Close Encounters

Twice in scripture we find Jacob alone with God. Both encounters came in the middle of the night. However, the first was much less intentional and infinitely more peaceful. The first time, Jacob traveled alone. Sent by his father to get a wife, he was really on the run from his brother after he had cheated him. Facing God alone was his only option, and the entire conversation took place in his dreams. (See Genesis 28)

The morning after his vision, the father of the Jewish people made a promise to Yahweh:

“If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear ^21 so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God” Genesis 28:20-21

Did Jacob remembered this encounter on the last night of his journey home?

Terrified his brother still held a grudge, Jacob knew he needed God on his side. The Almighty had promised all nations would be blessed through him. He had guaranteed Jacob a safe return and descendants more numerous than the sands. Sitting on the precipice of answered prayer, Jacob made a more intentional effort to have a holy conversation:

^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.

Genesis 32:22-24

He left Canaan with nothing more than a bedroll; he returned with a huge family, servants, livestock and wealth. Still, the ninety-year-old patriarch intentionally moved his family and everything he owned across the river and returned to face God the same way he’d encountered God the first time–with nothing.

I wonder if the reason so few see God face-to-face is that we seldom get alone with our Creator bringing nothing but ourselves. We have time frames and commitments. Being alone is unheard of and sitting in the dark alone with nothing to do, nothing to eat, nothing to lean on can be scary.

Jacob had no idea whether or not God would show up. It doesn’t read like he had any meetings with the Ancient of Days since he left for Aram. Even after his vow to make God his God, we don’t see confirmation of his transformation until the end of the next chapter when he built an altar for God and called it God is the God of Israel. Perhaps the wrestling is what caused the transformation.

We can learn a valuable lesson from Jacob. Early in our walk, we might have pleasant encounters with the Creator. He reveals Himself in marvelous ways; however, if we want a life-changing, blessing-bringing meeting, we need to intentionally prepare for it. Jacob needed to be alone without any of the trappings of his ordinary life. We might need something similar.

Jacob removed everything that might distract him and simply waited for God to show up. He may not have been expecting a man who would wrestle with him all night, but that may be what we need. What is God trying to wrestle out of your clutches? You’ll notice he allowed Jacob to overpower him for most of the night. The Almighty doesn’t want to win by force, He wants you to choose.

And when we do choose Him and His blessings we will be transformed. We might even get a new name and a new way to walk.

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