Genesis 32:22-32 (ESV)

The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the sinew of the thigh.

Jacob has separated from his whole family and is awaiting a meeting with his brother who had plotted to kill him. He may have expected a fitful, sleepless night, but not this way.

As if he doesn’t have enough trouble already, Jacob ends up in an all-night wrestling match with some unknown character. This is the last thing he needs – or so he thinks. The whole thing is a complete surprise. Jacob’s night is trashed. And to make matters worse, he sustains a significant injury. When he finally sees Esau, Jacob will look like he’s been hit by a bus.

Jacob is now broken beyond belief. He knows darn well this isn’t random; it has to be God’s doing. Though he’s too injured to wrestle, Jacob clings to this mysterious man and insists on a blessing. This is nuts – unless the man really is God – as He now has total control and can inflict further injury on Jacob.

He asks Jacob his name and then changes it to Israel, which means, “He strives with God.” This confirms Jacob’s suspicion, but he asks the man his name anyway. He doesn’t get a straight answer, but he does get the blessing.

Jacob’s a new man – who can barely walk.

Once again, God’s plan involves bringing someone down. Here he disables Jacob at what looks like the worst possible moment.

This sounds like a version of Murphy’s Law. There is something funny about the way things go wrong. Disasters are not random, because there is a mind and a purpose behind them. The Bible is constantly hammering this lesson.

It’s the key to peace. If you can’t see God’s hand in things, most of the beauty in life is invisible.

The goal in life is not to do good works; it’s to know God. Seek Him first in your prayers.

The weekly study guides, which include discussion questions, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies