Genesis 32:24-29 "Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak..."

"Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, 'Let me go, for the day is breaking.' But Jacob said 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.' So he said to him 'What is your name?' And he said 'Jacob.' Then he said 'You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.' 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" (Gen. 32:24-29 NRSV).

Question:

I have never been clear on the metaphysical interpretation of Jacob wrestling with the angel. I am always struggling to understand many things. When I read the e-mail from Unity and saw there was a place I could go for understanding the scriptures, this Jacob story popped into my mind. Thank you so much for this wonderful gift. ― D. Eckert

Comment:

BACKGROUND: Jacob has been something of a trickster all his life. He tricks his brother out of his birthright, and tricks his father out of his blessing. (True, his mother set a pretty good example in the trickery department.) He flees his brother's wrath, returns to his mother's homeland, and is himself tricked by Laban into marrying Leah instead of his intended Rachel – whom he later takes as a second wife. He flourishes, becomes wealthy – but is always aware that the unresolved issues with his brother will have to be addressed. He tricks Laban one last time out of more than his share of their flocks and takes his entire household to return to the land of his father, mother and brother. As he approaches, he receives word that his brother Esau is coming out to meet him, with many men. He sends his wives, children and servants across the river for safety, and prepares for the meeting he has long dreaded. 

COMMENT: There are several reasons why I love this story so much. First is the total confusion of pronouns. It becomes difficult to tell who is doing and saying what to whom. And that's the point. Jacob is wrestling with himself! He is confronting his own guilt and fear and anxiety about consequences for past actions. He could have stayed with his entourage and faced his brother in the morning. The fact that he recognized the need to be alone with his own shadow self indicates that he was aware and willing to face his past. (John Sanford's book The Man Who Wrestled With God is an excellent, simple and entertaining guide to the Jungian dimensions of the story.)   The second important aspect of the story is found in the line "I will not let you go unless you bless me." It's important for all of us, if we find ourselves wrestling with our own shadow selves, that we not look for the easy way out. We must hang on for the blessing; otherwise, we'll just have to do it again somewhere further down the road.   And the third key point, of course, is the name change – always a sign in the Bible that a deeply significant transition has taken place. Jacob means “supplanter” – someone who is always trying to take someone else's good – a trickster. Israel means (roughly) “the one who strives with God.” Jacob was able to achieve personal success but nothing more. Having wrestled with the angel of his own conscience, he is now Israel, and he will be the father of the Twelve Tribes.   Blessings!

Rev. Ed