Within the early morning hours by the Jabbok River, Jacob wrestled with a divine being in a battle that has intrigued theologians for hundreds of years. An article by Needing God suggests this encounter serves as a mannequin for believers to wrestle with God in their very own lives. However is that this interpretation trustworthy to the textual content, or does it overlook deeper truths about divine encounters and transformation?
I’ve written earlier than about the dangerous behavior of studying Bible tales inappropriately, however this can be a good instance of how to not learn a Bible story. Like many well-intentioned Bible readers, the writer assumes that the actions of the characters within the story are to be emulated and the occasions of the story ought to type our expectations of how God operates with us. For instance, the writer from the above-mentioned article notes the next:
God will meet you in your anguish, worry, and uncertainty. However he could not meet you in the way in which you anticipate or need. Your best ally could present up taking a look at first like your adversary, inciting you to wrestle with him.
Discover the presupposed leap in deduction. The writer presupposes that this narrative teaches that we’re to wrestle with God. And, after we wrestle with God we will likely be blessed (if we wrestle lengthy sufficient). But when that is the way in which we learn narratives, why can’t the identical narrative additionally educate us that having two wives will in the end result in God’s blessing? The issue with studying the Bible this manner is you’ll be able to provide you with any theology you need!
Many have been taught that they need to endeavor to be like these within the OT (e.g., we’re to wrestle with God as a result of Jacob wrestles with God). However this concept is extraordinarily suspect.
One among my favourite counter examples is Jephthah. Jephthah is listed as a hero of religion (Heb 11:32), but in Judges 11:29-40, Jephthah makes a silly vow to sacrifice no matter comes out of his home if God offers him success. Jephthah finally ends up sacrificing his daughter (Judg 11:39-40)! Importantly, the textual content of Judges by no means speaks negatively of this motion! So, what prohibits us from following Jephthah’s instance? I imply, God even gave Jephthah the victory! Doesn’t that show God is happy with Jephthah?
Reasonably than seeing Jacob’s wrestling with God as a template for us to wrestle with God, I feel it necessary to wrestle with the small print of the textual content to reach at a correct utility.
Wrestling with God is a Refining Expertise for Jacob
Jacob’s wrestling match with God is
not a rational for us to wrestle with God. The setting and particulars of the story
make that abundantly clear.
First, Jacob had been given a singular promise by God that he would obtain the Abrahamic blessing of the Patriarchs (Gen 28:14-15). This was Jacob’s motivation to hope when he realized about Esau’s coming (Gen 32:9-12). But, although God had promised Jacob the patriarchal blessing, Jacob was nonetheless Jacob.
Jacob means “he clutches the heel” (Gen 25:26), and it got here to represent Jacob’s propensity to hunt to win blessing by means of his personal crafty and wiles (cf. Gen 27:1-40). Nevertheless, God wouldn’t be defamed by permitting anybody to assume Jacob manipulated his means into the blessing.
So, God wrestled with Jacob. He did so at night time, in order that Jacob couldn’t inform with whom he was wrestling. Jacob realized this was no pure encounter close to dawn when at a easy contact the “man” dislocated Jacob’s hip (Gen 32:25).
At that time, Jacob’s aim within the wrestling encounter modified. He not noticed this encounter from a bodily perspective, however from a religious one. He understood that his hope lay solely by means of divine blessing. He was damaged (each bodily and spiritually). So he begged for God’s blessing.
What we see is an image of Jacob’s refining. That is evident by the declaration that Jacob is not generally known as “Jacob” (i.e., one who grabs heels and works his personal means by means of life), quite, he will likely be known as “Israel” (“God fights”). Jacob has been refined and has come to know that God and solely God would be the supply of His covenant blessing. God is the one who fights for him. His ethical reformation has been full.
Modern Software
So how will we apply this passage to our lives? Reasonably than attempting to place ourselves within the story to wrestle with God, we have to take a step again and be taught the intent of the story.
The principle character is God! He’s educating Jacob (and His folks—together with us) that throughout the covenant plan He alone has the ability to perform His plan. Moreover, He alone has the correct and authority to decide on whomever or nonetheless He needs to perform it. In accordance with that, He’ll refine these whom He needs to make use of in order that they’re usable. For the remainder of his life, Israel more than likely walked with a limp as a reminder—to not wrestle with God, however to rely on God.
