Wednesday, September 26, 2018

(09/26/2018) Jacob Wrestled With GOD?

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 Isaacs 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 brothers fury turn away; 45 Until thy brothers 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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