Jacob yaakov in hebrew is one of judaisms three patriarchs, and appears throughout many chapters of the book of genesis. John chrysostom, father of the church, argued that because jacob. And what changed him from fearing man to trusting god s word was prolonged and painful wrestling with god. This is a time when jacob could really use a friend to. But, first, god prevailed over jacob by crippling his stubborn selfdependence. If jacob can successfully wrestle with god, then he can face his brother esau without fear. The prophet jeremiah, in holy vision looking down to this time, said, we have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Note three principles about wrestling with god in the struggles of life. However, after losing to god in a wrestling match, jacob received gods blessings and a new name israel. In fact, if we look in the book of deuteronomy ch 21 we see that the rules for birthright are in the law this was big. Jacob was stewing in his own anxiety over esau and his. I had planned to focus on jacob s wrestling with god, thinking maybe jacob was having some existential crisis in.
Before jacob could be at peace with esau he had to learn that he was not esau but israel he who wrestles with gd and never lets go. Jacob wrestles with god after years of living apart, jacob decided to return to his home and hoped to make peace with his brother. But only one of our forefathers engaged in handtohand combat. Though its burden is only deliverance from esau, it pleads with god on the grounds of his own command and promise, of jacobs unworthiness of gods past mercies, and of his firm covenant. God, who had forgiven his sin, could move the heart of esau also to accept his humiliation and repentance. Or, did jacob wrestle with god in order to be blessed. At these times it seems that we experience little spiritual growth.
Yet, i wish to suggest a davar acher, another point of view and alternative reading, which can serve as a counterpoint or a counterpart to razak. The story of jacob s wrestling with god on the banks of the jabbok moves me. Lastly, wrestling with god changed jacobs identity. Jacob is a biblical hero who depicts the power and grace of god to change and renew. The birthright set the oldest son apart as the family representative. But jacob said, i will not let you go unless you bless me. Meyer examines the big themes of jacob s life and struggles.
An excellent reflection on god s sovereign hand even in the face of our weaknesses and blunders. Jacob wrestles with god genesis 32 commentary continue reading menu. Jacob then limps toward his tense reunion with esau with a weakened body and a strengthened faith. And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford jabbok. Douglas macmillan 1991 suggests that the angel with whom jacob wrestles is a preincarnation appearance of christ in the form of a man.
The site name, peniel, or face of god, given by jacob v. Study the bible online using commentary on the twofold. It says, then he said, let me go, for the day has broken. According to one christian commentary of the bible incident described, jacob said, i saw god face to face. Jacob s experience during that night of wrestling and anguish represents the trial through which the people of god must pass just before christs second coming.
He found him at bethel, and there he spoke with him. Jacob wrestles with god genesis 32 commentary jacob went on his way, and the angels of god met him. The subsequent verses narrate jacobs prayer to god for deliverance, and his plans. He is camped at the river jabok on the night before he is to confront his brother esau. To best answer this question, it helps to know, among other things, that deepseated family hostilities characterized jacob s life. It did however ask us to wrestle, as did jacob, alone, at night, in the depths of our soul, and discover the face, the name and the blessing that is ours. Read the twofold wrestlegods with jacob and jacobs commentary using the book of genesis. Jacob wrestles with god 23 he took them and sent them across the stream, along with all his possessions. Genesis 32 commentary spurgeons verse expositions of. There are, then, three acts in this dramatic scene.
Wrestling with god sermon by russell brownworth, genesis. Verse 26 gives us the reason why jacob wrestled with god or his angel. Jacob s wrestling with the lord will bring him great blessing vv. Our walk with god includes some quiet and uneventful times where we seldom see his active intervention though we are often blind to his care over us. He is the son of isaac and rebecca, the grandson of abraham and sarah, and the father of 12 sons, the progenitors of the 12 tribes of israel.
