SUBJ: Jacob’s encounter with the Lord in a preincarnation appearance and the outcome of their wrestling and the blessing Jacob obtained.
AIM: That we might realize the same desperation for the essential blessing from the Lord in all things pertaining to our salvation and His glory.
INTR: Having offered up an exemplary covenant prayer Jacob continued to do what he felt he needed to do and so sent gifts ahead to Esau with the thoughts of appeasing him.
1. Depending on our thoughts as to our actions they may be in order. If the thoughts are that we have a better idea, then they are fruitless.
2. The Lord often intervenes at just the time when all other hope is gone. Jacob would receive what he needed but not in the way he expected.
3. It is the Lord’s prerogative to allow Himself to be put subject to the demands of men when they do so in accordance with His will. So, here with Jacob.

THESIS: The Lord would have Jacob and us to fully engage with the necessity of obtaining the blessing that only He is able to supply and will us to wrestle with Him for what we want.

I. Nothing left to do (vv. 22-23)
1. We can only imagine the thoughts of Jacob at this point, but he anticipated a long night of waiting.
1) He had done what he could and
2) He went off to be alone across the brook and wait the breaking of the day.
2. He has sent all his family and possessions away to a place of safety while he would wait for the arrival of Esau.

II. A most eventful night (vv. 24-29)
1. Jacob was left alone
1) Cut off from all earthly comforts and considerations –
2) Out of the night a man came to him – we are told no more but the implications are undeniable.
3) Angel or Man? The Lord? So, it would seem in that the man does bless Jacob.
4) It was a long and difficult struggle between two determined parties
i. The Lord subduing Jacob and
ii. Jacob desperate for protecting presence.
iii. Thoughts of Jacob as a picture of Christ here: Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; (Hebrews 5:7).
2. The man disables Jacob
1) There was never a question as to who was in control.
2) It was that the Lord would have something to be proven to Jacob and that He would have Jacob to be in that way of dependence all his life. So, he crippled him!
3. Jacob has lost the battle but not the hold on the Lord and in the end, he prevailed
1) O that we might cling to the Lord in such desperation
2) It is again to be seen that the Lord would have Jacob to be strong in the exercise of faith
3) It was at this that the Lord relented – A broken and contrite heart He will not despise
4. The blessing would follow and with it came the assurance of all that could be asked
1) The Lord changed Jacob’s name to Israel – a prince with God signifying that the old life was gone and that the new life would be in the Lord.
2) One who has influence with the God
3) But the answer to Jacob’s further answer was not forthcoming. Did he really need to ask in that he had demanded and received the blessing from Him!

III. The place named
1. Jacob called the name of the place Peniel which means “face of God”
1) We are reminded of another eventful night with the place called Bethel because God was in that place and now
2) Peniel because he had seen God face to face and his was still alive and
3) We are made to see the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ and we are made alive by Him. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6).
2. Jacob halted on His thigh from then on even as we have witnessed the death of the old man and have a new name in Jesus Christ our Lord.
3. Even remembered by tradition by the Jews.
4. Let us become so desperate for the Blessing.