Genesis 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And 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. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 28 And 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. 29 "And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
This passage of scripture describes for us the night of wrestling that occurred as Jacob was on his way back to his home land, in obedience to the voice of God. For many years he had lived in exile on account of the deceptions practiced to obtain the birthright by fraud, and now the Lord had said to him that it was time to return to his own country. But Jacob was troubled because of the threats of his brother Esau, who had vowed to slay him once their mother Rebekah Had died, and now that this had taken place for many years, Esau, who was bent on revenge, had a trained army of four hundred soldiers who were now on their way to wreak havoc on Jacob's family, including his wives and little ones. Let's read:
Genesis 32:6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. 7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands; 8 And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.
It was therefore in a state of fear and remorse for his sin that he traveled the road back home, and as his thoughts were focused on what might be done to avert the threatened evil, he came up with a plan which he thought might appease Esau's anger. He sent before him gifts and entreaties to demonstrate his genuine change of heart, but these were to no avail since his servants returned with the word that Esau was on his way to meet him. And so it was in this state of turbulence and fear that Jacob turned to the Lord, confessing his sins, and showing his genuine repentance for the wrongs that were previously done. Let's read:
Genesis 32:9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. 11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.
This prayer of Jacob's was answered when suddenly a man laid his hand on him in the night, and wrestled with him into the wee hours of the morning. At first Jacob thought that it was his adversary Esau who had found him, and in response, he did what any human being would be naturally prone to do, he fought tooth and nail for his life. But as the hours wore on and the wrestling intensified, he realized that his assailant was more than human. It was Jesus Christ Himself who wrestled with Jacob, and before dawn, the blessing that Jacob sought was granted him when Christ touched his joint and put it out of place, so that he now limped upon his feet. The question then is, why would Christ bless him in this way, by incapacitating him when He knew that Esau was on his way to slay Jacob?
The answer to this vital question lies in the way the Christian wins all his battles. If God had left Jacob physically intact, he most likely would have tried to deal with the volatile situation in his own strength, but now defenseless less and weary, he throws himself helplessly upon the mighty arm of omnipotence, and the same God who had instructed Him to return to his homeland, now took matters into His own hands by sending mighty angels who excel in strength to accompany Jacob on his way. The change of attitude that was given to Esau was the result of the direct interposition of God, and the entire episode contains very crucial lessons that are to be adopted by us in our own battles with external and internal foes.
Whenever we find ourselves hedged in with difficulties which we have brought upon our own selves, there is a tendency to believe that we must take matters into our own hands and try to extricate ourselves from the problems we instigated. In situations such as these it is important for us to remember that God does not treat us as we deserve, but rather extends His mercies, and gives grace for grace, so that if like Jacob we fall helplessly upon the shoulders of our Redeemer, He will deliver us from foes without and within.
It cannot be stressed enough that God hears the cry of the penitent sinner, and He delivers His children from difficulties that we sometimes bring upon ourselves. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which gives us the assurance to turn to God in times of spiritual or physical danger, for if we confess and turn from our sins, He has promised that He will hear and answer us when we cry. Let's read:
Psalm 103:8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
May we learn the important lesson of praying without ceasing, for God is willing and able to save them that trust in His mercies, which are renewed to us every morning. "Good night" and God bless!