OneYearBibleOnline Discussion

How could Jacob wrestle with God and lose?

They wrestled all night? Why? Sounds like they physically wrestled. Why didn't they just talk?

Was the other wrestler really God?!

Why would the other wrestler cripple Jacob? Is there some point?

Are there hidden meanings or symbolisms here that an average guy is supposed to miss?

Why make this so hard to understand?

To wrestle with myself, again:

Maybe I don't get many of the answers to a lot of the questions I wonder about as I have now begun reading the Bible, [yes, there are many more that I don't post here], but I am beginning to sense a pattern.

Maybe God doesn't need to "win" the wrestling match with Jacob in order to accomplish what He wants in this "episode" for Jacob, [and/or you and me], to learn. Maybe there is no "maybe" to it. Obviously, the Creator can create whatever He desires.

Maybe Jacob was the kind of guy that likes to spend all night wrestling strangers, and maybe the reason it just sounded crazy to me is because I don't know that much about Jacob's personal propensities - God did.

I've learned that God appears at times to some as angels, to some perhaps as Christ incarnate, and to some in human form. I'm not going to go further with that here, but am presently satisfied to put my faith to work on this one.

Again, the "what's-the-point" pattern seems to be that no matter what God does, He continues to mess with us in order to make us keep asking the questions that maintain our interest and lead to more thoughts, which in turn keeps us wanting to continue to wrestle and learn, which in turn leads to our own desire to wake up another day to see what's going to happen ~ and that to me is what's called HOPE!

What fun would our lives be if we knew exactly what was going to happen next? How could we maintain enough interest to even want to play if we already knew each twist and turn before we chose to take another step? What would be the meanings of "choice", "hope", "faith", and ultimately "love" if we weren't patiently challenged to "give life a try"?

Before I started reading This Book on January 1, I had already come to the conclusion that my life would be so much easier if I didn't allow myself to insist on always understanding everything ~ my desire to be more like God ~ ouch! And then, once I started reading for real, my life's desire to know it all came rumbling back.....

This experience is awesome.

humbly,
mike

How could Jacob wrestle with God and lose? - God did not lose. He, evidently, chose to wrestle with him. Eventually He touched (struck) Jacob’s hip socket. Do you think that we can assume that Jacob limped from then on?

They wrestled all night? Why? Sounds like they physically wrestled. Why didn't they just talk? - Doesn’t it seem like God has to do something drastic to get our attention sometimes? Usually it takes something physical or our pocket books before we really listen to Him.

Was the other wrestler really God? - Jacob said, “For I have seen God face to face, - -.”

Why would the other wrestler cripple Jacob? Is there some point? - Jacob had been very cunning, with his brother and with his uncle. God had to show him that he needed to depend on Him in all of his endeavors, instead of his own physical ability or his clever cunning (thinking).

Are there hidden meanings or symbolisms here that an average guy is supposed to miss? - I would like to think that this example shows us that our natural abilities are simply gifts that God allows us to use to a certain point. John 15:5, “ - - for without Me, you can do nothing.” 2 Cor. 3:5, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, - -.” He wants us to depend on Him in all things.

Why make this so hard to understand? - John 4:24, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him MUST worship in spirit and truth (realty).” Read also John 3:3-6. - Praise the Lord!