And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. – Genesis 32:24
Have there been times in your life when you wondered why God is not answering your prayers? Have you questioned why it is that bad things happen to good people? Have you wondered why some very strong believers in Jesus still live in poverty? If you are honest with yourself, you will admit that you have wrestled with some of these questions. You have probably wondered where God is during times of doubt. When you struggle with any of these things, you may be wrestling with God and His will for you and all humankind.
Jacob and his entourage were heading toward Canaan. Preparing for an encounter with his brother Esau, Jacob ended up wrestling with a man in the night. Theologian Matthew Henry writes, “While Jacob was earnest in prayer, stirring up himself to take hold on God, an angel takes hold on him.” Who was this angel? Some think it was Michael the archangel, known to be a warrior of God. Others believe it was the Almighty Himself. The Bible Study Tools commentary says this angel was “not a phantom or specter, as Josephus calls him; nor was this a mere visionary representation of a man… but it was something real, corporal, and visible.“ He was ”no doubt the Son of God in human form.” So, we see Jesus again in the Old Testament.
They wrestled through the night and, as dawn was coming on them, Jacob held tight. Even though in pain in his hip from the wound from the Wrestler, he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” Teacher and author Jon Bloom says, “Sometimes, in your battle with unbelief, your greatest Ally will wrestle with you… until you’re desperate enough to say, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’ It is a great mercy to be brought to the point where you’re desperate enough to insist on what you need the most.” Your sincere wrestling with God is not necessarily a bad thing… it could, in fact, bring you a blessing from Him.
Today’s Verse: Genesis 32:24
And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Genesis 32:22-32
22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip on the sinew of the thigh.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
