God’s controversy with Jacob, and Jacob’s resistance.
And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
JACOB PREVAILS IN PRAYER.
G. And he said, LET ME GO, FOR THE DAY BREAKETH.
J. And he said, I WILL NOT LET THEE GO, EXCEPT THOU BLESS ME.
G. And said unto him, WHAT IS THY NAME?
J. And he said, JACOB
G. And he said, THY NAME SHALL BE CALLED NO MORE JACOB, BUT ISRAEL: FOR AS A PRINCE HAST THOU POWER WITH GOD AND WITH MEN, AND HAST PREVAILED.
JACOB’S UNBELIEF, AND GODS ABOUNDING GRACE.
J. And Jacob asked him, and said, TELL ME, I PRAY THEE, THY NAME.
G. And he said, WHEREFORE IS IT THAT THOU DOST ASK AFTER MY NAME? and he blessed him there.
J. And Jacob called the name of the place Penuel (that is, the face of God): FOR I HAVE SEEN GOD FACE TO FACE, AND MY LIFE IS PRESERVED.
N.B.—It is commonly thought that Jacob wrestled in prayer. This, however, is altogether a mistake, this wrestling means nothing like this. God had a controversy with him because of his unbelief, and Jacob resisted Him, this is what the wrestling expresses—the action being mutual, as wrestling of necessity is.
True, Jacob did pray.—But when? not till the wrestling was over, and he was wholly disabled. Then it was that, clinging, not wrestling, he said to the Lord, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." A lame man is able to cling, but has no power to wrestle; Jacob did not get the answer he sought, till he was weak in himself, but strong in the Lord.