Genesis 32:28, commentary and pictures

On his return to Canaan in terror of Esau's armed revenge, Jacob spent the night in anguish beyond the Jabbok wrestling until daybreak with a stranger who was Christ, the Angel of the covenant, at first unrecognized until a touch crippled his thigh. His old name recalled deceit in grasping the birthright, while the new name Israel marked him a prince with power with God and with men, given as evidence that persevering faith had prevailed and his sins were pardoned. He prevailed not by strength, talents or favor, but by humiliation, repentance, confession of unworthiness, and helpless yet unyielding clinging to the covenant promises, refusing to let go without a blessing despite pain, delay and near despair. Pardoned, he came forth a different man with self-confidence uprooted, craft giving way to truth and humble reliance, weakness joined to divine strength, and prevailing with God assuring prevailing with men so that Esau's hatred was turned to affection. That night represents the time of Jacob's trouble before Christ's return, when the righteous with no concealed sins will likewise cry day and night in self-denying, agonizing prayer, a prevailing faith that must be exercised daily now to obtain blessing, deliverance and victory over self and sin.

Night of Wrestling Context

Genesis 32:28 belongs to Jacob's night of anguish on his return to Canaan at God's command after years of exile, when tidings that Esau was approaching with armed warriors bent on revenge for the deceit over the blessing filled him with terror for his unarmed and defenseless family. His own sin had brought the danger, and remorse and self-reproach added crushing weight, driving him to seek deliverance with mercy as his only hope and prayer as his only defense. Helpless and unworthy, he learned that human help and power could not save him, but relied on God alone pleading the promise of mercy to the repentant sinner, which assured pardon and sustained him through the conflict. Yet he also left nothing undone on his own part to atone for the wrong to his brother and to avert the threatened danger, and so those approaching trouble must exert themselves to stand in proper light, disarm prejudice, and avert danger to liberty of conscience. The verse marks his coming forth a different man, with self-confidence uprooted and former craft giving way to simplicity, truth and humble reliance instead of securing blessing by human skill.

The wrestling took place when he was alone beyond the Jabbok on the plains of Peniel on his way to meet Esau and to his father's house, wrestling in prayer with the Son of God all night until break of day. On that return two hosts of heavenly angels accompanied him for protection, and the place was named Mahanaim, meaning two hosts or two camps. It was beside the Jabbok that he became a conqueror by renouncing cherished sins, and under the weight of responsibility the same struggle calls for faithfully doing every duty to win souls. Going to God there with humble believing heart and childlike clinging faith to seek guidance in perplexity brings certain help, for heaven and earth would pass before His promise fails.

The stranger with whom he wrestled in darkness till near daybreak was Christ, the Angel of the covenant, the Son of God. At first Jacob supposed Him an enemy and did not recognize God visiting to bless, until the Angel put forth divine power and by a touch crippled his thigh, revealing with whom he had been contending. That confidence Christ placed in him by inspiring persevering faith was rewarded, and his victory came with surrender to God and the help of divine agencies. Likewise one who holds fast to the Lord by faith will receive His blessing.

All night he contended with purpose unchanged even by peril, with strength nearly spent, refusing to let go without a blessing. Wounded, helpless, crippled and in pain after the divine touch stopped the wrestling, he fell weeping upon the Saviour's breast, clung with trembling grasp and would not be turned aside or cease intercession. He held on despite apparent resistance and keen pain, pleading with broken heart-rending earnestness for transformation of character and assurance that sin was pardoned. His persistence itself was inspired by the One who wrestled with him, who granted the petition of the helpless penitent soul, showing that what was vainly sought in his own strength was won by clinging to Christ's strength through self-surrender and steadfast faith.

During the long wrestling Satan accused him before the angels of God claiming right to destroy him because of his sin, endeavored to force upon him a sense of guilt to discourage him and break his hold upon God, and drove him almost to despair with knowledge that without help from Heaven he must perish. Satan also moved upon Esau to march against him, as he will in the last days stir the wicked to destroy God's people and urge accusations against them. Heavenly messengers were then sent to move upon Esau's heart, Esau was shown in a dream that God was with Jacob and ordered his soldiers not to harm him, and his purpose of hatred and revenge was changed to fraternal affection. The blessing strengthened Jacob and impressed him to meet Esau safely, for prevailing with God secured prevailing with men so he no longer feared his brother's anger because the Lord was his defense.

