Genesis 32:22-32 (Jacob's dream/Israel as struggle with God)
22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."
But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
27 The man asked him, "What is your name?"
"Jacob," he answered.
28 Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."
29 Jacob said, "Please tell me your name."
But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."
31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob's hip was touched near the tendon.
Discussion Questions
- The text describes Jacob's encounter as wrestling or struggling "with God and with men." What does this mean to you? Have you ever struggled with God or with Judaism? If so, how?
- Jacob asks the man he has wrestled with for a blessing. What do you think is the relationship between struggle and blessing?
- Jacob is changed by his struggle – his hip is injured, and his name is changed to Israel. What role do you think struggling with God/Judaism has in creating/changing who you are?
- Names (Jacob's, the man's, the name of the place) seem to play an important role in this story. Why? What's important about names? What does your name say about who you are?
Struggling or wrestling with GOD is another way of saying that we need to work hard to achieve what we want and GOD would definitely make it happen.
So life is a struggle but in the end it pays off when you turn to GOD for help.
It probably means life is often confusing, frustrating and unfair. By wrestling with life's obstacles (which are from God, as everything is) and doing all it takes to win: God will be so proud of us that we will be blessed.
Struggle gives strength show us way and make us a blessed person
It is so good
I believe the blessing Jacob was wrestling with God for was the promised blessing of Abraham, the Righteousness by faith in Christ alone plus nothing else.
This is what is known as a Christophony.
Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. (Exodus 33:11)
But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” (Exodus 33:20)
And Jacob saw the face of God and lived yet God said no one sees his face and lives. This is confusing if your understanding is literal. This is a mystical truth. When you see the Creator face to face you must die to yourself. Die to your mind , will emotions, body and spirit. You are a triune being made up of spirit, soul and body. When you die to yourself this becomes God's spirit, soul and body. You become the habitation of God. Thus it is not you who lives but God who lives through you. For this to happen , you must stop the resistance (fight) and take yield (take the limp). This was Jacob's dark night of the soul where he was forced to spiritual awaken and mature into Israel. From a human being to a Spirit being. From solid to gaseous. That is why Israel is ascended in the Spirit. True Israelites are spiritually awakened and ascended people who live from mystical truths. Torah is the agent of transformation that carries the wisdom of transforming from human beings to spiritual beings. But it doesn't stop there you need the Messiah to give you grace for the next level of transformation.
What is the meaning of this verse?..cos no one can't see God and wrestle with him.
How can Jacob wrestle with god? And above that outlast or match him until day break? Our GOD is alright? NO human should ever be able to wrestle him and tell him to “bless him” this really confuses me.
It says no one can see god how can Jacob see god and even beat him
I love to know the meaning of my name ?
Yeah about pain!
Love scenes from heaven he was spaired
Why do we wrestle with god
None right now but maybe later
was this truly a dream? or was it reality?