Jacob had an extraordinary encounter at the Jabbok River as he and his family were fleeing from his brother Esau whom Jacob had wronged many years before.  Esau was approaching his company as Jacob drew close to home.  Jacob divided his company into two camps.  He estimated that if one was attacked, the other could get away. While he stayed behind, Jacob’s family crossed the river.

Jacob was then alone.  In the darkness of night, he was assaulted by a man.  The wrestling match lasted all night.  We find out later that the man was the presence of God Himself.  God gave Jacob a new name, common in the Old Testament.  He would henceforth be called Israel–he who contends with God.  When asked for a name, God refused to give one.  The name of God would have to wait until the burning bush: but, Jacob called the place Peniel which meant, “I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.”(Genesis 32: 33b ESV)

When Jacob was staying at Bethel for a night, he had a dream in which a ladder extended to heaven.   Angels wee ascending and descending on it.  The Lord repeated the promise he gave Abraham that he would give Jacob land, multiply his descendants, and bless the nations through him.  Jacob called the place of his vision, the house of God, that is, Bethel.  He called on the Name of the  Lord.

These events describe an encounter with the numinous that can be defined as an experience of the divine, causing a sense of awe.  Jacob had such an experience at the Jabbok and at Bethel.

In the instance of the encounter at the Jabbok, the narrative says only that Jacob wrestled with a man.  But, we find out later in the text that Jacob was wrestling with God.  When God commanded Jacob to relent, Jacob refused until he received a blessing.  Here we know that more than a man met Jacob that night.  The man, whom we now know was God Himself, renamed Jacob.  His name would be Israel meaning, “. . . you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” (Genesis 32: 28b ESV)  When Jacob asked for God’s name, He declined; but  Jacob addressed God as Lord in the earlier story of the encounter at Bethel.

Jacob called the place where he wrestled with God, Peniel; because, Jacob had seen God and lived.  There is a tradition in the Old Testament that if one sees God face to face, one would die.  (see Exodus 33: 17ff)  In Exodus 33, God proclaims His Name (Yahweh in Hebrew; see Exodus 3: 14)

We might think that it is no longer possible to encounter the numinous, more specifically, God)  But, we should be open to such encounters.  They still occur. (See Ron Dreher’s book, Living in Wonder).  Dreher writes that introducing people to the experience of encounter with God and wonder are extremely helpful in the conversion of pagans and atheists, in fact is better than apologetics.

We must realize that God comes to us in indirect and direct ways.  He comes to us in HIs Word and Sacraments. But also, He can come to us as an encounter that results in wonder.  We must not forget that while God is far away, he is also close by.  Keep your eyes open and prepare your hearts.

 

Michael G. Tavella

November 27, 2024