Meaning of New Name

The name Jacob means supplanter, recalling his sin in trying to secure the birthright by deceit instead of trusting God to fulfill His promise in His own time and way. The name Israel means a prince of God, a prince having power with God and with men, given after persevering faith prevailed in wrestling with Christ the Angel. The change from the old name to the new was evidence and assurance that his sin was forgiven, for the former name recalled his sin while the new name commemorated his victory. That victory came not by his own strength, presumption, talents or favor, but through humiliation, repentance, self-surrender, confession of weakness and unworthiness, grateful acknowledgment of mercy, and persistent trust in a covenant-keeping God and His promises at Bethel and in exile. He prevailed by clinging with trembling grasp to the covenant with his fathers, holding on until he received the long-desired blessing, peace with God and restoration to favor.

Prevailing with God was assurance that he would prevail with men, so he no longer feared to encounter his brother's anger because the Lord was his defense. His weakness and surrender marked the victory, for when he fell crippled and helpless upon the covenant Angel and halted upon his thigh, Esau's armed bands were stilled before him. In that halted weakness he later stood so that even Pharaoh bowed to receive his blessing.

To have power to prevail with God means to seek His blessing fervently and in faith as Jacob did. Those who pray in this way, not in a cold, listless and lazy manner but fervently and in faith, are accounted by Heaven as princes having power to prevail with God and with men. This promise belongs especially to those who bear the last solemn warning to the world, who by such prayer will come to places where they have seen God face to face and their life is preserved.

Israel is also the name for those who are worked by the Holy Spirit and act after the order of God, while Jacob or supplanter is the opposite name for those who work themselves under their own management and opinions. Church leaders who keep themselves in office and put common fire in place of the sacred fire of God's own kindling lose the name Israel and are no more called Israel but supplanters, because they do not know what spirit impels them to action. The description of one who had power with God and prevailed also belongs to Christ as the Prince of life and heavenly Prince, who as humanity's intercessor prayed to His Father and prevailed for Himself and His people. Now before the throne He receives and presents their petitions to the Father, continuing the intercession He made for them on earth, and His regular communion with the Father supplied strength and the Spirit for His work and for words to encourage the weary.

Way Jacob Prevailed

Jacob did not overcome by his own strength, and not by boastful presumption, talents, education, wealth or favor of men, but through humiliation, repentance, self-surrender, confession of weakness and unworthiness, grateful acknowledgment of mercy, and persevering trust in a covenant-keeping God. The change of name from one recalling sin to one commemorating victory was given as evidence that his sins were pardoned, and his prevailing with God assured that he would prevail with men. Penitent and broken and in pain beyond the Jabbok, he clung weeping to the Angel of the covenant in darkness till near daybreak, refusing to let go without blessing and fastening his trembling grasp upon the covenant with his fathers and the promises at Bethel and in exile. The greatest victories for the church or the individual are gained in the audience chamber with God, when earnest agonizing faith lays hold upon the mighty arm of power and infinite Love cannot turn away the plea.

He prevailed by humble, persistent, importunate pleading that would not faint, holding on despite apparent resistance, pain of the crippled thigh, darkness, perplexity, remorse, disability, delay, Satan's accusations and near despair. After the divine touch stopped the wrestling he was broken yet clung for help and blessing, seeking assurance of pardon with all his strength and refusing to let go without it. His perseverance in determined prayer that gained the blessing is the steadfast faith believers need, calling all to seek God in faith and humble themselves before Him. His living persevering faith, humble repentance and earnest supplication ended with blessing and assurance that his sins were pardoned.

His repentance for obtaining the birthright by fraud came before the encounter, and because he had repented he could plead for pardon, preservation of life and deliverance without being overwhelmed by hidden guilt. Those who so prevail may feel unworthy and have their sin brought to mind till nearly overcome by despair, yet they have no concealed, unconfessed sins left to reveal because they have already repented of their wrongs. Confessed sins that have been blotted out cannot be brought back to mind, while unconfessed sin would leave a person unable to trust God for deliverance in trouble. His success did not mean God approved the earlier wrongdoing, which had brought doubt, perplexity and remorse, for God does not excuse or tolerate evil.

His persistence in refusing to let go without blessing was itself inspired by the One who wrestled with him, and the confidence Christ placed in him was rewarded. What he had vainly wrestled for in his own strength was won by clinging to Christ's strength, when wounded and helpless he fell upon the Saviour's breast with purpose unchanged even by peril and would not be turned aside or cease intercession. Wrestling with God means the soul drawn out after God with intensity of desire until every power is on the stretch, laying hold of the promises with earnestness, denying self, agonizing before God, praying long and earnestly, and clinging with unyielding faith when waves of despair sweep over the suppliant. All who lay hold as he did and are as earnest and persevering will succeed as he succeeded, but those unwilling to deny self, to agonize and to pray long and earnestly will not obtain the blessing.

