Kingdom Covenant Part 8

At Keys Vineyard Church, we present a series called ‘Kingdom Covenant,’ which we post here on Online Bible Institute.

Last week, in our series ‘Kingdom Covenant,’ we examined the lives of Esau and Jacob and discussed the blessing. This week, the focus shifts to Jacob and his wrestling match with God by the Jabbok River.

Genesis 32:22–31 (NIV)
22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 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 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” 29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” 31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.

This passage describes Jacob’s all-night struggle with God. This confrontation occurs at a pivotal time in Jacob’s life as he prepares to reunite with his brother Esau, from whom he had fled years earlier after deceiving him of his blessing.

The Jabbok River, the setting of Jacob’s struggle, is not merely a geographical location but a symbol of a boundary in his personal and spiritual journey. As Jacob wrestles until dawn, the battle transcends the physical realm, reflecting his internal conflicts—his fears, past deceits, and aspirations. The physical contest, therefore, mirrors a deeper spiritual wrestling: Jacob grappling with his identity, his values, and his future.

The climax of this narrative is a profound transformation; God blesses Jacob and bestows upon him a new name, Israel, which means “he struggles with God.” This renaming signifies a shift in Jacob’s identity from one who deceives to one who perseveres with God. The physical manifestation of this transformation is significant—Jacob is left with a limp, a permanent reminder of his encounter and a symbol of his changed nature. This new way of walking, both literally and figuratively, signifies a life forever altered, marked by a closer, more complex relationship with God.

Jacob’s wrestling match with God connects deeply for those on their own spiritual journeys, illustrating that struggles, even those that leave us limping, can lead to profound growth and transformation. It urges us to confront our own challenges and wrestle with our doubts and fears, assuring us that these struggles can lead to a new identity and a deeper faith. Jacob’s story is a compelling reminder that our most difficult battles can yield the greatest blessings, reshaping our path and how we walk through life.

There is a lot more to this story, so join us this weekend at Keys Vineyard Church in person or online.

Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.