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Book of Genesis - Outline
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Genesis 32: 24 - 30 - Jacob's night of anguish
| Jacob wrestles with God |
| Genesis 32: 24 - 30 ( King James Version ) |
| And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. |
| Verse 25 > 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. |
| Verse 26 > And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. |
| Verse 27 > And he said unto him, What [is] thy name? And he said, Jacob. |
| Verse 28 > 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. |
| Verse 29 > And Jacob asked [him], and said, Tell [me], I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore [is] it [that] thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. |
| Verse 30 > And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. |
| Genesis 32: 24 - 30 ( New International Version ) |
| So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. |
| v. 25 > When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man |
| v. 26 > Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." |
| v. 27 > The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered. |
| v. 28 > Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." |
| v. 29 > Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there. |
| v. 30 > So Jacob called the place Peniel saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and my life was spared." |
| Text Quoted in Spirit of Prophecy |
| Jacob's night of anguish, when he wrestled in prayer for deliverance from the hand of Esau (Genesis 32: 24-30), represents the experience of God's people in the time of trouble. Because of the deception practiced to secure his father's blessing, intended for Esau, Jacob had fled for his life, alarmed by his brother's deadly threats. After remaining for many years an exile, he had set out, at God's command, to return with his wives and children, his flocks and herds, to his native country. On reaching the borders of the land, he was filled with terror by the tidings of Esau's approach at the head of a band of warriors, doubtless bent upon revenge. Jacob's company, unarmed and defenseless, seemed about to fall helpless victims of violence and slaughter. And to the burden of anxiety and fear was added the crushing weight of self-reproach, for it was his own sin that had brought this danger. His only hope was in the mercy of God; his only defense must be prayer. Yet he leaves nothing undone on his own part to atone for the wrong to his brother and to avert the threatened danger. So should the followers of Christ, as they approach the time of trouble, make every exertion to place themselves in a proper light before the people, to disarm prejudice, and to avert the danger which threatens liberty of conscience. {GC 616.2} |
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Jacob, in the great crisis of his life, turned aside to pray. He was filled with one overmastering purpose--to seek for transformation of character. But while he was pleading with God, an enemy, as he supposed, placed his hand upon him, and all night he wrestled for his life. But the purpose of his soul was not changed by peril of life itself. When his strength was nearly spent, the Angel put forth His divine power, and at His touch Jacob knew Him with whom he had been contending. Wounded and helpless, he fell upon the Saviour's breast, pleading for a blessing. He would not be turned aside nor cease his intercession, and Christ granted the petition of this helpless, penitent soul, according to His promise, "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me." Isaiah 27:5. Jacob pleaded with determined spirit, "I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me." Genesis 32:26. This spirit of persistence was inspired by Him who wrestled with the patriarch. It was He who gave him the victory, and He changed his name from Jacob to Israel, saying, "As a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." Genesis 32:28. That for which Jacob had vainly wrestled in his own strength was won through self-surrender and steadfast faith. "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4. {MB 144.1}
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| The young would not be seduced into sin if they would refuse to enter any path save that upon which they could ask God's blessing. If the messengers who bear the last solemn warning to the world would pray for the blessing of God, not in a cold, listless, lazy manner, but fervently and in faith, as did Jacob, they would find many places where they could say: "I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." Genesis 32:30. They would be accounted of heaven as princes, having power to prevail with God and with men. {GC 622.3} |
| I saw that the four angels would hold the four winds until Jesus' work was done in the sanctuary, and then will come the seven last plagues. These plagues enraged the wicked against the righteous; they thought that we had brought the judgments of God upon them, and that if they could rid the earth of us, the plagues would then be stayed. A decree went forth to slay the saints, which caused them to cry day and night for deliverance. This was the time of Jacob's trouble. [SEE GENESIS 32.] Their all the saints cried out with anguish of spirit, and were delivered by the voice of God. The one hundred and forty-four thousand triumphed. Their faces were lighted up with the glory of God. {CET 100.3} |
| Patient, conscientious teachers are needed to arouse hope and aspiration in the youth, to help them to realize the possibilities lying before them. Teachers are needed who will train their students to do service for the Master; who will carry them forward from one point to another in intellectual and spiritual attainment. Teachers should strive to realize the greatness of their work. They need enlarged views; for their work, in its importance, ranks with that of the Christian minister. With persevering faith they are to hold to the Infinite One, saying as did Jacob, "I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me." Genesis 32:26. {CT 498.2} |
| Jacob was ensnared. He defrauded his brother of his birthright. As he wrestled with Christ, his sins came up before him. And the angel wrestled with him and said, "Let Me go," and Jacob said, "I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me" (Genesis 32:26). {FW 75.1} |
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