His agonizing struggle was tearful supplication with face upon the earth, broken heart-rending cries, pale countenances marked with deep anxiety and internal struggle, firmness and great earnestness, large drops of perspiration, and eyes directed upward to Jesus while evil angels pressed darkness around to shut out Jesus and cause distrust and murmuring. It was earnest pleading day and night without ceasing for a way of escape and deliverance, joined with deep sense of unworthiness and entire submission saying Thy will be done, continuing even when deliverance is delayed because the cup must first be drunk. Those who so wrestle with all their energies, resisting evil angels and calling with perseverance not for personal safety but for the success of truth, are guarded by angels who have charge over them and continually waft their wings to scatter darkness, giving at times a ray of light that encourages hearts and lights faces with marks of approbation. Those indifferent and careless, who do not agonize and plead and make no effort to resist and help themselves, are shut in as in a thick cloud and left by the angels.

Pardon and Changed Character

The wrestling ended with the long-desired blessing, peace with God, restoration to favor, preservation of life, and sweet evidence and assurance that sins were pardoned. That pardon did not excuse the earlier wrongdoing, which had brought doubt, perplexity and remorse, but showed that confessed wrong is forgiven and the repentant sustained by the promise of mercy to the repentant. In that hour Jacob learned that human help could not save him and that only mercy received by living, persevering faith, humble repentance and earnest supplication gives power with God.

He came forth a different man, with self-confidence uprooted and former craft and deception giving way to simplicity, truth and humble reliance on God. Cherished sins were renounced, evil in character was broken, and deliverance was gained not only from Esau but from self. He became a new man with changed heart, mind, thoughts and feelings, with forgiving love toward those who injure, peace and happiness, and victory and advancement in reformation.

Raised from feebleness, defects and sin to a prince with God, his very physical weakness showed that weakness becomes strength when dependent on God. Through connection with God human weakness is joined to divine strength, so that His power enables to overcome and His love helps reach others' hearts. That faith and prayer forms lives of high and holy purpose and noble character, steadfast in truth, right and justice for any consideration.

God does not excuse or tolerate wrongdoing, yet He does not cast off those deceived, tempted and betrayed into sin who return with true repentance. While Satan seeks to destroy them, God sends angels to comfort and protect in time of peril, His eye is upon His people and His ear listens to their cries. As Refiner He places them in furnace fire that earthliness may be consumed and they come forth as gold tried in fire perfectly reflecting Christ, His love as strong and tender in severest trial as in sunniest prosperity.

The midnight struggle was surrender of all self to God and exercise of conquering faith by which self is melted away and power with God is gained. It is struggling until He reveals self and reveals Himself, so the sinner sees in Jesus a strength and support and brightness and power never before realized. Without that surrender self remains unmelted and God is not present, but such persevering faith overcomes self and headstrong temperament, breaks down self-righteousness, converts the inmost soul and secures salvation and heirship of heaven.

Pattern of Final Trouble

Jacob's night of anguish in wrestling prayer for deliverance from Esau represents the experience of God's people in the scenes of affliction and distress called the time of Jacob's trouble shortly before Christ's return. That coming crisis is a final conflict with the image beast in which the righteous, appointed unto death and surrounded by the wicked threatening their lives, will find escape appearing impossible and must cry day and night for deliverance and endure a little longer until God manifests His power. The correspondence rests on Jacob's own situation, for because of the deception to secure his father's blessing intended for Esau he had fled for his life alarmed by deadly threats, remained many years an exile, then set out at God's command to return with wives and children and flocks and herds, and on reaching the borders was filled with terror by tidings of Esau approaching at the head of armed warriors doubtless bent on revenge while his own company was unarmed and defenseless and seemed about to fall helpless victims of violence and slaughter, with crushing self-reproach because his own sin had brought the danger, leaving mercy as his only hope and prayer as his only defense. Like him the saints will face danger conscious of need, rely on mercy, hold to promises, refuse to let go of faith, and have their faith, perseverance and confidence tested and proved while they plead earnestly and do what they can to make things right and avert harm.

