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, 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, 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, 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.
For Discussion
1. What are your initial reactions to this passage? What confuses you? Did you expect the man wrestling with Jacob to be God?
2. Discuss how you feel about Jacob being stronger than God. How does that fit with your understanding of God’s sovereignty?
3. Similarly, how do you feel about Jacob’s demand for blessing? Should we feel we can “demand” God’s blessing?
Do we feel we can demand our parents blessing? Do we feel they have responsibility towards us as the fruits of their creative choice? Should we feel the same way about God?
4. In verse 32, the passage talks about how the Israelites remember this occasion? What role does tradition play in the lives of our communities when we remember God’s promises and actions? Is tradition effective in this way?
For reflection
Have you ever wrestled with God? How did that manifest itself? What happened?
I think too frequently we neglect to say anything to God because we see our lives as either 1) 100% predestined and therefore view our responses are unable to trigger change or 2) we don’t believe it’s acceptable to wrestle with Him. I do believe that there are certain points in our lives that are purposed/predestined for us, but I can’t accept that all moments are. Rather, it’s not as linear as we normally imagine it to be (if that makes any sense ; )? Also, we forget that God gets angry and jealous and since we’re made in His image, it’s only natural for us to experience those feelings as well.
Several years ago, I was very mad at God, yet still obedient. There was a lot of destruction that took place in my life (my father’s business partner crashed our company, we lost both of our houses, and every dime to our name- then my parents separated. My father also had several heart attacks during that time). I had to drop out of school, move out on my own, etc. It was painful. One night, I argued with God because I said, “You have such an opportunity to show your glory, and you’re doing nothing.” I kid you not, the very next day he answered that prayer. I was at work and met an older couple that offered to send me to school. They told me that what happened to me wasn’t my fault, and that I still deserved my education. I enrolled in my former college (in Boston, Massachusetts) that week. It was a really beautiful experience, and probably the greatest contact that I’ve had with God’s glory.
I feel like this passage of scripture has been coming up a lot lately in my life & I’m going to study and meditate on it this week. Thank you for your wonderful post!