Did Jacob really defeat God in a night-long wrestling match?

Question

The word of the Lord is pretty clear:
"During the night. . . Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him there till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not throw Jacob, he struck him in the hollow of thigh, so that Jacob's hip was dislocated as they wrestled. The man said, "Let me go, for day is breaking," but Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." . . . The man said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you strove with God and with men, and prevailed.". . . Jacob called the place Peniel, "because" he said, "I have seen God face to face and my life is spared." (Genesis: 32: 22 - 32).
I've been perplexed over the years about how best to explain this passage. Am I missing something? Perhaps you could explain to me please. Thanks.

I get your points but I'd stupidly pursue, if "the man" was an angel or God's representative, he must be the same one who again blessed Jacob as he came back from Paddan-aram and repeated that "Israel shall be your name." (Gen.35:9-14) Why does the angel of God gladly declares, "I am God Almighty" in one passage but in another he rudely asks, "Why do you ask my name?"
Jacob had met "angels of God" earlier (Gen. 32:1-2) anyway.
Why now when one "angel" sneaks on him at night, he refuses adamantly to identify himself as "Angel of God" or "God Almighty"!!

If the events of this passage are simply meant not meant to be "read literally," then I wonder where the literal ends and the metaphorical begins!!
Some of the web pages do not open, some are blank.
Thanks.

Answer 1

It could not literally have been God that was wrestling with Jacob, since "no man has ever seen God" (John 1:18; Exodus 33:20) Rather, an angel, sent by God, acted as a representative.

Another Bible scripture that is of interest in this subject is Exodus 4:16. In that scripture, God is sending Moses to act as a representative to Pharoah. Likewise, God says to Moses "you will serve as God to him [Pharoah]". Since Moses was going to be a spokesperson and a representative of God, it would be as if Pharoah would be talking to God himself. In the same way, the angel that grappled with Jacob was acting as God's representative. It were as if Jacob was seeing God "face to face", much like Pharoah was in a sense.

This event is a true Biblical account. Though some people hold it only as a legend, the account names true-to-life people. Jacob is the forefather of the Biblical nation of Israel (Jacob as you mentioned was renamed Israel and all of his descendents are referred to as Israelites, or simply as Israel).

If the angel had wanted to, he could have very easily beaten Jacob. In fact, the Bible records a time when God sent a single angel to destroy 185,000 warriors who were coming up against God's people (Isaiah 37:36). So one person, namely Jacob, could have been no match for an angel. Rather, the angel was allowing Jacob an opportunity to show how much he really wanted to be blessed. So the angel wasn't trying to kill Jacob, but was making Jacob earn the blessing.

I don't understand your statements. It's quite simple. The Bible clearly states that it's not possible for a man to see God Almighty. Therefore, as often occured in the Scriptures, and angelic representative of God is referred to as God Almighty, because of his being a representative. This happened with with Jacob and the samething happened with Lot when he was visited by angels. It's not a matter of taking something literal or metaphorically.

Answer 2

You are right, the Bible is quite clear. When it actually identifies the entity that Jacob wrestled with it identifies it as a "man". Thus, we can conclude that it was not G-d. You assertion that the entity said "I am G-d Almighty" is false.
If it was really G-d, then it would have said so explicitely. And, if it was a "man" then the name Peniel and Israel would not make specific sense. What does make sense is that it was an angel which are somtimes identified as "men". Since an angel is the representative of G-d, the name is descriptive of that, but not literal of that.

Answer 3

Jacob prevailed over God because God finally gave in to Jacob's request for a blessing. He didn't pin God in a full-nelson, he just kept fighting until God realized that nothing would make Jacob give up. I mean, God broke the guy's leg, and dislocated his hip, and he still wouldn't quit. It takes a lot of inner strength, and a really high pain threshold, to keep fighting injured like that. The lesson is that you need to keep praying, keep striving for His glory, and keep on seeking Him, and you WILL be rewarded.

Answer 4

Jacob struggled with a REPRESENTATIVE of God. Not God himself.
(John 1:18) No man has seen God at any time; the only-begotten god who is in the bosom [position] with the Father is the one that has explained him.
(Exodus 33:20) And he added: “You are not able to see my face, because no man may see me and yet live.”

It could not have been God face to face.
Even Moses was warned to cover his face when God passed by.

Answer 5

You've just stumbled upon why Israel still exists today even while existing in the middle of the most evil region in the World.
Countless times someone has meant them destruction and failed. This is due to Jacobs Blessing. They continue to strive with man and prevail....

Answer 6

Jacob's victory was that he would not let go of God till he got the blessing. But he also walked with a crutch for the rest of his life. God's victory was that he took a liar and a cheat like Jacob and turned him into a man of faith. He had to break his leg to do it, but he got it done.

Answer 7

In what form God came to fight Jacob? .. A Man,,, right!...If God can come to Earth in a human form then what is wrong with hindus? when they say that there gods came as humans?
in this satatement "GOD" said Let me go, for day is breaking,
Is God THAT helpless?? that he has to ask from a human to let him go?
And right after that Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." ... If a human can make "God" work on his conditions then "that God" is NOT a God which is ALL MIGHTY!

Answer 8

This Angel surely wrestled with Jacob for the purpose of him to conquer and be triumphant with God to be certain that him to Spiritually grow to be ISRAEL !... Genesis 32:28 And he pronounced, Thy call would be referred to as not greater Jacob, yet Israel: for as a prince you have potential with God and with adult adult males, and function prevailed. it is likewise considered interior the hot testomony as this..... John a million:12 yet as many as won him, to them gave he potential to grow to be the sons of God, even to them that have confidence on his call:

Answer 9

There`s a wide range of resources on this passage here:

http://www.textweek.com/pentateuch/gen32.htm

Answer 10

He didn't defeat God, but he went the distance, as Rocky would say.
He didn't give up.