SUBJECT:  Jacob

QUESTION:  Who wrestled with Jacob in Genesis 32?  Was it Jesus Christ (or more technically, the one who would become Jesus Christ)?

ANSWER:

Absolutely it was Jesus.  Jacob knew it and Jesus (who wrote the Bible) knew it.  Notice Genesis 32:30...

Genesis 32: 24-32

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 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 breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

27  And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

28  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.

29  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.

30  And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

31  And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

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.

 

From the commentary:

Genesis 32:24-32

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

 [There wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.] In the loneliness of the dark night Jacob was met by a man who wrestled with him.

Hebrew ['abaq], to "twist," or "wrestle," has some connection with the word [Jabbok]. After a long struggle, the unknown visitor demanded that Jacob release him. This Jacob refused to do until the stranger blessed him. The "man" asked Jacob to tell his name, which means [supplanter].

Then the stranger declared that from then on he would have a new name with a new meaning. The word Israel can be translated [he who striveth with God,] or [God Striveth, or he who persevereth"]; or, it may be associated with the word ['sar], "prince."

The "man" declared: Thou hast striven with God ... and hast prevailed. It was an assurance of victory in dealing with Esau, as well as assurance of triumphs all along the way. In the titanic struggle, Jacob came to realize his own weakness and the superiority of the mighty One who had touched him.

At the moment of yielding, he became a new man, who could receive the blessings of God and assume his place in God's plan. The new name, Israel, suggests royalty and power and sovereignty among men. He was destined to be a God-governed man instead of an unscrupulous supplanter. He had come through defeat into power. All the rest of his life he would be crippled; yet his limp would be a reminder of his new royalty. ~from Wycliffe Commentary

Note:  Changed his name to "he who striveth with God".

Notice the real moral of this whole incident:  Jacob had been a man who lived by his own wits and power.  This wrestling with Jesus showed him that he was just a weak man and if he was to ultimately succeed, he would have to rely 100% on God.  When Jesus touched his thigh and put his joint out of socket, he was without power and all he could do is hold onto and be supported by Jesus God.  That is true of us.  We are 100% reliant upon God

Notice this now:

QUESTION: Genesis 32:30 says that Jacob saw God face to face, yet 1 John 4:12 declares that no man has seen God at any time. I know the Bible does not contradict itself, but how can this be explained?

ANSWER: The context of 1 John 4 shows that John was speaking of the Father (notice verse 10). No man has seen the Father in person except Jesus. Therefore, when Jacob explained, "I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved," he could not have meant the Father. The One whom Jacob saw face to face-the One with whom he wrestled all night long-the One who blessed him and changed his name to "Israel" which means "preserver-or prevailer-with God" was that member of the God Kingdom who became Jesus Christ. It was He that was "in the beginning..." with God, and ..... was God."

 
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