“I will not let you go unless you bless me.” Genesis 32:26
“ISRAEL” IS THE NAME GOD GAVE JACOB. WHAT HAPPENED THERE AT THE JABBOK IS ONE OF THE MOST MYSTERIOUS PASSAGES FOUND IN THE BIBLE. JACOB HAD A MAGNIFICENT ENCOUNTER WITH ALMIGHTY GOD. JACOB ACTUALLY WRESTLED WITH GOD!
THE ACCOUNT STATES THAT HE WRESTLED WITH A MAN. BUT WE KNOW FROM THE ACCOUNT THAT THE MAN WAS PRE-INCARNATE GOD BECAUSE JACOB NAMED THE PLACE “PENIEL” WHICH MEANS, “FACE OF GOD.” JACOB SAID, “I HAVE SEEN GOD FACE TO FACE AND HAVE SURVIVED.” THESE SPECIAL APPEARANCES AND CONTACTS OF GOD WITH HUMANKIND BEFORE THE INCARNATION ARE CALLED “THEOPHANIES,” A PHYSICAL APPEARANCE OF GOD.
IT WOULD APPEAR FROM THE ACCOUNT THAT IT WAS JACOB WHO TOOK THE INITIATIVE. IT DOES SAY THAT A MAN WRESTLED WITH HIM UNTIL DAYBREAK. BUT LISTEN TO THE DIALOGUE. THE MAN SAID TO JACOB THAT HE SHOULD LET HIM GO, AND JACOB ANSWERED, “I WILL NOT LET YOU GO UNLESS YOU BLESS ME.” AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW THAT FROM THE START GOD MADE HIMSELF VISIBLE TO JACOB. ALL OF THIS SPEAKS OF THE MYSTERY OF GOD’S WAY WITH US.
THERE IS A HYMN THAT EXPRESSES THIS THOUGHT. “I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew. He moved my soul to seek Him seeking me. It was not I that found O Savior true. No, I was found of Thee.” THE WISDOM OF GOD’S WAYS ARE PAST FINDING OUT. YET WE ARE WARNED IN ISAIAH 55:6 TO SEEK THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND AND TO CALL ON HIM WHEN HE IS NEAR.
MANY THINGS WERE HAPPENING IN JACOB’S LIFE AT THE TIME. HE WAS BEING HEMMED IN BEHIND AND BEFORE. HE HAD BROKEN LOOSE FROM HIS UNCLE LABAN, THE FATHER OF HIS TWO WIVES, LEA AND RACHEL. HE HAD WORKED FOR HIS UNCLE ALMOST AS HIS SLAVE FOR TWENTY YEARS. HIS UNCLE PURSUED HIM BUT LET HIM GO AFTER BEING WARNED BY GOD IN A DREAM. THEN JACOB WAS FACING THE WRATH OF HIS BROTHER ESAU FROM WHOM HE HAD TAKEN HIS BIRTHRIGHT BY CUNNING AND THE BLESSING OF THE FIRSTBORN BY DECEPTION. JACOB HAD A HUGE COMPANY OF PEOPLE, GOODS, AND LIVESTOCK TO CARE FOR, A TERRIFIC RESPONSIBILITY.
YET IN THE MIDST OF ALL THIS TURMOIL, HE HAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. HE ENCOUNTERS THE ANGELS OF GOD. “SO JACOB WENT ON HIS WAY AND THE ANGELS OF GOD MET HIM.” THE ANGELS OF GOD ARE TAKING THE INITIATIVE. JACOB CRIED OUT, “THIS IS THE CAMP OF GOD!” JACOB NAMED THAT PLACE “MAHANAIM” WHICH MEANS TWO CAMPS, THERE WERE TWO CAMPS, ONE WAS JACOB’S AND ONE WAS GOD’S. Genesis 32:1
HE WOULD REMEMBER HIS WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE TWENTY YEARS BEFORE WHEN HE WAS FLEEING FROM HIS BROTHER ESAU. HE DREAMT OF A STAIRWAY BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH UPON WHICH ANGELS WERE ASCENDING AND DESCENDING; AND AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS STOOD THE LORD WHO GAVE JACOB A WONDERFUL PROMISE. WHEN JACOB AWOKE FROM HIS DREAM HE SAID, “WHAT AN AWESOME PLACE THIS IS! THIS IS NOTHING ELSE THAN THE HOUSE OF GOD! THIS IS THE GATE OF HEAVEN!” HE CALLED THAT PLACE “BETHEL.” Genesis 28
YES, EARTH, THIS LIFE, WITH ALL OF ITS CHAOS, DANGER, AND SUFFERING, IS STILL THE HOUSE OF GOD, THE GATE OF HEAVEN, A PLACE WHERE GOD “CAMPS OUT.” AND HE IS VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN WHAT GOES ON IN THE CAMP OF HUMANITY. GOD OFTEN MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN TO US AT SUCH SEEMINGLY INCONVENIENT TIMES.
