by Jenn Tolbert
With two teenage boys in the house, wrestling is a constant. Arm wrestling, leg wrestling, thumb wars,
staring contests, milk chugging…if it can be turned into a strength or endurance contest, it’s on. Of
course, every competition is fun and games in the beginning, but then it escalates. Someone doesn’t
play fairly. Someone takes it too far. Or someone decides that their actual worth as a human is
determined by the strength of their right thumb.
In Genesis 32:22-32, Jacob wrestles with a man he identifies as God. Now I usually don’t care who
started it, and it’s interesting that God wasn’t concerned with that part of the story either. Instead, the
Bible focuses on how it ended.
In the story, Jacob is returning to his homeland. He left as a thief, who had deceived his father and
stolen from his brother. He left with his hands empty, but he had a blessing. After working in a far away
land for years, God had blessed him tremendously, just as he promised. He returned with 3 wives, 13
children, countless servants and herds of livestock.
He is finally going home. But first, he must face his brother who was so angry he vowed to kill him.
He leaves everyone traveling in his party and crosses the Jabbok River. There, away from all the chaos
and stress of his current situation, he spends the entire night wrestling with a man, he calls God.
In Psalms 46:10, it says
“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The
Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
Perhaps Jacob went to be alone to petition God for help in facing his brother. Jacob believed his next battle was his brother, but God knew he had some things he needed to work out spiritually first.
If there is something I constantly struggle with, it is not protecting my time alone with God. Life happens
fast right now. It starts early and is a constant buzz of activity until I don’t have the energy to “think that
hard.” So many days, I get up and go fight the wrong battle. It’s easy to do. Paul reminds the Ephesians
in Ephesians 6 that their battle isn’t with this world. There is a spiritual war being waged and that is the
battle you are called to. God wants to engage in the struggle with you. He wants you to ask the hard
questions and reach for a deeper understanding. God knows the life he has called us to is a challenge.
God will fight for you, even if you are your own worst enemy sometimes.
The story tells us that Jacob was so determined in winning the wrestling match that he even fought
injured. Jacob would not give up until he had what he needed—another blessing from God. God
honored his persistence, and he honors ours too. Jesus promises his new followers on the Sermon on
the Mount: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to
you.” God loves us too much not to give his children what they need.
James encourages his fellow Christians to consider trials and struggles a joy, knowing that their faith is
being strengthened through them. (James 1: 2-8) In vs. 4 it says, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Maturity. That is the best word to describe this turning point in Jacob’s life. Jacob left his home as a liar
and a thief, willing to steal from his own brother to get what he wanted. His name even meant “he
deceives.” However, God’s blessing to him was a new name, with a new identity to match. He gave him
the name Israel, which means “he struggles with God.”
Jacob names the place, Peniel, which means: “I saw God face to face, and I was spared.” The story
concludes with Jacob (now Israel), the once brash and dishonest man, humbly limping back to his family.
Up until this point, Jacob knew bartering and shady deal making. He plans to buy his brother’s
forgiveness off but is met with open arms, forgiveness, and grace.
And perhaps that is what God wanted Israel to understand. Until this point, Jacob’s blessings were
gained through his own power or schemes. When Jacob meets Esau, he wants to offer gifts to him to
clear his conscience. How many times do we meet God the same way? We want to barter for our
salvation. Esau had no need for Jacob’s gifts, he was content with a restored relationship. I assure you
God feels the same way. We cannot wrestle grace from God’s hand. He offers it to us freely—and
celebrates the restored relationship.
