Pio, tell us about Jacob wrestling the angel

Had to change his name afterwards

quote:

---

Jacob wrestling the angel

---

Ohh, one of my favorites!

From the study notes (click on the blue 56)...

quote:

---

The verb translated 'wrestled' sounds in Hebrew like the names “Jacob” and “Jabbok.” In this way the narrator links the setting, the main action, and the main participant together in the mind of the reader or hearer.

---

From rabbi wasp...

Jacob, like so many in the Bible, is a very imperfect character. By God’s direction he has finally received courage to act, but he’s still afraid.

Unsure of what to do and scared, Jacob prays. He tells God that he doesn’t deserve all the love and loyalty that God has continued to show him, because he hasn’t had a perfect life. He asks God to enable him, by his grace, to go through with this, even though it might be dangerous. “Save me.” It’s an honest prayer. It’s also a profound change in Jacob’s life. Before, every time a hardship came, he ran. Now God has put him in this place where Jacob has decided to stay and to be responsible not only for himself, but for his family. Even though he trusts God, Jacob is scared. And to make matters worse, after sending everyone away to safety, Jacob finds himself alone.

Jacob is out there in the wilderness, by himself, scared, camping in the dark, and a total stranger (an angel of God) comes out of nowhere and picks a fight with him. But this time Jacob doesn't let go. He holds on and asks for God’s blessing. “I’m going to be a responsible man now, and I need you to bless me.”

Jacob’s perseverance has been put to the test, and he passed. So God tells him that his name will no longer be Jacob. He will be called Israel, because he has wrestled both with men (earlier in his life) and with God until he eventually prevailed. God has been using Jacob all of his life through these experiences meant to mold him.

God wants you to pray to him, and maybe even wrestle with him, and eventually become a new person in him, even if you’re not perfect or get scared along the way. Be encouraged that our mistakes don’t exclude us from living by faith. Even when you’re tested, hold on! Trust in God and don’t let go.

quote:

---

From rabbi wasp...

Jacob, like so many in the Bible, is a very imperfect character. By God’s direction he has finally received courage to act, but he’s still afraid.

Unsure of what to do and scared, Jacob prays. He tells God that he doesn’t deserve all the love and loyalty that God has continued to show him, because he hasn’t had a perfect life. He asks God to enable him, by his grace, to go through with this, even though it might be dangerous. “Save me.” It’s an honest prayer. It’s also a profound change in Jacob’s life. Before, every time a hardship came, he ran. Now God has put him in this place where Jacob has decided to stay and to be responsible not only for himself, but for his family. Even though he trusts God, Jacob is scared. And to make matters worse, after sending everyone away to safety, Jacob finds himself alone.

Jacob is out there in the wilderness, by himself, scared, camping in the dark, and a total stranger (an angel of God) comes out of nowhere and picks a fight with him. But this time Jacob doesn't let go. He holds on and asks for God’s blessing. “I’m going to be a responsible man now, and I need you to bless me.”

Jacob’s perseverance has been put to the test, and he passed. So God tells him that his name will no longer be Jacob. He will be called Israel, because he has wrestled both with men (earlier in his life) and with God until he eventually prevailed. God has been using Jacob all of his life through these experiences meant to mold him.

God wants you to pray to him, and maybe even wrestle with him, and eventually become a new person in him, even if you’re not perfect or get scared along the way. Be encouraged that our mistakes don’t exclude us from living by faith. Even when you’re tested, hold on! Trust in God and don’t let go.

---

Was gonna use the bow down emoji, but that didn't seem appropriate considering the subject.

quote:

---

Jacob, like so many in the Bible, is a very imperfect character.

---

Jacob was an intriguing person. He was the world's first, greatest con artist and kind of a total jerk, then he became the father of the God's chosen people.

Great writeup, by the way!

quote:

---

Most of the "main characters" are extremely flawed.

---

David and Moses being supreme examples.

quote:

---

Explain

---

David was very righteous, one whom the Bible describes as “a man after God’s own heart.” However, he still did some really bad things. He lusted after his best friend’s wife, Bathsheba, so he sent his friend to go fight at the front lines of a war to get him killed. Then David took Bathsheba as his own wife and had lots of sex with her. God was not so happy.

Moses was also a loyal follower of God, but before he set God’s people free from Egypt, he was the adopted son of the Pharoah’s daughter (he was a Hebrew) and was treated like a prince. That ended one day when he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. Moses – and I’m being serious – looked around to see if anyone was watching, jumped out and killed the bully, and buried him in the sand.

Despite these non-minor sins, God still used both men in wonderful ways, and they are two of if not the most important Old Testament characters in the Bible.

quote:

---

I've got to run, but if anyone is interested there's a really cool story about the angel of death that's related to that part.

---

Your explanation was much better and more Biblical than mine.

Clark isn't Pio, tho.

quote:

---

Am I dyslysic if I wrestle the dog every day?

---

the dyslexic agnostic doesn’t believe in Dog.