Jacob had spent many years away from home. He had deceived his brother Esau long ago and feared what would happen when they finally met again. As he traveled back toward his homeland, news came that Esau was on his way to meet him, bringing four hundred men. Jacob was terrified. He prayed to God for protection and sent gifts ahead to Esau, hoping to calm his anger.

That night, Jacob sent his family and possessions across the river and stayed behind, alone in the dark. Suddenly, a man appeared and began to wrestle with him. They struggled through the night, neither one giving up. Jacob’s strength surprised the man, but when the man saw he could not overpower Jacob, he touched Jacob’s hip, and it was wrenched out of place.

Still, Jacob refused to let go. He said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
The man asked, “What is your name?”
“Jacob,” he replied.

Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
Jacob realized he had not just wrestled a man. He had wrestled with God Himself.

As the sun rose, Jacob limped away from the place and named it Peniel, meaning “Face of God,” for he said, “I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” From that day forward, Jacob walked with a limp, a reminder of his encounter with God.

Jacob’s wrestling was more than a physical struggle. It was a picture of his lifelong battle with fear, control, and faith. In the end, God changed his name, his walk, and his heart.