Gone from Laban, Jacob soon has another experience with God. Knowing that his brother, Esau, is coming, and with “four hundred men” (Genesis 32:6), too. Jacob prays fervently to the Lord, even though he acknowledged that “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant” (Genesis 32:10, NKJV). Jacob, truly, was understanding better what grace was about.
And how did the Lord respond?
Read Genesis 32:22-31 and Hosea 12:3-4. What is the spiritual significance of this amazing story?
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Jacob is distressed, understandably so, by what was happening and, after doing what he can to protect his family, he camps for the night. He is, then, suddenly attacked by “a Man” (Genesis 32:24, NKJV). This is a term that can have special connotations, evoking the divine presence (see Isaiah 53:3). Daniel used it to refer to the heavenly priest Michael (Daniel 10:5); it was also the word used by Joshua to depict the “Commander of the LORD’s army,” who was the LORD YHWH Himself (Joshua 5:13-15, NKJV).
Indeed, amid the fighting, it must have become obvious to Jacob that he was struggling with God Himself, as his words, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” (Genesis 32:26, NKJV) revealed. Yet, his fervent clinging to God, his refusal to let go, also reveal his passionate desire for forgiveness and to be right with His Lord.
“The error that had led to Jacob’s sin in obtaining the birthright by fraud was now clearly set before him. He had not trusted God’s promises, but had sought by his own efforts to bring about that which God would have accomplished in His own time and way.” — Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, Pages 197, 198.
And the evidence that he had been forgiven was the change of his name, from the reminder of his sin, to one that commemorated his victory. “Your name,” said the Angel, “shall no longer be called Jacob [the supplanter], but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed” (Genesis 32:28, NKJV).
| What has been your own experience as far as wrestling with God goes? What does it mean to do that, and why is it at times important that we have this kind of experience? |
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