Gen. 32 : 24 Wrestling with God

[Mark]

This is to attempt an answer at Morne's question earlier, "What is the meaning of the struggle between G_D and Jacob? What is the significance of the torn sinew in the hip? What does it mean?"

First, it is worth noting that the common teaching in Judaism is that it wasn't actually Adonai that Jacob was wrestling with; rather the angel (spirit being) which represented and/or protected Esau. This may be defensible. The word Elohim, we have consistently used as speaking of Adonai (the Almighty One). Yet, it can simply mean "the Mighty Ones". The problem with this position is that it gives Esau (or his personal guardian angel) the authority to re-name Jacob to Israel.

The re-naming of Jacob is paramount in our understanding of what is going on. Jacob, the heel-catcher (one who surplants or attains by somewhat underhanded means- as in to trip an adversary as opposed to fighting him face-to-face) is caught in a position of wrestling with The Mighty One man-to-man. Up to this point, Jacob has gotten ahead by employing covert measures. Now, he wrestles with The Mighty One face to face and prevails. Such must be a powerful statement to Jacob as he sits, later, considering this. He's got what it takes to deal with his problems head-on. He doesn't need to revert to tripping his opponent.

A man's thigh is the largest powerful muscle you can get your hands on. Think about when you lift something with all your strength. When someone yells, "Put your back into it!" What he really means is "Get under it and use your thigh." Remember when Abraham placed his servant under oath? He placed his hand under his thigh: representing that he was under and attached to the power of Abraham. When The Mighty One "touched" Jacob's thigh (maybe not as gently as the English rendition may suggest), He struck Jacob in his source of power, yet Jacob, and yet Jacob continued to prevail. Here is another very thought provoking statement that Jacob (now Israel) must ponder: even in weakness he managed to prevail. This would suggest that he is not to rely on his own power but on the power and authority of Adonai given to him. This may well have affected the way Jacob responded to Esau when he at last met with him.

I hope this is helpful.

Mark

[Ruchamah]

Hi Morne, and a great qwestion!

I have recently had a lil bit of light shed on this issue of Jacob's wrestling that has certainly helped me., so i will try to share some with you:

In the passage, Jacob is fearful of meeting up with Esau, who is heading towards him with 300 men; it isnt looking like it will necessarily be a happy meeting. The last time Esau had contemplated meeting Jacob, it was to kill him!

In fear, Jacob divides his family into two camps, one for Leah and one for Rachel, saying that if Esau killed one group the other might survive.

Jacob then makes an impassioned plea to the Most High to preserve him and to deliver him from the hand of Esau. Jacob reminds G-d of the promise to *make thy seed as the sand of the sea*.

Jacob then sends presents ahead to Esau, hoping to placate any anger or any evil plans Esau may have toward him.

Sometime in the night, Jacob appears to have changed his mind about meeting Esau at all: he regathers his family into one camp and gathers his belongings and sends them across the Jabbok. In the past, Jacob was the one who fled: he ran from home rather than confront Esau and he fled from Laban secretly rather than confront him. It appears that once again, running away was on his mind.

However, the Angel of Adonai interfered in his plan and held him there: this time he would not run! And it is in this struggle with Adonai that Jacob comes face to face with himself and submits: I think that at the beginning of the wrestling match, it was Adonai holding Jacob back and by the end of the match it was Jacob hanging on, demanding the blessing.

Jacob was a changed man: Not only was his name changed, but his walk was changed. No longer would he run away in his own strength, now he would limp forward, with the sun rising upon him on a new day, in the power of Adonai.

He approaches Esau, bowing seven times before him! This is indeed a NEW Jacob!

Shalom,
Ruchamah

[Nachshon]

In addition to Mark's thoughts on the thigh, no one is really certain that the Hebrew word there means "thigh." It could mean "testicles." This gives it an entirely different significance. The testes are the "holy of holies" of a man's body, and is also probably the place that the servant put his hand to swear, hence the term "testify."
This would represent his touching the holiest part of a man's body, and swearing on it would be swearing on the most holy. As opposed to a powerful oath, it is a sacred oath.
Just another thought on the issue.

[Mark]

I would suggest, Nachson, that we are probably talking about the thigh (in light of Duet 25:11-12). And also since it is the thigh that many Jewish people refuse to eat, in commemoration of this event.

[Chaviva7]

ruchamah said:

In the past, Jacob was the one who fled: he ran from home rather than confront Esau and he fled from Laban secretly rather than confront him. It appears that once again, running away was on his mind.

However, the Angel of Adonai interfered in his plan and held him there: this time he would not run! And it is in this struggle with Adonai that Jacob comes face to face with himself and submits: I think that at the beginning of the wrestling match, it was Adonai holding Jacob back and by the end of the match it was Jacob hanging on, demanding the blessing.

Jacob was a changed man: Not only was his name changed, but his walk was changed. No longer would he run away in his own strength, now he would limp forward, with the sun rising upon him on a new day, in the power of Adonai.

He approaches Esau, bowing seven times before him! This is indeed a NEW Jacob!

Shalom,
Ruchamah

Ruch- Thank you for your insights as I read them a life lesson came through from it. First its regarding Jacob running away rather than to face his brother Esau and then again with Laban running away secretly than confronting. Much of the time its easier to run away, than to confront. What does that say about the character of Jacob at that time? Also you brought out another point about Adonai holding him back then in the end Jacob "hanging on" to Adonai asking to be blessed. How much I'd rather hang on than to run away and to receive blessings from the Most High. And the Most High holds us back when we want to jump forward in situations to "fix it" and there goes the wrestling match. It did cause Jacob to change and to approach his brother Esau humbly bowing down to him, than to fear for his life as he had previously. This was something I needed to ponder on at this time and I thank you sis for your words as they became not just a history lesson but a life one. Todah Rabah sis

Chav

[Nachshon]

mark said:

I would suggest, Nachson, that we are probably talking about the thigh (in light of Duet 25:11-12). And also since it is the thigh that many Jewish people refuse to eat, in commemoration of this event.

I'm sorry, it wasn't the testes that I read. It was the other part of male anatomy, which many Karaites refuse to eat to this day.

[Chizuk Emunah]

Glad you clarified that Nachshon, since it is forbidden for a man to touch another man there...

[Nachshon]

notzriyehudi said:

Glad you clarified that Nachshon, since it is forbidden for a man to touch another man there...

It's forbidden for a woman to grab a man there when he is fighting her husband, but I missed this other. I'm presuming it is Oral, nu?