In order to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives, we must depend on Him, give Him everything, including our pride. We must focus on him—through prayer, studying His Word, and obedience. God desires to change us and if we need to go through a trial to draw our focus to Him, then He is willing to allow one. In this circumstance, God had Jacob all alone, and it was time to do work in his life. God desires to get us alone and bring change in us as well.
Jacob’s name means supplanter, deceiver. God has a process that at times may seem unfair, uncertain, or unending, but it has a good purpose if we respond to it in a Godly way. Jacob didn’t need to supplant Esau if he trusted God and allowed him to fulfill His promise in His way and in His time. This could have also saved him years of running away from his brother.
Jacob had complete reliance on himself.God revealed His plan to bless Jacob and be with him. Jacob appreciated that and believed that. And even promised that if God would do that then God would be his God. The problem was that even though Jacob knew God,
Jacob wasn’t to the point where he was fully depending on God. He was not yet a man of faith.
22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.
Genesis 32:22-23 NIV
Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.
Genesis 32: 24 NKJV
God had to get Jacob alone before He dealt with him. While all the activity of the huge entourage surrounded Jacob, he could busy himself with a thousand different tasks. Once he was alone, God commanded his attention. Jacob didn’t start out wanting anything from God; God wanted something from him. God wanted all of Jacob’s proud self-reliance and fleshly scheming, and God came to take it, by force if necessary.
Genesis 32: 25-26 NKJV| 5 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. 26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
God is greater than us, and so we cannot conquer much of anything until He conquers us. Jacob’s enemy was not outside but it was his own carnal, fleshly nature, which needed to be conquered by God.
27 So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” 28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.
Genesis 32: 27-29 NKJV
Israel means God rules. When you battle with God you only win by losing and by not giving up until you know you have lost. The blessing was the passing of the old (Jacob) life and the coming of a new (Israel) life.
30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” 31 Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip.
Genesis 32:30-31 NKJV
The Lord can use our personal hurts to push us to depend on Him and His promises. God wanted to change Jacob through his difficulties. God had always been wrestling with Jacob, seeking to get his will done in his life. Similarly, God has always been lovingly wrestling with us, seeking our submission to His will and kingdom.
