Midnight Wrestling
“Yes, he [Jacob] struggled with the Angel and prevailed; he wept, and sought favor from Him. He found Him in Bethel, And there He spoke to us - that is, HaShem G-d of hosts. HaShem is His memorable Name. So you, by the help of your G-d, return; observe mercy and justice, and wait on your G-d continually.”
Hosea 12:4-6
Introduction
- Last week we saw how Jacob anointed a Stone, and how the Stone points to Messiah, the ultimate “Bet Ek” [House of G-d].
- Our study continued this week with a focus upon Jacob. It is important to remember the focus of Jacob’s life seems to be two-fold:
- Gaining the birthright (to be heir of Abraham and Isaac)
- Gaining the blessing (to be the recipient of the Promise to Abraham and Isaac)
- How he goes about it, is the key to this week’s study.
Jacob is Heading Home
- Peace with Uncle Laban
- Big Brother Esau’s lookin’ for you Jake!
- Plan A – Split the caravan. Save ½ the family
- Jacob Prays for Deliverance – and that the children be saved
- A Good Night’s Rest
- Plan B – Presents! Gifts!
- Goats
- Lambs
- Camels
- Cattle
- Donkeys
- Another Good Night’s Rest
- Wait! Get the family safely away!!
- Back to Bed
- Gotcha!
The Dark of Night
- Genesis 29:21 – Jacob spends the dark night with a person – but in the morning is surprised that it wasn’t who he thought it was
- Jacob expected Rachel – but it turned out to be Leah
- The same thing happens again 13 years later
Jacob expected Esau – but it turned out to be…
Pinned!
- Jacob prays regarding the covenant made with Abraham – and with Isaac – and with himself. He prays to HaShem.
- Are there bookends to this encounter which resolve the wrestler’s identity and Jacob’s future?
Genesis 32:20
And you shall say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob also is behind us.’ ” For he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me. Then afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.”Genesis 33:10
Jacob said, “No, please, if now I have found favor in your sight, then take my present from my hand, for I see your face as one sees the face of G-d, and you have received me favorably.
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Did he wrestle with G-d or with man? YES!
Words and Phrases
- 27:36: Ya’akov [Jacob, or “at the heel”]: To render this “supplanter” is to take a definition from the Enemy. Jacob is NOT the supplanter. A better understanding, “taking the heel and not letting go.” – Tenacity.
- 32:24: abak [wrestle], to “bedust”. Verses 24 and 25 are the only usage in Scripture. Not the normal word for wrestle. It literally means to kick up dust. In other words: this is REAL, not a “wrestling with an issue” or “wrestling with a spiritual dilemma” etc.
- “The Creator of dust is kicking up dust
with the one He created from the dust.”
Words and Phrases
- 32:25: yarek [thigh]. Place of paternity, place of strength (sword fastened). A man’s foundation, and his hope for the future. Gen 24”2-3; Gen 46:26; Gen 47:28-29; Judges 3:16; Ps 45:3
- 32:28: Yisra’el [Israel], dispute on meaning, but this verse tells the purpose for the name: contends with man and G-d – one who prevails, at grasping “the heel”. Is 32:1: sarar, to rule.
- 32:25: naga [touch]. Gen 3:3 – Eve misquotes G-d to the serpent, “You shall not touch it…” Adam put a fence around Torah? Gen 28:12 – The ladder Jacob saw “reached” heaven.
- 32:24 bad [alone]. A relationship word. Gen 2:18; Gen 44:20; Deu 8:30; Psa 51:4
What’s Bothering Rashi?
- The defining way of reading Scripture for the Sages is found in this phrase: “What is bothering Rashi?”. Paul, Peter, and the author of Hebrews present us with the same methodology, namely that every word and phrase of Scripture is there for a reason – and when it seems to make no sense, there is a very good reason for it. Look for the seeming contradictions or oddities for some of the greatest truths.
- Rashi could not read Gen 32 and Ex 33:20 and bring the two together. How can one see the ‘Face of G-d’? This is a very real problem, and the minimizing of this by the traditional Christian approach is foolish… because the answer to the riddle is the reason the riddle is there!
- The problems are:
- G-d is infinite, and holy. Man cannot look at Him, in ANY state and live.
- G-d desires to commune with man – and man desires to commune with G-d.
- Repeatedly in Scripture we are presented with the “visible” G-d.
- Judaism evolved to the point where the “visible”
is simply explained away.
Christianity evolved to the point where the “invisible” is simply explained away. - The Biblical answer lies with visible AND invisible. Gen 32 is a case in point.
How To See His Face
- Gen 32:26; 30: Jacob has seen “His face” – but not fully, because it is not daylight. How was it that Jacob saw Him? By what merit if any?
- Num 12:8: Moses saw His face - by what merit if any? (ref verse 3)
- John 1:18: The problem: No one CAN see G-d. The solution: Yeshua reveals Him since He is in human form.
- 2Cor 4:6: The face of Yeshua = the Glory of G-d.
- Col 1:15: The visible of what is invisible. The enigma is the solution to the problem <g>.
- Heb 11:24-27: Moses saw Him… Who is invisible.
How To See His Face
- Conclusion: In the past, Jacob had contended for the promise and the blessing. When he stopped striving for something – and began to strive for Someone (G-d), He was rewarded with finding Him.
- By touching his “thigh” G-d revealed the way to see His face: first, by seeking without tiring – and by doing it in His strength (i.e. humility). The source of Jacob’s paternity and symbol of his strength became his mark… of human weakness, but Divine enablement. This is the issue behind Matt 5:3-11.
- His Name? Hosea 12:4-5 tell us who the “Angel” was – and what His Name was… HaShem. The Yod, the Hay, the Vav, and the Hay.
The Dance Parable
- How does what we learned relate to our Parable of the ‘Dance’ with Messiah?
- How can you “kick up dust” like Ya’akov [Jacob] our father?
Summary
- There is a very real problem: the infinite G-d, dwelling with finite man. It is not only a “sin” problem – it is a physical problem. To underemphasize the problem is to overlook the very real solution that G-d always planned: He would become human. Gen 32 is all about that Human Being: Messiah. And His Name is HaShem.
- To gaze upon the Person of HaShem demands we be like Ya’akov: steadfast in seeking Him… humbly depending only upon Him. Then we will be known as Yisra’el.