Jacob was preparing to meet Esau and he was greatly fearful and distressed. Jacob met angels of God and he named the place Mahanaim.
Still, Jacob was so afraid. He arranged gifts to be sent ahead to Esau. And he carefully arranged it in batches. (This is good lessons for husbands, when your wife is angry, prepare gifts in batches with some intervals, don’t give all at once).
Jacob then wrestled with a man near Jabbok, and he didn’t let go the man until the man blessed him. So the man, God, blessed him and named him Israel (the one who prevail, rule (as prince, El = God). He touched Jacob’s hip and caused him limped and as tradition Israelites do not eat socket tendon. Jacob names the place Pniel = face of God.
The story is a bit oxymoron playword puzzle. Of course God was not defeated and beaten up by Jacob. God told him he had prevailed and overcame, not by own strength and trick, but when he pleaded and depended on God.
The story is one of difficult ones to interpret. For me, it shows how fearful and depressed Jacob, despite the appearance of angels. That night, he prayed to God and reminded Him of his promise. The wrestlling incident is a story how Jacob surrendered his strength and depended on God (‘s blessings). It must be an important event for Jacob that he asked his descendants to put it into tradition.
God reminded him also that despite his natural weaknesses, he was now crowned as a victor, prince, overcomer – Israel. However if we notice, the bible continued the use of Jacob’s name, as a reminder how much God’s grace is overflowed to the weak, fearful, distressed one, which was Jacob.
And to us, the weak ones.
===
My son protested why his name is Jacob, meaning supplanter, and why not the new name – Israel. I explained to him, the bible keeps using Jacob, as a reminder of the grace for the weak.
Add Comment