Like Jacob they will feel unworthiness and review past sins until hope is nearly extinguished, yet they will have no concealed, unconfessed sins left because they have already repented of their wrongs, and for that reason they can plead for pardon and deliverance without being overwhelmed by hidden guilt. They will humbly repent, submit entirely to the will of God saying Thy will be done, hold fast to mercy and promises, and persist in earnest unceasing intercession day and night without exception, crying to God to make a way of escape if it can glorify His name and to deliver because His arm can bring salvation, even when deliverance is delayed because they must first drink of the cup and be baptized with the baptism. That painful delay exercises faith, hope and patience, and their endurance in clinging with unyielding faith and earnest determination distinguishes genuine Christians from the unprepared. While they wrestle with all their energies with pale countenances marked with deep anxiety, large drops of perspiration, eyes directed upward to Jesus, and firm great earnestness amid thick darkness as evil angels press around to shut out Jesus and cause distrust and murmuring, angels who have charge over them guard them and continually waft their wings to scatter darkness and at times give a ray of light from Jesus that encourages hearts and lights faces with marks of approbation, whereas the indifferent and careless who do not agonize and plead and make no effort to resist are shut in like a thick cloud and left.

This prevailing faith means the soul drawn out after God with intensity of desire until every power is on the stretch, denying self, agonizing before God, laying hold of promises with earnestness and perseverance, praying long and earnestly for blessing, and clinging with unyielding faith when waves of despair sweep over the suppliant. It is a faith that can endure weariness, delay and hunger and will not faint though severely tried, and it must be exercised daily now in the period of probation granted to all to prepare for the coming season of distress and anguish. All who lay hold as Jacob did and are as earnest and persevering will succeed as he succeeded and obtain the blessing, but those unwilling to deny self, to agonize and to pray long and earnestly will not obtain it. Those who exercise but little faith now are in greatest danger of falling under satanic delusions and the decree to compel the conscience, and even if they endure the test they will be plunged into deeper distress because they never made it a habit to trust in God.

The Genesis account connects with the vision of the four angels told to wait until God's servants are sealed, and with deliverance by God's voice when the saints in crisis cry out. As Satan accused Jacob before angels claiming right to destroy him for sin, endeavored to force guilt to discourage and break his hold, drove him almost to despair, moved upon Esau to march against him, and then saw heavenly messengers sent to change hatred to affection, so he will stir up the wicked to destroy God's people in the time of trouble and urge accusations against them. As Jacob's people take hold of strength and make peace with God, He enables them to stand firm and claim covenant promises. The same wrestling illustrates Luther's helpless yet believing conflict before the Diet, when like Israel in night anguish he wrestled for gospel triumph, prevailed not by human strength, and received assurance and strength that he would not stand alone, and it illustrates Moses taking hold of Angel strength and prevailing by continued pleading to hold back vengeance and secure mercy for rebellious Israel. As Jacob left nothing undone on his own part to atone for wrong to his brother and avert threatened danger, so followers of Christ as they approach the time of trouble must make every exertion to place themselves in a proper light before the people, to disarm prejudice, and to avert the danger threatening liberty of conscience.

Call to Prevailing Prayer

Jacob's all-night wrestling is the pattern for persistent prayer that lays hold of the promises and refuses to rest without a special manifestation of divine power. Such fervent, effectual prayer asks with an earnestness that will not be denied, keeps firm hold with unquestioning faith, refuses to let go without blessing, and consecrates the soul unreservedly for God's work. Prayer of this kind obtains blessings that would not otherwise be received, for God does great things for men of prayer and His power comes in answer to the prayer of faith as seen again in Jacob's experience. In days of peril men must wrestle and prevail as he did, asking for the very facilities needed to lift the standard of truth and seeking God with all the heart, and that prayer ascends where Jesus mingles His own merit as holy incense with lowly petitions so they are accepted and made wholly efficacious. In proportion to earnest humble supplication the Holy Spirit is appointed to meet need and grace is given largely to convict minds and convert souls, while heaven full of blessings awaits this demand to prepare the heart to receive power.

To prevail as a prince means to stir the whole soul to wrestle in earnest persevering pleading with the resolve not to let go except to be blessed. It means continuing in the secret closet until strength in God is felt, unutterable longings for salvation are awakened, and sweet evidence of pardoned sin is obtained, and then watching and praying continually so grace appears in victory over the world, passions, besetments and temptation. This wrestling with tears and faith in the promises is to be carried into family life, letting a bright steady light burn and leaving impressions of truth and the value of God's service reaching to eternity, bringing salvation to the household and a deep living experience of knowing God as light and peace and joy. It calls for taking time for secret prayer, examining self, testing the heart, putting forth determined effort to obtain divine aid, being divested of self and freed from satisfaction with past experience and good works unto undivided worship and new birth into fullness. The same persistence belongs to preparation for holy convocations, praying with deep heart-searching at home three times a day to find Jesus and take Him to the meeting, for without that individual home work there is no reason to expect His presence and power displayed there.

