genesis 32:22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”
“Jacob,” he answered.
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel,[f] because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”
But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel,[g] saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel,[h] and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.
But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”
“Jacob,” he answered.
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel,[f] because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”
But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel,[g] saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel,[h] and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.
f. Genesis 32:28 Israel probably means he struggles with God.
g. Genesis 32:30 Peniel means face of God.
h. Genesis 32:31 Hebrew Penuel, a variant of Peniel
I know it's a long verse today. It doesn't take long to read and envision. Those of us who are older will recognize the pain in the hip and feel for Israel.
This is from the working preacher commentary. I really enjoy reading what this commentary has to offer.
Jacob the Heel whose name in Hebrew, (Yaaqov), is a reminder that he came into this world with his chubby baby fist wrapped around his brother's heel, (aqev), now finds his own heels under assault. He can no longer balance on them quite so easily. His injury and its imposition are revelatory. Jacob knows he wrestles with one whose blessing matters. The one with whom he wrestles knows that even wounded Jacob is tenacious. The mysterious wrestler reveals a concern for the coming dawn. Is the wrestler concerned about what the sunlight will reveal? Does it matter whether or not Jacob can see his assailant's face? The wrestler demands freedom.
This is from studylight.org.
We can only imagine what this scene looked like. Perhaps sometimes it looked like a barroom fight, and perhaps at other times it looked like an intense wrestling match.
This wasn't Jacob dictating terms to God as he did on previous occasions. God overcame Jacob here, and we know from Hosea 12:3-5 that Jacob sought this blessing with weeping. He knew he was defeated, yet desperately wanted a blessing from this Greater One.
Jacob must have felt a sense of shame, admitting his name was Jacob, with all its associations of deception and cheating. Yet, this was who he was, and Jacob had to admit to it.
From this point on, he will be called Jacob twice as often as he is called Israel. Apparently, there was still plenty of the old man left in Jacob.
Jacob also understood it was only by Gods grace and mercy he escaped from this episode with his life. No man should be allowed to wrestle with God and live, but God was gracious.
Jacob would remember his being conquered by God with every step he took for the rest of his life. This was a small price to pay for such a great gift.
This wasn't Jacob dictating terms to God as he did on previous occasions. God overcame Jacob here, and we know from Hosea 12:3-5 that Jacob sought this blessing with weeping. He knew he was defeated, yet desperately wanted a blessing from this Greater One.
He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his strength he struggled with God. Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; he wept, and sought favor from Him. He found Him in Bethel, and there He spoke to us; that is, the Lord God of hosts. The Lord is His memorable name. (Hosea 12:3-5)
Jacob must have felt a sense of shame, admitting his name was Jacob, with all its associations of deception and cheating. Yet, this was who he was, and Jacob had to admit to it.
From this point on, he will be called Jacob twice as often as he is called Israel. Apparently, there was still plenty of the old man left in Jacob.
Jacob also understood it was only by Gods grace and mercy he escaped from this episode with his life. No man should be allowed to wrestle with God and live, but God was gracious.
Jacob would remember his being conquered by God with every step he took for the rest of his life. This was a small price to pay for such a great gift.
Boy this was a long verse. It's one of those big stories and I couldn't break it up.
