Edward
Knippers, Jacob and the Angel (1990)
Today,
reply is on the Bible account of Jacob wrestling with an angel. The
image above was downloaded from the Auckland Theology and Religious
Studies blog (December 3, 2015 ) Edward Knippers ―
Advent offering 3: Angelic Muscles and Masculinities by Caroline
Blyth at
https://aucklandtheology.wordpress.com/category/edward-knippers/).
A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” Religion and Spirituality
public forum who uses the ID “Genius” (Level 1 with 8 points, a
member since August 13, 2018) posted the following:
Hey
believers remember that story in bible where god was in a wrestling
match?
I
would have given god 3 stunners, 3 rock bottoms, 3 tombstones, 3
pedigrees, 3 atiude adjustments, 3 spears and the sharpshooter
THE
GOLDEN ARROW: If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts
at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat
and drink; for to morrow we die. Be not deceived: evil
communications corrupt good manners. (1st Corinthians 15:
32-33, King James Version, KJV)
THE
DOUBLE DAGGER: Chosen Through Sacred Process (09/06/2018); Eating
and Drinking Christ?(07/03/2017); Inheritance Must Become Commitment
(05/15/2017); Church Attendance and Inheritance (09/11/2016); Sheep
of His Pasture (09/09/2016); An Eternal Inheritance? (06/26/2016);
Blessing and Inheritance from Abraham? (06/05/2014); On Christians
Executing Judgment (06/06/2014)
“Genius”,
in responding to the account of Jacob wrestling with an angel, many
mature Christian believers would prayerfully consider the following:
The
calling to divine service, sanctification, and separation of Jacob to
serve as “the second Adam” began even before Esau, his twin
brother, threatened to kill Jacob, and forced Jacob to leave the home
of their parents, Isaac and Rebekah. Rebekah had been barren before
GOD allowed her to bear the tw0; and while they were still struggling
against one another within her womb, GOD indicated that one would
prevail, and be used to further reveal divine grace. The Patriarch
Isaac was the heir to the priesthood of Abraham. While his sons were
both aware that the blessing Isaac would pronounce upon his primary
heir would provide a double portion to the one he had chosen (i.e., 2
sons, 3 portions; 12 sons, 13 portions). Prior to the operations by
GOD, neither of the twins correctly understood that Isaac’s
blessing would be a divine proclamation, and sacred prophecy.
Because
our Creator is also a God of judgment, Jacob wrestling with the angel
may be thought of as a judgment scene. Divine fullness (we also say,
the Godhead; “the active presence;” the Father, the Son,
the Holy Spirit) appeared and was manifest to Jacob embodied and
using the form of an angel. Later, divinity would appear among
mankind using flesh and human form (we say, Incarnation) as Jesus
Christ. The Savior displayed authentic humanity through birth,
gradual growth, ministry, suffering, completing mortality on the
cross, and demonstrating the resurrection from the dead that pertains
to appearing in the tribunals of judgment. The struggle of Jacob
that night, alone in his travels, also portrayed the life of Abraham
as a nomad, the testing of Jesus Christ in the wilderness by Satan,
and the struggle of Jesus in prayer at Gethsemane.
Like
those who become born again through baptism and the operations of the
Holy Spirit, Jacob was blessed, received an inheritance, then, had to
undergo gradual change and growth before he could acknowledge that
the GOD of Abraham and Isaac was also the GOD of Jacob. The
following points use language from the Bible:
(1.)
Genesis 25: 20-23, King James Version (KJV): 20 And Isaac was
forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel
the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. 21 And
Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because
she was barren: and the LORD was
intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 And the
children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be
so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are
in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy
bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other
people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
(2.)
Genesis 27: 38-45, KJV: 38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast
thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my
father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. 39 And Isaac his
father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the
fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; 40 And by
thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall
come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break
his yoke from off thy neck. 41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the
blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his
heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I
slay my brother Jacob. 42 And these words of Esau her elder son were
told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and
said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth
comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. 43 Now therefore, my
son, obey my voice; arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;
44 And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s
fury turn away; 45 Until thy brother’s
anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to
him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be
deprived also of you both in one day?
(3.)
Romans 9: 10-18, KJV: 10 And not only this; but when
Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having
done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election
might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12 It was said
unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written,
Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14 What shall we say
then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For
he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I
will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it
is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God
that sheweth mercy. 17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even
for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my
power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the
earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy,
and whom he will he hardeneth.
(4.)
Hebrews 10: 30-31, KJV: 30 For we know him that hath said,
Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the
Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a
fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
There
is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually
apprehended. (For example, (5.) Genesis 6: 3, KJV: 3 And the LORD
said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is
flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.) Even so,
I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to
your faith.
THE
BLACK PHOENIX
Washington,
DC
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