Believers are to humble themselves and intercede earnestly and persistently for the salvation of souls, faithfully doing every duty under weight of responsibility to win souls to the Saviour and never letting go. They are to hold fast to the Lord Himself for strength and efficiency in giving the warning to prepare the way of the Lord, clinging without failing or discouragement and trusting Him who is righteousness, grace and truth so He reveals Himself through human instruments converted day by day and emptied to be filled to carry oil of truth to other vessels. They are to wrestle in importunate prayer for the Holy Spirit, for fervent prayer is effective and God can turn thoughts and hearts, bringing pentecostal seasons even now. Such prayer is to follow ministers, workers, watchmen on Zion's walls, laborers in the harvest field like sharp sickles, and those weak in faith, holding up falling hands as a living church on the Lord's side treading sin underfoot. Joined with watching, working and acting, it ascends where Jesus mingles merit to make it efficacious and appoints the Spirit to convict and convert.

This wrestling is not for personal safety but for the success of truth against combined forces and powers of darkness. It comes in helplessness and anguish of spirit with face upon the earth and broken heart-rending cries only God can fully interpret, when clouds gather and faith falters before multiplying enemies, with the soul fastened upon Christ the mighty deliverer. He who so wrestles prevails and is strengthened with assurance of not standing alone before councils and rulers, for the Lord of hosts will be with him. Peace returns with rejoicing at being permitted to uphold and defend the word even to sealing testimony with blood, and realization of peril is permitted so trust is not placed in human strength and wisdom nor danger rushed into presumptuously, but the servant is prepared for the great work before him. Such wrestling maintains a good fight against evil and seeks God's favor rather than human applause, making conscientious godly men through whom God can work, who receive inspiration only God can give and then go forth to act their prayers as a spectacle to world, angels and men, going forward in the wisdom God gives.

Power to prevail is offered now to every man, woman and child through Christ and the Holy Ghost to those working with eternity in view. Man is powerless alone to do good, but through Christ and partaking of the divine nature with sanctified powers can have power with God and with men. Having living faith in God as righteousness gives power, prevailing and good courage, holding to His pledged word and trusting entirely in Jesus, continuing in prayer even with no visible answer and when tempted to think God has forgotten His own, for He gives blessing in due time though differently than expected and through means He chooses. That wrestling is earnest persevering prayer that breaks discouragement, brings light and presence, grasps promises with trembling yet holding faith until blessing, deliverance and healing of body and spirit come, ending in high praise glorifying God. Those who give themselves to God in this power become consecrated workers and channels of blessing together with God in the church, and parents are to train children to delight in working with God with enlarging opportunities and increasing power and ability, so faithful teaching fills the church with such workers; earnest men of self-control and temperance who cling constantly to Jesus become noblemen and missionaries, and clinging childlike faith seeking guidance in perplexity is never betrayed.

The same wrestling gains victory over self and sin before going out to serve others, requiring perseverance through perplexities and following the Spirit's guidance. It is done by coming to Jesus with much prayer and broken contrite heart, getting the mind off every mortal so the work is between God and the soul alone, for life and death and eternity are at stake and the foundation must be laid right on Christ rather than self and personal effort. It calls for humbling under God's mighty hand without waiting to be humbled, to be lifted in due time, examining own conduct and motives rather than condemning others, surrendering self, breaking self-righteousness, seeking instruction, and holding the work through watchfulness and reliance on wisdom God gives to learners. Backsliders likewise are to humble themselves and persist until they realize His mercy, then rejoice in triumph over darkness. Those cooperating with divine agency need not fear Satan as stronger than God, and prevailing brings light, confession with tears, removal of hatred and revenge, and purity, perfection and fruits of the Spirit.

Weak and sinful men become princes with God through faith and prayer, formed into lives of high and holy purpose, steadfast in truth, right and justice, with character reshaped by grace through living connection with Christ. Believers must wrestle with all earnestness and agony, crying after God with the whole soul to come into close connection with heaven, die to self, make Jesus the tower of strength, and reach others through God, for God has given abundant rich promises that men may have what they will asking in faith and showing faith by works. This requires a new living experience daily of trusting Jesus, confiding everything, laying open the secret soul to omnipotent God rather than man, resting the case with Him in childlike simplicity, proving Him present help and finding promised rest now. Each one, like Jacob, wrestles for deliverance while submitting to His will and recognizing unworthiness, overcoming evil besetments by watchfulness until lifted in due time.