In the Beginning: A Study in Genesis 27-36Minta

How Can We Wrestle With God in a Good Way?

Sometimes it feels like we are in an exhausting battle in life. Occasionally, we battle with God—struggling to accept His will, unwilling to agree with His word, or fighting to get our own way and not do things His way. In this scene of Genesis, Jacob literally wrestles with God in a way that ends up being a good blessing for his future. Jacob left home as a single man and now returns home as a husband and father who has become resilient through years of abuse under his father-in-law, Laban.

After 20 years away, Jacob’s homecoming journey was interrupted by two angels who met him at the border of the Promised Land. Not knowing if his brother Esau, whom he had not seen for 20 years, still wanted to kill him, Jacob sent messengers ahead to notify Esau that he sought peace and wanted to bless him with gifts intended to make up for the blessing he stole. The messengers returned to inform Jacob that Esau was coming with four hundred men, who were either an entourage to welcome Jacob or an army to slaughter him. Understandably worried about the worst, and to protect his household, Jacob split his people and animals into two groups, hoping that one could flee and survive if attacked.

In Genesis 32:9-12, we then see the faith of Jacob, which has been apparently growing slowly over the 20 years since he first encountered God personally, as he prayed to God in faith that God would be faithful to His covenant promises to bless and protect him. Jacob then compiled an enormous gift for Esau and had it delivered to his brother.

Before yet encountering his brother, God again appeared to Jacob in a very significant way. While alone one night, a man came to Jacob, and it seems likely this was Jesus. Though Jacob, at this time, was old, he wrestled with this man (either an angel or probably Jesus) all night, persevering until he received his blessing. Jacob started wrestling with his twin brother in their mother’s womb. He wrestled metaphorically with Laban for years and now wrestles with God.

At dawn, the men gave up their struggle, and this man changed Jacob’s name from Jacob, which means “trickster,” to Israel, which means “wrestles with God and perseveres,” as he had now matured from a trickster to a man of faith who trusted God to bless and guard him in accordance with the covenant promises. Israel is mentioned over 1,800 times in the Bible, as this is a significant moment in world history.

Jacob had grown in faith to the degree that he had become a servant of God and was ready to re-enter the Promised Land as a new man with a new name. His prayer, the only recorded prayer of any length in Genesis, makes this clear. The man with whom Israel wrestled touched his hip so that he would limp for the rest of his days. This served as a reminder to him and to everyone else around him that God had been gracious to him throughout the years and had blessed him even though he could have been justly hurt or murdered at any time. Theologically, Jacob wrestled with God throughout his life rather than Laban or Esau. For us, the same is true. Whether we realize it or not, our struggles are frequently with God, who has a blessing for us if we persevere to get it.

Question:

What are some good, healthy, godly ways to work out your frustrations and disagreements through wrestling with God?