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Jacob's Night
of
Wrestling
by
Ron Parsons
(King James version, with modernised words)
Genesis 32.1
And Jacob went on his way [back to Canaan],
and the angels of God met [and went with]
him. 2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and
he called the name of that place Mahanaim [two
hosts or camps, His and mine].
Genesis 32.3
And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his [twin]
brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 And
he commanded them, saying, Thus shall you speak unto my lord
Esau; Your servant Jacob says thus, I have sojourned with Laban,
and stayed there until now: 5 And I have oxen, and asses, flocks,
and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my
lord, that I may find grace in your sight. [I am
rich, I don't want anything that is yours].
Genesis 32.6
And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to your
brother Esau, and also he comes to meet you, and four hundred men
with him.
Genesis 32.7
Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the
people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the
camels, into two bands [groups]; 8 and
said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the
other company which is left shall escape.
Genesis 32.9
And Jacob [prayed and] said, O God of my
father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac,
the LORD which said unto me, Return unto your country, and to
your kindred, and I will deal well with you: 10 I am not worthy
of the least of all Your mercies, and of all the truth, which You
have showed unto your servant; for with [just]
my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands
[a great company]. 11 Deliver me, I pray
you, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I
fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the
children. 12 And You said [or have promised],
I will surely do you good, and make your seed as the sand of the
sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.
[Note 2].
Genesis 32.13
And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came
to his hand a present for Esau his brother; 14 two hundred she
goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams, 15
thirty milk camels with their colts, forty kine [cows],
and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals. 16 And he
delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by
themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and
put a space between drove and drove.
Genesis 32.17
And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meets
you, and asks you, saying, Whose are these? and where go you? and
whose are these before you? 18 Then you shall say, They be your
servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and,
behold, also he [Jacob] is behind us.
Genesis 32.19
And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that
followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall you speak unto
Esau, when you find him. 20 And say you moreover, Behold, your
servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with
the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his
face; peradventure he will accept of me.
Genesis 32.21
So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that
night in the company. 22 And he rose up that night, and took his
two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and [they] passed over the ford Jabbok
[the equivalent of death]. 23 And he took them, and sent
them over the brook, and sent over that he had.
Genesis 32.24
And Jacob was left alone [Note
3]; and there wrestled a Man with him until the breaking of
the day [Jacob thought he was fighting an enemy].
25 And when He [the Assailant] saw that He
prevailed not against him, He touched the hollow of his thigh [to show him where his problem was. PP197]; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of
joint, as he wrestled with Him.
Genesis 32.26
And He [Christ] said, Let Me go, for the
day breaks. And he [Jacob] said, I will not
let You go, except You bless me. 27 And He said unto him, What is
your name [or character]? And he said,
Jacob [a thief or supplanter, a reference to his
obtaining of the birthright incorrectly]. [Note 4].
Genesis 32.28
And He said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel [prince or overcomer]: for as a prince have you
power with God and with men, and have prevailed. [Note 5]
Genesis 32.29
And Jacob asked Him, and said, Tell me, I pray You, Your name [or character]. And He said, Why is it that you
do ask after My name? [You ought to know it now]
And He blessed him there.
Genesis 32.30
And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel [the
face of God]: for I have seen God face to face, and my
life is preserved.
Genesis 32.31
And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose
upon him, and he halted [limped] upon his
thigh. [Note 7]. 32 Therefore the children
of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the
hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because He touched the hollow
of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank. [Note
6].
Some other times of wrestling with God
Education 147.001
To gain the birthright that was his already by God's promise, Jacob resorted to fraud, and he reaped the harvest in his brother's hatred. Through twenty years of exile he was himself wronged and defrauded, and was at last forced to find safety in flight; and he reaped a second harvest, as the evils of his own character were seen to crop out in his sons -- all but too true a picture of the retributions of human life. Back to text
Great Controversy 616.002
Jacob's company, unarmed and defenseless, seemed about to fall helpless victims of violence and slaughter. And to the burden of anxiety and fear was added the crushing weight of self-reproach, for it was his own sin that had brought this danger. His only hope was in the mercy of God; his only defense must be prayer.Yet he leaves nothing undone on his own part to atone for the wrong to his brother and to avert the threatened danger. So should the followers of Christ, as they approach the time of trouble, make every exertion to place themselves in a proper light before the people, to disarm prejudice, and to avert the danger which threatens liberty of conscience. Back to text
Word to the Little Flock 012.006
Then Jesus will have the sharp sickle in his hand, (Rev. 14:14) and then the saints will cry day and night to Jesus on the cloud, to thrust in his sharp sickle and reap. This, will be the time of Jacob's trouble, (Jer. 30:5-8) out of which, the saints will be delivered by the voice of God. Back to text
Patriarchs & Prophets 201.002
When Christ shall cease His work as mediator in man's behalf, then this time of trouble will begin. Then the case of every soul will have been decided, and there will be no atoning blood to cleanse from sin.When Jesus leaves His position as man's intercessor before God, the solemn announcement is made, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." Revelation 22:11.
