Wrestling with God ∙∙

Wrestling with God ∙∙

Even in the womb, Jacob struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with God. – Hosea 12:3

Genesis 32:24-31

24 This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break.
25 When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket.

26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

27 “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.”
28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on, you will be called Israel because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”

30 Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.”
31 The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping because of the injury to his hip.

Hercules is one of the best-known heroes in Greek and Roman mythology. He was renowned for his extraordinary strength and daring exploits. One of his 12 exploits was his mission to steal the apples of the Hesperides, the “Nymphs of the West.” On his way to accomplishing this task, he had to fight with Antaeus. Antaeus would challenge all passers-by to wrestling matches. He was undefeated. He had a secret; he remained invincible as long as he remained in contact with the ground. He consistently killed his opponents because he drew his strength from the earth.

Hercules took up the challenge and began to wrestle with Antaeus despite his reputation. Hercules soon realized that Antaeus could not be defeated by throwing or pinning him to the ground. He came up with a new strategy. Hercules held him above the ground, and using his super-human strength, he crushed him to death with a powerful bear hug.

Wrestling with a powerful opponent is not the wisest choice. But attempting to wrestle with an undefeated one seems foolhardy at best.

Jacob was on his way to a very close encounter with his brother Esau. Jacob had greatly wronged Esau and feared he would kill him in revenge. He had sent gifts and all the people that had accompanied him on ahead in an attempt to soften Esau’s heart. “It was the darkest night of Jacob’s life as he sat alone reflecting on the past and on what the sunlight might bring, alternately shivering in the mountain cold and trembling at the approach of Esau” (Hughes).

In the pitch-black night, Jacob found himself alone and suddenly seized by an unseen force. With no words exchanged, he was thrust into a fierce struggle, grappling with a figure of immense strength. Initially, Jacob’s mind raced with fear and confusion, suspecting perhaps that Esau had sent an assassin to eliminate him. Yet, caught in the throes of a life-or-death struggle, Jacob had no choice but to wrestle with his mysterious adversary.

The darkness obscured vision, and the silence deepened the mystery as Jacob, strong in his own right, battled this formidable opponent. They clashed for hours, locked in combat through the night, neither gaining the upper hand. As the first light of dawn crept in, the figure finally broke the silence, requesting that Jacob release him and end the match. It was then that Jacob sensed something extraordinary—his opponent was no mere man but someone with the power to bestow blessings, perhaps even an angel.

In a bold move, Jacob demanded a blessing, and the stranger’s response was transformative. “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” he declared, “but Israel.”

Genesis 32:28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”

With these words, Jacob now puts it all together. Jacob understood that his adversary was more than an angel. His opponent was God Himself, manifest in human form. This revelation mirrored the earlier appearance of the Lord to Abraham, where God was also mistaken for a man (Genesis 18).

Jacob named the place Peniel, meaning “face of God,” marveling that he had seen God face to face and survived the encounter.

Genesis 32:30 Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.”

This remarkable wrestling match is later referenced in Hosea.

Jacob had wrestled with God in bodily form (Hosea 12:3-4).

What a profound moment of spiritual significance. The Father allows His children to wrestle with Him, sometimes even initiating the struggle, offering transformation rather than condemnation.

The blessing Jacob received came with a cost. He emerged from the encounter with a new identity, Israel, signifying “God fights” or “he fights with God.” Yet, there was collateral damage. He bore a permanent mark of the struggle—a limp that would accompany him for the rest of his days.

Jacob seemed accustomed to getting his way and never losing a wrestling match, reminiscent of Antaeus. The Father, however, chose to hold back His limitless power, giving Jacob the opportunity to wrestle with Him. At any moment, He could have easily overpowered Jacob. This dynamic mirrors the myth of Antaeus and Hercules, where Hercules ultimately triumphed over Antaeus through a combination of godlike strategy and restraint.

REFLECT & PRAY

It is one thing to be curious and seek understanding; it’s another to cross the line into arrogance and argumentativeness.

Father, it is part of human DNA to ask, “Why?” Encourage us to be respectful and open-hearted rather than condemnatory.

INSIGHT

Wrestling with the Father can take many forms, often involving challenging conversations. A poignant example of this is found in the story of Habakkuk, an Old Testament prophet who engaged in a verbal struggle with God. Unsatisfied with the state of affairs in Judah, where rampant sin and a lack of justice were prevalent, Habakkuk was bold in voicing his frustrations. He confronted the Father, questioning the violence and injustice that surrounded him, and challenged the Father to do something about it.

Habakkuk 1:2-4

2 How long, O LORD, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save.
3 Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight.
4 The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted.

Sound familiar?

The Father had a solution that would end their evil activities. But the cure was worse than the disease. The Babylonians were coming to conquer, destroy, and take the people captive.

Habakkuk cannot believe his ears. He was in shock.

If Habakkuk had been concerned and argumentative before, now he was livid. His complaints became white-hot. While the people of Israel are bad and iniquitous, they are not as bad as the Babylonians, who were brutal conquerors. On top of that, they were the chosen people, special, unique, and the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8). Surely, the Father is too good to allow such a thing to happen. Habakkuk becomes sullen and retreats into arrogant self-pity.

Yet, the Father, unfazed, addressed him with a profound truth that cuts through all complaints and doubts: “The righteous shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). God’s response was unwavering. He confronts Habakkuk and provides the ultimate answer for all incredulous, complaining, arrogant whiners.

While it’s natural to question and seek understanding, God’s answers can sometimes be more unsettling than the questions themselves.

Ultimately, His answer is always the same, “Trust Me.” Trust in My character and My plan. Live by faith, lose the attitude, and surrender to His will.

¯_(ツ)_/¯9-20-2

© Dr. H 2024