A Miraculous Injury

Overwhelmed, Limping, and Greatly Blessed

(Genesis 32:22-32, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, May 24, 2015)

[22] 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. [23] He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. [24] And Jacob was left alone.

Jacob had become a very prosperous man during his years away from Canaan. But now, because of his fear of his brother, Esau, he was alone in the wilderness. Or so it seemed...

And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. [25] 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. [26] Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” [27] And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” [28] 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.” [29] 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.

The chosen son of Isaac was not entirely alone. The Lord, perhaps through angelic mediation, was with him. Yet the experience was not entirely pleasant for Jacob. He wrestled with God. What are we supposed to think of such a strange event? Even more, how are we to deal with the announcement from the Lord's messenger, or even from God Himself, that “you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed?” How could Jacob win a wrestling match with Almighty God? What was the point of this encounter? We do know this: Jacob was a different man with a new name from this moment forward. Though this experience left him injured, it was a miraculous injury and formative for more challenging sufferings in the days ahead.

[30] 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.” [31] The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. [32] 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 suffered and was blessed in this mysterious experience. The nation that would bear Jacob's new name, Israel, would know God as other people groups on the earth had not known Him, but they would often feel overwhelmed. Their relationship as the chosen nation would often leave them injured. They could remember this experience with Jacob for the centuries that would follow when they did not eat “the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket.”

Put the Word to Work: Close contact with God is not designed to be easy, but life-changing. Jacob's suffering and blessing tell a story that is revealed more powerfully in the life and death of Jesus. A wounded healer is now our glorious King (Isaiah 53:5).

Memory Verse from the Songs of Ascents—Psalm 131:1

O LORD, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.

Gospel Reading—Matthew 21:33-46 – The parable of the tenants