Ah, we have come to one of my favorite chapters in Genesis - and one of my favorite stories in all the Bible! There is a lot of good stuff here, so I'd best list it and try not to miss anything:
1) The very first verse, while lacking in details, is rather cool: "So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him." (NKJV) We don't know what was said, or what they looked like, or how many there were - but it still must have been an awesome experience.
2) When Jacob finds out that Esau, his brother, is coming to meet him he does not instantly run away, nor does he prepare to fight. Instead he sends gifts, showing that he is a peacemaker, and makes intelligent preparations so that if retreat is necessary he is ready - but moreover he trusts in the Lord to make good on His promises.
3) Few men have ever seen God, and even when you count Jesus' life and ministry the total is likely still in the tens of thousands. But as far as I know only one has actually wrestled (physically) with the Lord - and that would be Jacob. He carried the scar from it all his life (where God touched him on the hip), but I doubt that he regretted it even one second.
Voting on Laws
15 years ago
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I love this story for the simple fact that it shows Jacob's gritty determination to hold on to the Lord, regardless of the pain ('Cause you know that dislocated hip socket had to hurt like the dickens.) I find this such a challenge to me personally, to hold on the the Lord, no matter the cost--no matter the physical sacrifices or emotional pain.
Another thing I love is the symbolism of touching the hip. Don't you know that that injury completely changed the way Jacob walked--probably with a severe limp--and made it virtually impossible for him to do any sort of strenuous exercise or work. Up to that point Jacob had obviously been a very able-bodied man, strong and self-sufficient, working in the field for his father-in-law for some twenty-odd years. Then, BOOM, in an instant, his ability to do things on his own was taken away. He could no longer rely on his physical strength, but could now only rely on his mental strength and the strength of the Lord. In that instant he changed from a physically-minded man to a spiritually-minded man. Thus the Lord changed his name from Jacob (liar or supplanter) to Israel (Prince with God), for the physical change wrought a spiritual change in him as well.
Man, but isn't the Lord awesome!
Ah, you caught something I had meant to list: the name change. God really seems to be in the habit of naming and re-naming folks throughout the Bible, and while it is straightforward enough it does seem odd these days. I don't think we take the meaning of names as seriously today as ancient folks did, and I'm not sure if that is for better or worse.
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