Genesis 32:24-31
²⁴And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
Long before daybreak Jacob stayed behind. He was alone while he was
spreading out his fears before God in prayer.
While he was doing that there was one in the likeness of a man who wrestled with him. The Bible doesn’t tell us who he was or where he came from, just that he wrestled with Jacob.
When we are in prayer about a certain matter that weighs heavily on our soul, it too is like a wrestling. Sometimes the wrestling can be so hard that we don’t have words anymore to tell God our needs.
What a great rest we receive when we feel the Spirit is helping us, or is taking over our prayer for us, when we can scarcely find words to utter, and we mean more than we can express.
²⁵And 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.
How ever we may be tried, or feel discouraged, in the end we will prevail. Strengthened by the Holy Spirit Who fights with us in our prayers we will be prevailing with Him in prayer. And prevail against all enemies that strive with us.
Like Jacob kept his ground, so can we.
In no way we will have to give in to satan’s temptations, for with the Christ we are more than conquerors.
Like it is written in Romans 8:37 “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us”.
Although the struggle continued most of the night it did not shake Jacob’s faith, nor did it silence his prayer. A great example to all of us.
²⁶And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
Although the man already touched Jacob in the hollow of his thigh, he was not going to let him go, unless he blessed him
²⁷And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob (meaning: “heel holder” or “supplanter”). ²⁸And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel (meaning: “God prevails”), for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
By changing his name Jacob received a lasting mark of honour upon him. Jacob signifies a “heel holder” or “supplanter”. From henceforth he shall not be celebrated for his craft and artful management, but for true valour. Thy name shall be called “Israel”, one who prevails with God. A name greater than those of the great men of the earth.
²⁹And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. ³⁰And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel (Penuel or Peniel, means: “facing God”): for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. ³¹And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.
In Hosea 12:3-4 we read: ³In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And in his maturity he contended with God. ⁴Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed.
Although in Genesis we read that the man didn’t give his name there are teaching, that say that the the angel who wrestled with Jacob was the second Person in the Trinity, who was afterwards God manifest in the flesh, and who, dwelling in human nature, is called Immanuel.
When Israel passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him. In the same way the “sun” rises over that soul, which has had communion with God.
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