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Genesis 32b:

Reading #131  

The night of wrestling

Now we come to a very interesting time in our record.

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Genesis 32:

21 So went the present [of the animals] over before him [to Esau]: and [Jacob] 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 passed over the ford Jabbok. 23 And [then] he took them, and sent them [back] over the brook, and sent over [returned all] that he had.

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They had now reached the river Jabbok, and as night came on Jacob made the commitment for himself and his family by all of them crossing entirely over the river on to God’s ground.  This did not last long, for he soon sent his family back across the ford of the river into enemy country, while he remained alone.  This may seem strange at first, but it has a great spiritual significance for those of us who will be “alive and remain unto the coming of the LORD.” 1 Thessalonians 4:15.

In this way he placed himself alone on God’s ground between them and Esau.  He had decided to spend the rest of the night in prayer, and he desired to be by himself with God.  God could soften the heart of his brother and in Him was the patriarch's only hope. Although it was symbolically God’s country he was still in a lonely, mountainous region, the haunt of wild beasts and the lurking place of robbers and murderers.  Solitary and unprotected by any earthly means, Jacob bowed in deep distress upon the earth. It was midnight, the darkest hour.

All that made life dear to him were at a distance and depended on him while he depended on his Redeemer.

In like manner, in the last days many Christians will be separated from their loved ones by the river of death. “Sent back” beforehand into the enemy’s country, it will later be acknowledged by all that this was the result of their choice.  Like Rachel and her desire for the images, because they had a mistaken belief in God as the controller of death, they decided to pass into it.  See Hebrews 2:14.  Some will die as martyrs and join those who are pictured as being “under the altar” in Revelation 6:9 (see verse 11), while others will perish in more natural ways.  It will only be a temporary parting, for it is written:- 

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1 Thessalonians 4:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds [after the resurrection], to meet the LORD in the air: and so shall we ever be with the LORD. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 

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Had not Jacob previously repented of his sin in obtaining the birthright by fraud, God would not have been able to hear his prayer and mercifully preserve his life. So, in the time of trouble, if the people of God have unconfessed sins to appear before them while tortured with fear and anguish, they will be overwhelmed; despair will cut off their faith, and they will not have confidence to plead with God for deliverance. But while they will have a deep sense of their unworthiness, there will be no concealed wrongs to reveal. Their sins have been sent beforehand to the judgment and have been blotted out, and they cannot bring them to remembrance with any degree of guilt.  See Acts 3:19 and Zechariah 3:1-5.  What they need now is deliverance from self-help.

This judgment is needed so that the loyal angels may know who is to be resurrected to live among them, so it occurs before the second coming.

Those professed Christians who come up to that last fearful conflict unprepared will, in their despair, confess their sins in words of burning anguish, while the wicked exult over their distress. These confessions will be of the same character as was that of Esau.  Hebrews 12:14-17.  Those who make them, will lament the result of transgression, but not its guilt. They will feel no true contrition, no hatred of evil, for if they had, they would long before have given them up. They will acknowledge their sins through fear of punishment; but, like Pharaoh of old, they would return to their defiance of Heaven should the judgment be removed.  See Exodus 5:2.

Jacob's history is also an assurance that God will not cast off those who have been deceived and tempted and betrayed into sin, but who have returned to Him with true repentance. While Satan seeks to destroy this class, God will send His angels to comfort and protect them in the time of peril. The assaults of Satan will be fierce and determined, his delusions will be terrible (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12); but the LORD's eye is upon His people, and His ear listens to their cries. Their affliction is great, the flames of the furnace seem about to consume them; but the Refiner will bring them forth as gold tried in the fire.  See Zechariah 13:7-9 and Malachi 3:1-6.  Such are the terrors of the judgment: the enjoyment of it comes later.

God's love for His children during the period of their severest trial is as strong and tender as in the days of their sunniest prosperity; but it is needful for them to be placed in the furnace of fire, for their earthliness must be consumed, that the image of Christ may be perfectly reflected.  No longer just humans, they must rise above the infirmities of humanity and show forth the glory of Him that lives within.  See Colossians 1:27 and Ephesians 4:13.

Only those who can maintain such a strong and clear faith will be able to live through the universal “Jacob’s Trouble” when all human dependency is to be renounced.  Of that time it is written:

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Revelation 13:

6 And he [Satan] opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven [the angels]. 7 And it was given to him TO MAKE WAR WITH THE SAINTS, AND TO OVERCOME THEM [as Jesus was apparently overcome at Calvary, but won in the end]: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 

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This universal persecution will try the faith of the saints to the uttermost, but as Jesus assured us, “those who endure to the end will be saved.”  Matthew 24:13.  Unlike Him, they will not die but will be translated without seeing death, being “redeemed from among men”.   See Revelation 3:21-22 and Revelation 14:1-4.

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Genesis 32:

24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a Man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when He saw that He prevailed not against him, He touched [not hit] the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with Him.

26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”  And he said, “I will not let You go, except You bless me.” 27 And He said to him, “What is your name [your character]?  And he said, “Jacob [a thief or supplanter].” 28 And He said, “Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel [a prince of God – an overcomer]: for as a prince have you power with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

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In his trouble Jacob learned not to rely on man’s efforts but simply cling to the word of his Saviour and Redeemer.  To do this he had to review his life under the guidance of the Spirit.  Bitterest of all was the thought that it was his own sin which had brought this peril upon himself and his family.

With earnest cries and tears he made his prayer before God. Suddenly a strong hand was laid upon him. He thought that an enemy was seeking his life, probably Esau or one of his men, and he endeavoured to wrest himself from the grasp of his assailant. In the darkness the two struggled for the mastery. Not a word was spoken, but Jacob put forth all his strength, and did not relax his efforts for a moment.

While he was thus battling for his life, the sense of his guilt returned and pressed upon his soul and the remembrance of his past sins rose up before him, to shut him out from God. But in his terrible extremity he remembered God's promises, and his whole heart went out in entreaty for His mercy.  Physically, mentally and emotionally he was deeply involved.

The struggle continued until near the break of day, when the Stranger placed His finger upon Jacob's thigh, and he realised that he was crippled.  The Son of God did not cause the injury, He merely pointed it out to the struggling man and in this way advised him that he had not been walking with God as he should have.  The patriarch now discerned the character of his antagonist. He now knew that he had been in conflict with the Son of God, and that this was why his almost superhuman effort had not gained the victory. It was Christ, "the Angel of the covenant," who had revealed Himself to Jacob and who had matched his efforts move by move, but who had not vanquished him.

The patriarch was now disabled and suffering the keenest pain, but he would not loosen his hold. All penitent and broken, he clung to the Angel; "he wept, and made supplication" (Hosea 12:4), pleading for a blessing. He must have the assurance that his newly revealed fault (not sin) was pardoned and cleansed. 1 John 1:9.  Physical pain was not sufficient to divert his mind from this object. His determination grew stronger, his faith more earnest and persevering, until the very last.

Why?   Maybe we can look at that next week.

Bye for now, 

Ron

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