Then the restraining Spirit of God is withdrawn from the earth. As Jacob was threatened with death by his angry brother, so the people of God will be in peril from the wicked who are seeking to destroy them. And as the patriarch wrestled all night for deliverance from the hand of Esau, so the righteous will cry to God day and night for deliverance from the enemies that surround them. Back to text
Education 147.003
Jacob in his distress was not overwhelmed. He had repented, he had endeavored to atone for the wrong to his brother. And when threatened with death through the wrath of Esau, he sought help from God. "Yea, he had power over the Angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication." "And He blessed him there." Hosea 12:4; Genesis 32:29. In the power of His might the forgiven one stood up, no longer the supplanter, but a prince with God. He had gained not merely deliverance from his outraged brother, but deliverance from himself. The power of evil in his own nature was broken; his character was transformed. Back to text
Signs of the Times 1886-11-18.007
But how shall this victory over the world be obtained? Go to your closet, dear reader, and there plead with God: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Be in earnest; be sincere; Jacob-like, wrestle in prayer. Do not leave your closet until you feel strong in God. Remain until unutterable longings for salvation are awakened in your heart, and the sweet evidence is obtained of pardoned sin. Then when you leave your closet, watch; and so long as you watch and pray, the grace of God [the strength to overcome temptation] will appear in your life.
ST.1886-11-18.008
In no case neglect secret prayer; for it is the soul of religion. If you expect salvation, you must pray. Take time. Be not hurried and careless in your prayers. Intercede with God to work in you a thorough reformation, that the fruits of the Spirit may dwell in you, and that, by your godly life, you may shine as a light in the world. When you sincerely feel that without the help of God you perish, when you pant after him as the hart panteth after the water-brooks, then will the Lord strengthen you speedily, and you will have that peace that passeth understanding. Back to text
Jacob "had power over the Angel, and prevailed." Hosea 12:4. Through humiliation, repentance, and self-surrender, this sinful, erring mortal prevailed with the Majesty of heaven. He had fastened his trembling grasp upon the promises of God, and the heart of Infinite Love could not turn away the sinner's plea.
The error that had led to Jacob's sin in obtaining the birthright by fraud was now clearly set before him. He had not trusted God's promises, but had sought by his own efforts to bring about that which God would have accomplished in His own time and way. [He had not "walked" correctly with God.] As an evidence that he had been forgiven, his name was changed from one that was a reminder of his sin, to one that commemorated his victory. "Thy name," said the Angel, "shall be called no more Jacob [the supplanter], but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed."
Jacob had received the blessing for which his soul had longed. His sin as a supplanter and deceiver had been pardoned. The crisis in his life was past. Doubt, perplexity, and remorse had embittered his existence, but now all was changed; and sweet was the peace of reconciliation with God. Jacob no longer feared to meet his brother. God, who had forgiven his sin, could move the heart of Esau also to accept his humiliation and repentance. Back to text
Patriarchs & Prophets 198.002
While Jacob was wrestling with the Angel, another heavenly messenger was sent to Esau. In a dream, Esau beheld his brother for twenty years an exile from his father's house; he witnessed his grief at finding his mother dead; he saw him encompassed by the hosts of God. This dream was related by Esau to his soldiers, with the charge not to harm Jacob, for the God of his father was with him.
PP.198.003
The two companies at last approached each other, the desert chief leading his men of war, and Jacob with his wives and children, attended by shepherds and handmaidens, and followed by long lines of flocks and herds. Leaning upon his staff, the patriarch went forward to meet the band of soldiers. He was pale and disabled from his recent conflict, and he walked slowly and painfully, halting at every step; but his countenance was lighted up with joy and peace.
PP.198.004
At sight of that crippled sufferer, "Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept." As they looked upon the scene, even the hearts of Esau's rude soldiers were touched. Notwithstanding he had told them of his dream, they could not account for the change that had come over their captain. Though they beheld the patriarch's infirmity, they little thought that this his weakness had been made his strength. Back to text
Some other times of wrestling with God
2T.110.001
Brother V, I was shown that you had a proud heart, and when you thought your writings were slighted at the Review office, your pride was touched, and you commenced a warfare which has been like Saul's kicking against the pricks. You have joined hands with those who turn the truth of God into a lie. You have strengthened the hands of sinners and opposed the counsel of God against your own soul. You have been warring against that of which you had no knowledge. You have not known what work you were doing.I saw your wife wrestling with God in prayer, her faith firmly grasping you and at the same time fixed upon the throne, pleading the never-failing promises of God. Her heart has ached as she has seen you persisting in your warfare against the truth.
I was shown that you were doing this ignorantly, blinded by Satan. While engaged in this warfare you were not increasing in spirituality and devotion to God. You had not the witness that your ways pleased God. You had a zeal, but not according to knowledge. You had no experience in my calling, had scarcely seen me, and had no knowledge of my work.
