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<p>We have here the remarkable story of Jacob’s wrestling with the angel and prevailing, which is referred to, <a class="bibleref" title="Hos.12.4" href="/passage/?search=Hos.12.4">Hos. 12:4</a>. Very early in the morning, a great while before day, Jacob had helped his wives and his children over the river, and he desired to be private, and was left alone, that he might again more fully spread his cares and fears before God in prayer. Note, We ought to continue instant in prayer, always to pray and not to faint: frequency and importunity in prayer prepare us for mercy. While Jacob was earnest in prayer, <i>stirring up himself to take hold on God</i>, an angel takes hold on him. Some think this was a created angel, the <i>angel of his presence</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Isa.63.9" href="/passage/?search=Isa.63.9">Isa. 63:9</a>), one of those that <i>always behold the face of our Father</i> and attend on the <i>shechinah</i>, or the divine Majesty, which probably Jacob had also in view. Others think it was Michael our prince, the eternal Word, the angel of the covenant, who is indeed the Lord of the angels, who often appeared in a human shape before he assumed the human nature for a perpetuity; whichsoever it was, we are sure <i>God’s name was in him</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Exod.23.21" href="/passage/?search=Exod.23.21">Exod. 23:21</a>. Observe,</p>
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<p class="tab-1">I. How Jacob and this angel engaged, <a class="bibleref" title="Gen.32.24" href="/passage/?search=Gen.32.24">Gen. 32:24</a>. It was a single combat, hand to hand; they had neither of them any seconds. Jacob was now full of care and fear about the interview he expected, next day, with his brother, and, to aggravate the trial, God himself seemed to come forth against him as an enemy, to oppose his entrance into the land of promise, and to dispute the pass with him, not suffering him to follow his wives and children whom he had sent before. Note, Strong believers must expect divers temptations, and strong ones. We are told by the prophet (<a class="bibleref" title="Hos.12.4" href="/passage/?search=Hos.12.4">Hos. 12:4</a>) how <i>Jacob wrestled</i>: he <i>wept, and made supplication</i>; prayers and tears were his weapons. It was not only a corporal, but a spiritual, wrestling, by the vigorous actings of faith and holy desire; and thus all the spiritual seed of Jacob, that pray in praying, still wrestle with God.</p>
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<p class="tab-1">II. What was the success of the engagement. 1. Jacob kept his ground; though the struggle continued long, the angel, <i>prevailed not against him</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Gen.32.25" href="/passage/?search=Gen.32.25">Gen. 32:25</a>), that is, this discouragement did not shake his faith, nor silence his prayer. It was not in his own strength that he wrestled, nor by his own strength that he prevailed, but in and by strength derived from Heaven. That of Job illustrates this (<a class="bibleref" title="Job.23.6" href="/passage/?search=Job.23.6">Job 23:6</a>), <i>Will he plead against me with his great power</i>? No (had the angel done so, Jacob had been crushed), <i>but he will put strength in me</i>; and by that <i>strength Jacob had power over the angel</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Hos.12.4" href="/passage/?search=Hos.12.4">Hos. 12:4</a>. Note, We cannot prevail with God but in his own strength. It is his Spirit that intercedes in us, and <i>helps our infirmities</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Rom.8.26" href="/passage/?search=Rom.8.26">Rom. 8:26</a>. 2. The angel put out Jacob’s thigh, to show him what he could do, and that it was God he was wrestling with, for no man could disjoint his thigh with a touch. Some think that Jacob felt little or no pain from this hurt; it is probable that he did not, for he did not so much as halt till the struggle was over (<a class="bibleref" title="Gen.32.31" href="/passage/?search=Gen.32.31">Gen. 32:31</a>), and, if so, this was an evidence of a divine touch indeed, which wounded and healed at the same time. Jacob prevailed, and yet had his thigh put out. Note, Wrestling believers may obtain glorious victories, and yet come off with broken bones; for <i>when they are weak then are they strong</i>, weak in themselves, but strong in Christ, <a class="bibleref" title="2Cor.12.10" href="/passage/?search=2Cor.12.10">2 Cor. 12:10</a>. Our honours and comforts in this world have their alloys. 3. The angel, by an admirable condescension, mildly requests Jacob to let him go (<a class="bibleref" title="Gen.32.26" href="/passage/?search=Gen.32.26">Gen. 32:26</a>), as God said to Moses (<a class="bibleref" title="Exod.32.10" href="/passage/?search=Exod.32.10">Exod. 32:10</a>), <i>Let me alone</i>. Could not a mighty angel get clear of Jacob’s grapples? He could; but thus he would put an honour on Jacob’s faith and prayer, and further try his constancy. <i>The king is held in the galleries</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Song.7.5" href="/passage/?search=Song.7.5">Song 7:5</a>); <i>I held him</i> (says the spouse) <i>and would not let him go</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Song.3.4" href="/passage/?search=Song.3.4">Song 3:4</a>. The reason the angel gives why he would be gone is <i>because the day breaks</i>, and therefore he would not any longer detain Jacob, who had business to do, a journey to go, a family to look after, which, especially in this critical juncture, called for his attendance. Note, Every thing is beautiful in its season; even the business of religion, and the comforts of communion with God, must sometimes give way to the necessary affairs of this life: God <i>will have mercy, and not sacrifice</i>. 4. Jacob persists in his holy importunity: <i>I will not let thee go, except thou bless me</i>; whatever becomes of his family and journey, he resolves to make the best he can of this opportunity, and not to lose the advantage of his victory: he does not mean to wrestle all night for nothing, but humbly resolves he will have a blessing, and rather shall all his bones be put out of joint than he will go away without one. The credit of a conquest will do him no good without the comfort of a blessing. In begging this blessing he owns his inferiority, though he seemed to have the upper hand in the struggle; for <i>the less is blessed of the better</i>. Note, Those that would have the blessing of Christ must be in good earnest, and be importunate for it, as those that resolve to have no denial. It is the fervent prayer that is the effectual prayer. 5. The ange
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