JONI EARECKSON TADA, WHO WAS PARALYZED FROM THE NECK DOWN FROM A DIVING ACCIDENT AT AGE SEVENTEEN, WROTE A BOOK TITLED, “GLORIOUS INTRUDER: GOD’S PRESENCE IN LIFE’S CHAOS.”
IT WAS THAT NIGHT, AFTER BEING MET BY THE ANGELS OF GOD, THAT JACOB WRESTLED WITH THE MAN. HE HAD SENT EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING ACROSS THE FORD OF THE JABBOK AND HE REMAINED ALONE. WE ARE BORN ONE AT A TIME, WE DIE ONE AT A TIME, AND WE ENCOUNTER GOD ONE AT A TIME.
WHAT MADE JACOB GRAB GOD? IT WAS FAITH! FAITH IS NOT JUST PASSIVE BELIEF. THE BOOK OF JAMES IS IN THE BIBLE TO REMIND US OF THIS TRUTH. REAL FAITH LEADS TO ACTION. JACOB’S ACTION UP TO THIS POINT HAD NOT BEEN VERY HONORABLE, BUT AT THE HEART OF IT ALL HE VALUED THE BIRTHRIGHT AND THE BLESSING OF GOD.
HEBREWS 11:1 SAYS, “FAITH IS THE ASSURANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE CONVICTION OF THINGS NOT SEEN.” THE BIRTHRIGHT AND BLESSING HAD TO DO WITH THE PROMISE OF GOD GIVEN TO ABRAHAM AND TO ISAAC. ESAU, WHO INHERITED THE BIRTHRIGHT AS THE ELDER, “DESPISED” HIS BIRTHRIGHT AND HE SOLD IT FOR A BOWL OF SOUP.
FOR TWENTY YEARS, JACOB HAD STRUGGLED FOR THE PROMISED BLESSING. NOW, IN THE FACE OF THE THREAT OF ESAU COMING TO MEET HIM WITH FOUR HUNDRED MEN, AND HAVING DONE EVERYTHING HE KNEW TO DO, HE GRABS HOLD OF GOD. JACOB WAS COMING TO THE END OF HIMSELF, WHICH MADE HIS DESIRE FOR GOD AND HIS BLESSING ALL THE MORE DESPERATE.
AT BIRTH, JACOB CAME OUT OF THE WOMB HOLDING ON TO HIS ELDER BROTHER’S HEEL. HE OBTAINED HIS BROTHER’S BIRTHRIGHT AND BLESSING BY CUNNING AND DECEIT. YES, JACOB WAS A SINNER JUST AS WE ALL ARE. JACOB WAS GRASPING FOR THE RIGHT THING EVEN IF IT WAS IN THE WRONG WAY; BUT HE HAD TO LEARN WHAT IT WAS THAT HE WAS REALLY AFTER.
HE HAD STRUGGLED AND CONNIVED FOR THE BIRTHRIGHT AND THE BLESSING, BUT WHAT WAS IT? HE HAD WIVES, CHILDREN, CATTLE AND GOODS. IS THIS WHAT IT WAS? THAT DARK NIGHT HE FOUND IT, AND HE FOUND IT IN GOD HIMSELF.
THUS THE STRUGGLE WENT ON THROUGH THE NIGHT. IT WAS WHEN THE MAN SAW THAT HE COULD NOT DEFEAT JACOB THAT HE “STRUCK” JACOB’S HIP SOCKET. IT WAS NECESSARY FOR GOD TO TOUCH THE SOURCE OF JACOB’S NATURAL STRENGTH.
WHY WOULD GOD FIND IT NECESSARY TO CRIPPLE JACOB? BECAUSE JACOB MUST LEARN THAT WHAT HE WAS SEEKING COULD NOT BE ACQUIRED IN HIS OWN STRENGTH. HE HAD WORKED SO HARD TO GET WHAT HE HAD. HE KNEW THAT GOD WAS PART OF IT ALL, BUT HE MUST REALIZE THAT WHAT HE REALLY WANTED ONLY GOD CAN GIVE.
WITHOUT THE USE OF HIS LEG, JACOB COULD NO LONGER WRESTLE, BUT HE STILL HELD ON TO GOD. “I WILL NOT LET YOU GO UNLESS YOU BLESS ME.” IT WAS PROBABLY AT THAT POINT THAT JACOB REALLY SAW WHAT HE WAS AFTER. WHAT DID HE SEE? THE FACE OF GOD OR SOMETHING OF THE NATURE OF GOD’S BEING. HE CALLED THE PLACE “PENEIL” WHICH MEANS “THE FACE OF GOD.”
