Alan, many theologians find today's passage difficult. It doesn't have to be. I liked your observaqtion one could consider the Torah, God's ethical will to us . . . with the proviso that, of course, God is not dead. Friedrich Nietzsche, *1844 - 1900) was the philosopher who declared "God is dead," a concept that gained significant attention in the 1960s through the writings of theologians like Thomas J. J. Altizer (1927 - 2018). Nietzsche and Altizer are dead and buried, God is not. God has told Jacob many times that He is with him. But Ya'akov is still afraid of his brother.
So, as we've already said, God sent angels to remind Ya'akov that He is with him. But he sends messengers and they come back and say Esau is coming to meet you with. (an army) of 400 men. To continue our story.
22 During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants, and his eleven sons, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, along with all his possessions. Genesis 32:22,23 BSB
The Jabbok, now called the Wady Zerba or Zerka, is a challenging crossing, think ravine and currents, so Jacob would have expended considerable energy helping the wives and children cross over.
24 So Jacob was left all alone, and there a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower Jacob, he struck the socket of Jacob’s hip and dislocated it as they wrestled. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 “What is your name?” the man asked.
“Jacob,” he replied. Genesis 32: 24 - 27
Who is the man and why does it matter? There is a cross reference:
3 In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God. 4 Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor; he found Him at Bethel and spoke with Him there —5 the LORD God of Hosts, the LORD is His name of renown. Hosea 12: 3 - 5 BSB
< = = = I did some study to prepare. There are three basic theories. It wasn't physical it was all in his mind, or spirit. It was a man, most people reject this. It was a messenger from God, possibly an angel. Your cross reference supports this and he has been visited by angels twice before. Also, an angel, bringing God's message could have more latitude to change his name and bless him. But the biggest reason to go with heavenly messenger from God is the choice of the name, Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed. I think that is the message God is sending His people. But then there is Peniel, Issac knows he has had an encounter with God.
John simply smiled and nodded. "Indeed he does."
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.” 29And Jacob requested, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed Jacob there. 30 So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, “Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” Genesis 32: 28 - 30 BSB
Thus, God has further prepared Jacob to meet Esau. He has faced Laban, he has wrestled with God, or God's sent messenger and he is still alive and God is still with him. As daybreak came and the sun rose above him as he headed away from Peniel, he was limping because of his hip. And it is true, most Jews still do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, the sciatic nerve. In fact, many do not eat the hind quarter due to the expense of removing the tendon. Now Alan, what is God's message to you in this story?
< = = = God will help me face my fears, and when facing a thorny issue, it is permissible to wrestle with God.
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