And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved” (Genesis 32:24-30).
Take a few lessons from Jacob:
- You may feel alone: press on and press through. God is right there.
- Persevere or wrestle in prayer.
- Wrestling demonstrated Jacob’s faith. He had an unshakable confidence and trust in a divine promise.
- We are called upon to be in spiritual warfare.
- Don’t give up until God blesses you.
- God answers prayer. Jacob asked for a blessing. He got it!
- God may not change your name, but He will change your circumstances, or give you the grace to see you through.
- Jacob became a prince with power. We are a royal priesthood.
- He walked away with a limp. This showed his dependence on God.
“God meets us at whatever level He finds us in order to lift us to where He wants us to be. To Abraham the pilgrim, God came as a traveler (Genesis 18); and to Joshua the general, He came as a soldier (Joshua 5:13-15). Jacob had spent most of his adult life wrestling with people — Esau, Isaac, Laban, and even his wives — so God came to him as a wrestler. “With the pure You will show Yourself pure; and with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd” (Psalms 18:26, NKJV).” (The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament © 2001-2004 by Warren W. Wiersbe).
James Poitras 