With the sermons over the past two Sunday mornings, we have considered “Jesus in the Old Testament.”  In continuing that theme, let’s briefly consider a very interesting, intriguing and somewhat curious passage – Genesis 32. 

     In Genesis 32, Jacob is making his return to his homeland which he had previously fled in fear of his brother, Esau.  Jacob, still having that fear in him, divided his possessions, servants and family into groups and sent them ahead to meet and greet Esau.  Meanwhile, “Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day” (vs 24).  Who was this man?

     Hosea made reference to this event and stated that Jacob had wrestled with an “angel” (Hos. 12:4).  Yet, careful consideration of Genesis 32 reveals that this wasn’t just “an” angel but “the angel of the LORD.”  Hence, this was Jesus that wrestled with Jacob.  It was Jesus that allowed Jacob to seemingly have the upper hand in the wrestling match.  Yet, at a specific time and with only a “touch” He disabled God’s patriarch.  At the request of Jacob, He then pronounced a prophetic blessing upon him and changed his name to Israel.  Now, notice Jacob’s response:

“And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face…” (vs 30).  Jacob – like Abraham (Gen. 22:14) and Hagar (Gen. 16:13) – understood that the encounter with the angel of the LORD was an encounter with Deity. 

     What was the purpose of this encounter?  When one looks at the life of Jacob, this event at Peniel marks a distinct turning point.  Prior to this, we see that Jacob was a man of “ups and downs” – times of deception and times of faith.  He had a number of inner struggles that caused him to “wrestle” with God.  Yet, following this wrestling match, Jacob realized that he was at the mercy of God.  After this, we find a much improved man of faith.