In Genesis chapter thirty-two verse twenty-four, Jacob encounters a man at Peniel. He was thereby himself wrestling with a man. The “man” with Jacob is probably an “angel of the Lord” who identifies as God Himself. As the wrestling continues until dawn, Jacob desperately holds ground against the man for a promised blessing. However, during the wrestle, God disables Jacob’s hip as a reminder that Jacob no longer walks in his strength but relies entirely on God and dependence on Him.
Although defeated, Jacob will not release the man. The man insists, wanting to leave since dawn has come. Jacob refuses. He recognizes this man has supernatural power. He seems to understand this is God or a representative of Him. Jacob insists that the man bless him.
Jacob’s history and personality are vital to understanding this passage. His past clutters with incidents of deception and disguise. He is known to be a liar and deceiver. His most famous scam was the impersonation of his brother to trick his father into giving him a blessing. Jacob’s name refers to a river in Hebrew terms for “emptying.” However, from the human perspective, his name means “heel-grabber.” The contest he engages in describes as wrestling or grappling.
Why is it Jacob seems to be contending for something with someone? Jacob’s reoccurrences with competing with people have been from the time he was born. First, when he was coming out of the womb, Jacob grabbed Esau’s heel while in his mother’s stomach. Then Jacob hears his eldest brother Esau is receiving a blessing from his father, Issac. After that, he encounters contending again to get Laban’s younger daughter Rachel to marry but has to wed the eldest Leah first.
The life of Jacob lives by his name, experiencing one contest after the next, a real contender.