Genesis 32, 22 thru 29 Could you please explain?
2006-11-27 10:50:40 · 9 answers · asked by pepsiolic 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
God had a visit with Jacob (Jacob's name meant deceiver)
God tried to leave and Jacob would not allow it. So a wrestling match but not a physical one ensued. See in the culture of the time one could not leave the home of another without the hosts approval. so in essence God was trying to get Jacobs approval to leave.
Jacob would not let go of God until he was blessed. Finally God gave in and blessed Jacob changing his name from deceiver to Israel (he wrestles with God). that's holy. God blessed Him.
Jacob named the place Peniel--which means I have seen God face to face but my life was spared. It is believed that Jacob is the only one to see God face to face and live.
2006-11-27 11:12:00 · answer #1 · answered by JaimeM 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Scriptures abound with examples of those who put forth concerted efforts in seeking Jehovah. One such person was Jacob, who strenuously grappled with God’s materialized angel till dawn. As a result, Jacob was given the name Israel (Contender with God) because he “contended,” or “persisted,” “exerted [himself],” “persevered,” with God. The angel blessed him for his earnest endeavor.—Genesis 32:24-30,
In this struggle the angel touched the socket of Jacob’s thigh joint, and Jacob limped for the rest of his life—perhaps to teach him humility; a constant reminder not to be overly exalted because of his God-given prosperity or for having grappled with an angel. In commemoration of these momentous events Jacob called the place Peniel or Penuel.—Ge 32:25, 30-32.
“Your name will no longer be called Jacob but Israel, for you have contended with God and with men so that you at last prevailed.”—Genesis 32:26-28.
That intriguing dialogue was the result of a remarkable demonstration of athletic agility by 97-year-old Jacob. Though the Bible does not describe him as an athlete, he wrestled, or grappled, all night long with an angel. Why? Jacob was deeply concerned about Jehovah’s promise to his forefather—his heritage.
2006-11-27 13:31:18 · answer #2 · answered by papavero 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that is when Jacob had an encounter with a certain MAN or a 'messenger of God' [an Angel] and they struggled in a wrestling match for a bit from dawn to daybreak...
After which he was told by the Angel that his name was now "Israel" since he was able to show his power both to God [or through God's messenger] and to man, and that he won or prevailed in each case...
And during the struggle, the Angel had touched the hollow of his thigh and put it out of joint, thus, it later became a Jewish tradition not to eat the sinew which is upon the hollow of the thigh even up to now...
It might be better to verify this tradition with someone in the [Orthodox] Jewish faith though.
Peace be with you.
2006-11-27 11:13:46 · answer #3 · answered by Arf Bee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It certainly is a unique situation and happening. But, because I have come to know the Bible to be true in all its promises to me, I do believe that it happened.
God wrestled with Jacob. Jacob prevailed. God blessed Him.
God did contend with people in the past: They lost.
Gen 6:3
3 Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years."
(from New International Version)
This was 120 years before the great Flood.
But Jacob was special. He was the child of Abraham and Isaac to whom God had made great promises for the whole earth. And these promises were to be through Jacob and his descendents. Jacob had lived up to his name, the grabber. He lied, cheated and stole. Maybe that's why God wrestled with him.
After this, God changed his name. He became "Isreal" by whom the people of Isreal were named. Jacob was a forefather of fJesus through one of his sons, Judah and his descendents.
Who can understand God? We don't have to. We can just trust His word that He has called us to be His children and that He will always love us.
2006-11-27 11:09:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jacob was returning to his homeland after 20 years. Esau, his brother was coming to meet him to take his life. Jacob had been promised by God that he would be a great nation and that God would protect him. During the night, Jacob wrestled with a man (we find from scripture that this man was Christ) until the morning. This wrestling was both physical and mental. Jacob thought this man might be one of Esau's men, come to kill him. When he was touched in the thigh, Jacob knew that this was no man but a messenger from heaven. Jacob pleaded with the heavenly messenger to bless him as he had promised. Jacob was looking for assurance that he had been forgiven from his early deception of Esau. If there had been any boastful pretense in Jacob's plea, Jacob would have been destroyed instantly. However, Jacob's nature had been changed. He no longer trusted to himself to accomplish God's plan, but trusted in God and His promises. Thus, his name was changed from Jacob, which means deceiver, to Israel because he had power over God in that God can not turn away a repentent sinner.
2006-11-27 11:32:26 · answer #5 · answered by 19jay63 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on your version.
Mine says
"this book is a lie, (edit this out before publishing)"
http://flushaholybook.com
2006-11-27 10:53:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God visited Jacob.
2006-11-27 10:53:06 · answer #7 · answered by Royal Racer Hell=Grave © 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Stop taking the bible literally.
2006-11-27 10:52:34 · answer #8 · answered by Jerse 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
bible is no longer valid
2006-11-27 10:53:23 · answer #9 · answered by george p 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