AS DAWN WAS BREAKING, GOD SAID TO JACOB, “LET ME GO.” COULD GOD NOT HAVE RELEASED HIMSELF FROM JACOB? OF COURSE HE COULD HAVE, BY SHEER POWER. BUT GOD IS NOT PLAYING A POWER GAME WITH US. GOD IS FINDING OUT WHAT WE REALLY WANT. “YOU WILL SEEK ME AND FIND ME WHEN YOU SEARCH FOR ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART.” Jeremiah 29:13 NOT UNTIL WE SEEK GOD WITH ALL OF OUR MIND, BODY, HEART AND SOUL DO WE FIND THE BLESSING, THE REAL BLESSING.
GOD’S RESPONSE TO JACOB’S PLEADING REQUEST TO BE BLESSED WAS TO ASK JACOB HIS NAME. WHAT A LOADED QUESTION! THE MEANING OF “JACOB” IS “HEEL GRABBER,” NOT A VERY HONORABLE OR DIGNIFIED NAME. ONE’S REAL NAME IS AN EXPRESSION OF WHAT THAT PERSON IS.
BEFORE JACOB, OR ANY OF US, CAN RECEIVE WHAT GOD WOULD GIVE US, THERE MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF WHAT WE REALLY ARE. THIS IS CALLED REPENTANCE. WE CAN CHANGE OUR OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT UNDERNEATH IS OUR NAKEDNESS, AND ONLY GOD CAN COVER THAT, AND HE DOES SO WITH HIS OWN LIFE.
CAN YOU PICTURE JACOB SAYING HIS NAME BEFORE GOD! BUT HE DOES. THIS IS CALLED “CONFESSION,” NOT JUST CONFESSION OF THIS SIN OR THAT FAILURE, BUT ALL THAT I AM, OR AM NOT.
AT THAT POINT, GOD GIVES JACOB A NEW NAME. “NO LONGER WILL YOUR NAME BE JACOB, BUT ISRAEL, BECAUSE YOU HAVE FOUGHT WITH GOD AND WITH MEN AND HAVE PREVAILED.”
THE MEANING OF THE NAME “ISRAEL” IS NOT EASILY DEFINED. THE “EL” PART IS AN ABBREVIATION OF “ELOHIM,” THE NAME FOR GOD. THE OTHER PART OF THE WORD HAS WITHIN ITS MEANING A STRUGGLE, TO PERSIST, AND TO PREVAIL, ALSO A PRINCE OR RULER. THE NAME CARRIES WITH IT A SPECIAL BLESSING THAT EVEN EXCEEDS THAT OF ABRAHAM. FROM THEN ON THE DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB ARE CALLED ISRAELITES.
AFTER GOD NAMED JACOB, THEN JACOB COURAGEOUSLY ASKED THE MAN, “PLEASE TELL ME YOUR NAME.” THE MAN ANSWERED, “WHY DO YOU ASK MY NAME?” HOW COULD THIS ONE GIVE HIS NAME? HE HAD NOT YET BEEN BORN. WHEN MOSES ASKED GOD WHAT NAME HE SHOULD SAY HAD SENT HIM, GOD ANSWERED, “I AM.”
NOT UNTIL “THE WORD BECAME FLESH,” COULD GOD’S NAME BE REALLY KNOWN. “NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN GOD. THE ONLY ONE, HIMSELF GOD, WHO IS IN CLOSEST FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER, HAS MADE GOD KNOWN.” John 1:18
“NO ONE KNOWS THE SON EXCEPT THE FATHER, AND NO ONE KNOWS THE FATHER EXCEPT THE SON AND ANYONE TO WHOM THE SON DECIDES TO REVEAL HIM.” Matthew 11:27
YEARS AFTER THE APOSTLE PAUL’S CONVERSION, HE EXPRESSED HIS LIVING DESIRE, “THAT I MAY KNOW HIM.” Philippians 3:10 KEEP JACOB’S WRESTLING WITH THE MAN IN MIND AS YOU HEAR WHAT PAUL GOES ON TO SAY. “I STRIVE TO LAY HOLD OF THAT FOR WHICH CHRIST JESUS ALSO LAID HOLD OF ME.” Philippians 3:12 LIKE JACOB, PAUL IS HOLDING ON TO GOD WITH ALL HIS LIFE.
MAY WE BE LIKE JACOB WHO GRABBED HOLD OF GOD AND WOULD NOT LET HIM GO UNTIL HE BLESSED HIM!
Rosemary Hyslop June 8, 2017