One night on the journey, he sent everyone ahead of him while he. God choose to wrestle with him because the answer for his prayer in the chapter 32. Jacob wrestles with god and he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford jabbok. Matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. Rabbi zoe klein hereafter razak offers a nuanced, elegant commentary on the verse now jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the rise of dawn genesis 32. How jacob conquered the defining crisis of his life. He confronts his failures, his weaknesses, his sins, all the things that are hurting him. That is what roosevelt meant when he said in 1933, in the midst of the great depression, that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. On the night that jacob wrestled with god, it was only when jacob was left alone. Later versions say that jacob wrestled with an archangel. It was an exhausting struggle that left him crippled. How wrestling with god will change you forever story of jacob. Briefly write about some of the wrestling you have had before god that led to spiritual growth see commentary for enos 1. I will not let you go unless you bless me desiring god.
The story of jacobs wrestling with the angel provides an embarrassment of. Jacob wrestles with god genesis 32 commentary the book. Read the twofold wrestle god s with jacob and jacob s commentary using the book of genesis. After years of running from god and his faith, jacob encounters god on the journey home and wrestles with him.
Jacob was favored by his mother while his brother esau was favored by his father. For the reason why god choose to wrestle with jacob,this may be the answer. Genesis 32 commentary albert barnes notes on the whole. First, let us read the story of jacob in the book of genesis, the thirtysecond chapter, at the twentysecond verse. Jacob wrestles with god bible story verses and meaning. He is most commonly known in the bible for his cunning and deceitful ways, especially towards his twin brother esau. Maybe jacob wrestled with god so that hed give jacob a promise that he would live and survive, ensuring his own childrens future. Having wrestled with god, he knows his prayers regarding esau will be answered. Genesis 32 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is from the most widely read and often quoted preacher in history, charles haddon spurgeon. Good news translation he fought against an angel and won.
What does wrestling with god actually mean by patrick miller. Jacob wrestles with god 22 the same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, a and crossed the ford of the jabbok. It is because he has more blessings for us in the wrestling than without it. This is a loaded sentence, because a blessing isnt a nice wish, its an efficacious promise for fulness of life. The purpose of their visit is not explained, but jacob was encouraged by their presence, and probably needed to be so after his confrontation with laban. Then a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. David guzik commentary on genesis 32, where jacob wrestles with god at the brook of jabbok, where god changes jacobs name into israel. Posts about genesis 32 commentary written by jesusmessage. Articles about jacob wrestles with god bible story. Jacob wrestles with god, not for the sake of wrestling, but to become. And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. Jacob, who wrestled with an angel and went on to start a nation. If we can win the struggle in here, we can also win it out there.
When isaac was close to death, he asked esau to hunt and kill some wild game for him to eat with the promise that when he returned, issac would bless him. Jacob and our wrestling match with god the torah is full of stories of bloodshed and warfare. How wrestling with god will change you forever story of. Right after jacobnow known as israelwrestles with god, he built an altar and called it the. Wrestling with god is both insightful and engaging as f. God wanted all of jacob s proud selfreliance and fleshly scheming and came to. A breath of a higher life is stirring in the shifty schemer who has all his life been living by his wits. As for jacob, this struggle with god would prepare him for many a battle. Jacob wrestling with the angel is described in genesis the angel in question is referred to as. Other commentaries treat the expression of jacobs having seen god face to face as. John calvin agrees that this episode is paradigmatic of our wrestling with the lord today. When god makes us wrestle him for some blessings, it is not because god is reluctant to bless us, even if thats how it first feels.
When the father tests us, we may find ourselves struggling with him, looking for blessing in the midst of our trouble. Study the bible online using commentary on the twofold wrestle god s with jacob and jacob s and more. Morton smith writes in his book christianity, judaism, and other grecoroman cults that the earliest existing manuscripts indicate that jacob was wrestling with god in angelic form. The sifted christian and the book biblical institute. Jacobs remark does not necessarily mean that the man with whom he wrestled is god. What examples have you seen of the foreknowledge of god demonstrated in the events of your life. Since then, wrestling with god has been at the core of jewish identity. Jacob wrestled with god and prevailed in the sense of hanging on until god blessed him. 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. The site name, peniel, or face of god, given by jacob verse 30, and the commentary given by hosea hos. Contemporary english version at bethel, jacob wrestled with an angel and won. There wrestled a man with him the eternal word, or son of god, who often appeared in a human shape, before he assumed the human nature.
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