God’s promise to bless Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3), was continued through his son of promise, Isaac (Gen. 25:11). Isaac had twin boys; the older was Esau, the younger Jacob who came into the world holding his brother’s heel (Gen. 25:26). Jacob’s early life is characterized by schemes and struggles for blessings; his name even sounds like the Hebrew word for deceiver (Gen. 27:36). The cultural practice of primogeniture in those times meant the firstborn, Esau, was expected to receive the lion’s share of the inheritance; to him belonged the birthright and blessing. While Hebrews 12:16-17 says Esau was profane—he lost his birthright and blessing because he was not what he should have been—still Jacob’s behavior in securing these was not righteous. Aside from convincing his brother to sell his birthright for some lentils, Jacob’s deceptive efforts are put on full display in dressing up like Esau to receive the blessing from Isaac (Gen. 27). While Jacob likely knew Esau and Isaac would sort out the deception soon after, still he wanted to hear the gracious words from his father who had loved and favored his brother over him (Gen. 25:28).

The Genesis narrative goes on to show more struggles Jacob faced in achieving what he most desired. He deeply loved Rachel; however, when he had worked seven years for Laban, as the agreement to marry her stipulated, Laban gave him Leah, Rachel’s older sister, instead (Gen. 29). The trickery regarding older and younger siblings had come back to bite Jacob this time. He finally left Laban’s house secretly because of the struggles he had with his father-in-law (Gen. 31). But what Jacob faced in heading back to the land where he grew up presented the danger of a reunion with Esau who, at their last encounter, had vowed to kill Jacob (Gen. 27:41-45).

At the eve of this reunion, Jacob humbled himself before God and learned a valuable lesson. Jacob came to realize he was not worthy of the least of all the mercies and blessings God had provided (Gen. 32:10). Genesis 32 presents the strange narrative of Jacob wrestling with “a Man” until breaking of day (v. 24). In my middle school years, I did some wrestling; from personal experience I can say wrestling is an exhausting sport. Three minutes would wear me out, so I can’t imagine what wrestling all night until the break of day would be like. Add to that the prospect of wrestling someone in a higher weight class. This man in Genesis 32 was evidently God in some form; Jacob was amazed that he had such an encounter with God and lived through the ordeal (Gen. 32:30). To see God’s face in His full glory would kill a man (Ex. 33:20). God is certainly a higher weight class. His mere touch of the socket of Jacob’s hip made it out of joint (Gen. 32:25). Jacob presumably limped the rest of his life from the encounter and his descendants commemorated the event in their dietary observances (Gen. 32:31-32).

Instead of relying on his father and grandfather or his own trickery to secure a great blessing, Jacob received a tremendous blessing by his own encounter with God (Gen. 32:29). God did not have to bless Jacob; He was so much more powerful that it was a decision of His grace to fulfill the promise He made to him in Genesis 28:12-15. However, Jacob’s commitment to hold on to God even when it crushed him shows his faith, as he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” (Gen. 32:26). Jacob thought he needed his father’s love, Rachel’s love, or Laban’s approval, but the only One he truly needed was God. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, a prince with God, for he had struggled and prevailed (Gen. 32:28). We will face difficult struggles in life, but some of the greatest lessons are learned only the hard way. Whatever you are setting your heart on today, whatever you think you need to be complete, the real answer is found only in being one of God’s people, blessed as the Israel of God (Gal. 6:16), to be with Him as one of His forever (Gal. 3:26-29; 1 Thess. 4:17).