Jacob Wrestles God (Have you ever felt like this)

Introduction

            For the interpretive question this week I have chosen to explore who the "man" was that Jacob wrestled with in Genesis 32:24. There are two main approaches as to the identification of this "man". First you have those out there who believe that this "man" was special messenger of God(angel), empowered with the full authority of God. Second you have those who believe that the "man" was the preincarnate Christ. This essay will briefly explore both options and also identify which of the two views that this author most closely associates with as the identification of the "man" talked about in Genesis 32.

Davis Commentary:

 It appears in the text that Davis appears to be one of the ones who believes that this "man" is a special messenger sent from God empowered with Gods authority. Davis holds to this theory on the basis that in Hosea 12:4 seems to point to this identification of the "man" that Jacob wrestled with.[1] On initial look if you look at Hosea 12:4 you will see that Hosea does identify this person as an angel.

                        Jacob Struggled with the Angel and prevailed[2]

            If this is the basis for some believing that this person that Jacob struggled with is an Angel, then more investigation needs to be done than just one portion of the verse.

Bible Book Commentaries

            In this commentary I was able to find a supporter of the other theory that this person that Jacob wrestled was in fact the preincarnate Christ. This commentary makes some very strong arguments for the preincarnate Christ. First off, Jacob had been fighting God his whole life up until this point, one thing as Christians that we do know is that unless we make the decision to accept Christ we will continue to be in a battle with Him until we give in. This commentary explains that God finally took into His own hands the attitude adjustment that Jacob needed at this juncture in his life. Not that He forced Jacob to make the decision, because had that been the case it would not have gone on all night. Just that He encouraged Jacob by physically and spiritually fighting with Jacob all night long. The author of this commentary also points out that only God/Christ can do that which leads him to believe that this "man" was actually the second person in the trinity Jesus preincarnate.[3]

Mathew Henry

             This commentator once again points towards the preincarnate Christ as the identity of the "man" that Jacob wrestled with. This commentator though relates this wrestling match to prayer. This seems to be a logical conclusion for anyone who has ever prayed over something and did not like the answer that they received from Him. Henry states "Nothing requires more vigour and unceasing exertion than wrestling. It is an emblem of the true spirit of faith and prayer. He will have a blessing, and had rather have all his bone put out of joint than go away without one."[4] This is a great illustration of just what Jacob might have been going through. Maybe not so much a physical struggle with a human being but a spiritual struggle with God Himself.

My Interpretation

            I like to try and stick to the facts when dealing with scripture. I myself agree with the view that this was not an special messenger sent from God but it was God Himself that Jacob wrestled with. In scripture we see that whenever a member of the Trinity is mentioned they are mentioned in the superior form indicated by a capital letter. If you look further into the text of Genesis 32 you will notice that every time this person was mentioned he was announced in this superior form.

                        When the man saw that He could not defeat him, He struck Jacobs hip socket as they wrestled and dislocated his hip. Then He said to Jacob "Let Me go for it is daybreak."[5]

                        Jacob said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me."[6]

            Another fact that leads me to agree with this man being God Himself is that in the Bible only a member of the Trinity renamed people. We see this throughout the Bible starting in Genesis when God renames Abram to Abraham, and see it later on in the New Testament when Jesus renamed Saul to Paul. There are so many instances of renaming people by God/Christ that it is to numerous to list in this essay. The fact of the matter is that only God/Christ has the authority to rename someone biblically. We see that this person renames Jacob (which means heel catcher or deceiver) to Israel (which means God's fighter or may God strive)[7].

            The final fact and probably most important fact in this writers eyes for God being the true identity of this person comes from Jacob himself. Jacob symbolically identifies God as the person he wrestled with by naming the place where this struggle took place Peniel (which means I have seen God face to face).[8]

                                    Jacob then named the place Peniel, "For I have seen God face to face," he said, "and I have been delivered."[9]

Bibliography

Bible Book Commentaries. http://www.biblebookofgenesis.com/Genesis32-36.html (accessed July 24, 2012).

Davis, John. Paradise to Prison: Studies in Genesis. Salem: Sheffield Publishing Company, 1998.

Henry, Matthew. Christ Notes. http://christnotes.org/commentary/php?com=mhc&b= 1&c=32 (accessed July 26, 2012).

---

[1] Davis, John. Paradise to Prison: Studies in Genesis. Salem: Sheffield Publishing Company, 1998. Pg 255

[2] Hosea 12:4a

[3] Bible Book Commentaries. http://www.biblebookofgenesis.com/Genesis32-36.html (accessed July 24, 2012).

[4] Henry, Matthew. Christ Notes. http://christnotes.org/commentary/php?com=mhc&b= 1&c=32 (accessed July 26, 2012).

[5] Genesis 32:25-26

[6] Ibid. 27

[7] Davis, John. Paradise to Prison: Studies in Genesis. Salem: Sheffield Publishing Company, 1998. Pg 255

[8] Davis, John. Paradise to Prison: Studies in Genesis. Salem: Sheffield Publishing Company, 1998. Pg 255

[9] Genesis 32:30