5T.162.001
Brethren and sisters, have you forgotten that your prayers should go out, like sharp sickles, with the laborers in the great harvest field? As young men go forth to preach the truth, you should have seasons of prayer for them. Pray that God will connect them with Himself and give them wisdom, grace, and knowledge. Pray that they may be guarded from the snares of Satan and kept pure in thought and holy in heart. I entreat you who fear the Lord to waste no time in unprofitable talk or in needless labor to gratify pride or to indulge the appetite. Let the time thus gained be spent in wrestling with God for your ministers. Hold up their hands as did Aaron and Hur the hands of Moses.
6T.066.001
Let there be far more wrestling with God for the salvation of souls. Work disinterestedly, determinedly, with a spirit never to let go. Compel souls to come in to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Let there be more praying, believing, and receiving, and more working together with God.
Great Controversy 156.001
In making this request, Luther moved wisely. His course convinced the assembly that he did not act from passion or impulse. Such calmness and self-command, unexpected in one who had shown himself bold and uncompromising, added to his power, and enabled him afterward to answer with a prudence, decision, wisdom, and dignity that surprised and disappointed his adversaries, and rebuked their insolence and pride.The next day he was to appear to render his final answer. For a time his heart sank within him as he contemplated the forces that were combined against the truth. His faith faltered; fearfulness and trembling came upon him, and horror overwhelmed him. Dangers multiplied before him; his enemies seemed about to triumph, and the powers of darkness to prevail. Clouds gathered about him and seemed to separate him from God. He longed for the assurance that the Lord of hosts would be with him. In anguish of spirit he threw himself with his face upon the earth and poured out those broken, heart-rending cries, which none but God can fully understand.
"O almighty and everlasting God," he pleaded, "how terrible is this world! Behold, it openeth its mouth to swallow me up, and I have so little trust in Thee. . . If it is only in the strength of this world that I must put my trust, all is over. . . . My last hour is come, my condemnation has been pronounced. . . . O God, do Thou help me against all the wisdom of the world. Do this, . . . Thou alone; . . . for this is not my work, but Thine. I have nothing to do here, nothing to contend for with these great ones of the world. . . . But the cause is Thine, . . . and it is a righteous and eternal cause. O Lord, help me! Faithful and unchangeable God, in no man do I place my trust. . . . All that is of man is uncertain; all that cometh of man fails. . . Thou hast chosen me for this work. . . . Stand at my side, for the sake of Thy well-beloved Jesus Christ, who is my defense, my shield, and my strong tower."-- Ibid., b. 7, ch. 8.
An all-wise Providence had permitted Luther to realize his peril, that he might not trust to his own strength and rush presumptuously into danger. Yet it was not the fear of personal suffering, a dread of torture or death, which seemed immediately impending, that overwhelmed him with its terror. He had come to the crisis, and he felt his insufficiency to meet it. Through his weakness the cause of truth might suffer loss. Not for his own safety, but for the triumph of the gospel did he wrestle with God. Like Israel's, in that night struggle beside the lonely stream, was the anguish and conflict of his soul. Like Israel, he prevailed with God. In his utter helplessness his faith fastened upon Christ, the mighty Deliverer. He was strengthened with the assurance that he would not appear alone before the council. Peace returned to his soul, and he rejoiced that he was permitted to uplift the word of God before the rulers of the nations.
With his mind stayed upon God, Luther prepared for the struggle before him. He thought upon the plan of his answer, examined passages in his own writings, and drew from the Holy Scriptures suitable proofs to sustain his positions. Then, laying his left hand on the Sacred Volume, which was open before him, he lifted his right hand to heaven and vowed "to remain faithful to the gospel, and freely to confess his faith, even should he seal his testimony with his blood."-- Ibid., b. 7, ch. 8.
When he was again ushered into the presence of the Diet, his countenance bore no trace of fear or embarrassment. Calm and peaceful, yet grandly brave and noble, he stood as God's witness among the great ones of the earth. The imperial officer now demanded his decision as to whether he desired to retract his doctrines. Luther made his answer in a subdued and humble tone, without violence or passion. His demeanor was diffident and respectful; yet he manifested a confidence and joy that surprised the assembly.
Great Controversy 621.002
The season of distress and anguish before us will require a faith that can endure weariness, delay, and hunger--a faith that will not faint though severely tried. The period of probation is granted to all to prepare for that time. Jacob prevailed because he was persevering and determined. His victory is an evidence of the power of importunate prayer. All who will lay hold of God's promises, as he did, and be as earnest and persevering as he was, will succeed as he succeeded. Those who are unwilling to deny self, to agonize before God, to pray long and earnestly for His blessing, will not obtain it. Wrestling with God--how few know what it is! How few have ever had their souls drawn out after God with intensity of desire until every power is on the stretch. When waves of despair which no language can express sweep over the suppliant, how few cling with unyielding faith to the promises of God.
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