When Jacob left Laban, his father-in-law, Laban caught up with him at Mount Gilead which is east of the Jordan River. Laban chased Jacob for approximately three-hundred miles from Padam Aram because he considered his daughters, grandchildren, and Jacob’s flocks to be his own. The Lord appeared to Laban in a dream and warned him not to bother Jacob.

After Laban departed, Jacob moved north along the Jordan River. Jacob also sent messengers to his brother Esau. The messengers returned saying that Esau was coming with four-hundred men. Remember, twenty years before, Esau comforted himself with the thought of killing Jacob (Genesis 27:42).

Jacob was greatly distressed and divided his family and herds into two parts. This may be the basis of the name of the place, Mahanaim (Strong’s H4266), which means “two camps.” He sent gifts of herds of livestock to Esau as a buffer between his brother and his family.

Still concerned about the safety of his family, Jacob sent them across the Jabbock River to the south side. The trail from the Jordan River up the Jabbock River is on the north side. It is still there today. Jacob was placing his family on the other side of the river. He then spent the night alone on a hill top which commanded a view of the approaching road. Alone and by himself, Jacob would watch for Esau and the four-hundred men. Jacob placed himself as the only barrier between his family and Esau.

Jacob prayed to the Lord, “Deliver me!” (Genesis 32:11)

That night a man appeared “out of nowhere.” Jacob and the man wrestled all night, but the man could not prevail over Jacob. As dawn approached, the man touched Jacob’s thigh and his thigh became out of joint (Genesis 32:25). The man asked Jacob to let him go, because the dawn was coming. They had been wrestling in the dark, and Jacob could not really see who he was fighting with.

Jacob said that he would not release the man, unless He blessed him. At this point, I suspect that Jacob knew he was struggling with someone special. Recall, the greater always blesses the lesser. Jacob knew this person was greater.

The “man” then stated that Jacob’s name would be changed to Israel because “as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” (Genesis 32:28) Jacob had been wrestling with God in human form! And God blessed Jacob there. As the sun rose, this incarnate form of God departed, and Jacob limped because of his thigh.

Jacob, now Israel, named that place Peniel (Strong’s H6439) which means “facing God,” because he had seen the Lord face to face, and he had not died.

I have always had difficulty with this account of Jacob wrestling with God. How could a normal man prevail over God? This answer could be as simple as: God allowed Jacob to prevail. The Lord took the position of humility and allowed Jacob to prevail so that He, the Lord, could bless Jacob. God Almighty allowed Jacob to prevail so that the LORD could bless him.

This is a foreshadow of the Lord Jesus. Jacob prayed to the Lord – Deliver Me! Save me! We pray to the Lord for salvation, just as Jacob did. In our case, the Lord Jesus took the position of humility and allowed Himself to be crucified to save us and to bless us.

Praise the Lord for His wonderful grace and humility and salvation! May His name be praised forever and always!