Genesis 32:24-31 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.
Over the
past twenty years, Jacob has undergone a transformation of character. These
verses show the final steps in that transformation and the end result is that
Jacob is left completely reliant, dependent upon God.
Jacob at
this point has surrendered just about everything; he has sent his flocks ahead
of him to Esau and his family away from him. Jacob fears that Esau will destroy
everything, flocks and family, and then finally come for Jacob. However, Jacob
still has one thing left, his physical strength; he can still flee from Esau, or
fight for his life. From what we have read in these verses, Jacob was no
weakling, despite the long arduous journey, the emotional distress of sending
his family away; he still has the strength to wrestle all through the night.
As day
breaks, the one with whom Jacob is wrestling, despite having struggled with
Jacob the whole night, with a simple touch immediately renders Jacob weak,
powerless. Jacob cannot firmly stand in order to fight on, nor can he run and
flee from his opponent. Jacob is now completely at the mercy of this man. It is
at this point that Jacob must have realised this was more than just a man whom
he is wrestling with, and thus he asks for a blessing. A blessing is given and
Jacob’s name is changed, although he has formerly been a deceiver, striving
against many, God has now transformed Jacob’s character and thus Jacob is given
a new name. This new name speaks not just of Jacob’s transformation, but more
importantly of the covenant promise that God has made to Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob. Jacob and his descendants will be God’s people, God’s royal and holy
nation.
Jacob, now
Israel is left alone and he rightly discerns that this man was none other than
God, he rejoices in the mercy that God has extended towards him. Israel
continues on his journey to Canaan and to Esau, but he goes not in strength,
but in weakness, he cannot flee from Esau, he cannot fight against Esau. He
must now completely depend upon God for everything, for the return of his
family, his flocks and to sustain his life. God has made a covenant promise to
Israel, but it is not one that he will be able to achieve in his own strength,
he will have to rely upon God.
For us as
Christians it is an easy thing for us to say that we trust and depend upon God,
but the reality is that we trust and depend on ourselves far too often. We rely
upon our own strength, wisdom and abilities, we depend upon them and seem only
ever to seek God out in times of trouble and trial. It is a painful lesson when
our weaknesses are exposed and we fail, sadly it is a lesson that we keep
having to learn.
To depend
upon God does not mean that we have to deny the physical strength, natural
abilities and measure of wisdom that we have. These are God-given, they are
good, but they are to be directed towards God and are to lead us to God all the
more. We are to keep in mind the reality that God is all-powerful, our strength
is limited and fleeting, God is able to do all things, our abilities are but
few, and God is all-wise, and our wisdom by contrast is as foolishness. Thus
while we may have strength, ability and wisdom, all these should lead us to
depend upon God all the more and cause us to rely upon the One is all-powerful,
capable of all things and all wise.
All-powerful, all-wise, God of the impossible,
we thank You that You are the One upon whom we can depend for all things. Your
are the supplier of our strength and from You all wisdom flows. Help us to
depend upon ourselves less and depend upon You more. May we draw our strength
and wisdom from You, and keep us from the folly of self-reliance. Amen
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