Jacob was afraid of his brother Esau and with good reason. First, Jacob got Esau to sell his birthright over a stew (Genesis 25:27-34.) Then, Jacob, disguised as Esau, got the blessing from his father Isaac that should have been Esau's (Genesis 27:1-33.) All of this was in keeping with what God said as Rebecca was promised that the "older shall serve the younger" (Genesis 25:23.) It was God's will that the Messiah should come through the line of Jacob. Doubtless, that didn't make Esau feel any better.
After serving his future father-in-law, the time had come for Jacob to return to the land of Canaan and a meeting with Esau was inevitable. In Genesis 32, Jacob found out that Esau himself was on his way to meet him. The news greatly distressed Jacob and he began preparations for an attack by Esau (Genesis 32:1-23.) That night, while Jacob was alone, he wrestled with a man and prevailed. That man turned out to be an angel (Genesis 32:24-32.)
"Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." (Genesis 32:30) The whole incident of wrestling with the angel was to show Jacob that he would prevail against Esau and that he was in God's favor. If he prevailed against an angel he was sure to prevail in the present distress. Jacob did not mean to say that he beheld God in all his glory only that he recognized that he looked upon a divine being.
God told Moses, "no man shall see me and live" (Exodus 33:20) although He did show Moses his glory. Sinful man cannot look upon the holy God any more than he can look at the sun. But the time came when man saw God through His Son -- Jesus Christ (John 1:14.) Now we anxiously look forward to seeing him as He is (I John 3:2.)
Do you?
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