Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” Genesis 32: 24-26, NKJV.
Dear God, we come to You in the name of Jesus. We ask that in Your infinite mercy, You will show us, as we study Your Word, how to deal with one another, according to our needs. In the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Today, as we continue with our study on the ways in which God communicates with us, we come to the story of Jacob. I am not sure if we could describe him as a tactile individual. However, as I was searching Scripture to find someone who would fit into this category, I noticed that many of the important episodes of his life included scenes where touch played an important part. Together, let us look at some of these moments:
At birth. “So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob” (Genesis 25: 24-26c). When the day arrived for Rebekah to deliver her babies, as Esau made his way toward the birth canal, he was momentarily detained by Jacob’s holding on to his heel. From the womb, Jacob showed signs of one who was quick to touch, or, take hold of, another.
As a young man texture seemed to be important. “Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, ‘ “But my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I’m a man with smooth skin. What if my father touches me? I would appear to be tricking him and would bring down a curse on myself rather than a blessing” ‘ ” (27: 11, 12, emphasis provided). I believe that under those circumstances, I would have been afraid to talk lest my voice be recognized. Others would be more aware of being discovered by a particular scent. But Jacob was worried about being touched, and identified, because of his smooth skin. Obviously, the act of touching was significant to him.
On his wedding night. After working for seven years to have the privilege of marrying Rebekah, he approaches his father-in-law with the following request: “Then Jacob said to Laban, ‘ “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to lie with her.” ‘ ” (29: 21)
I believe that a conversation between two people who love each other, on their wedding night, would have been the normal thing to expect. I did not find anywhere in Jewish tradition that conversing was prohibited. Or, perhaps, just taking a moment to admire his new bride, would have been, I believe, in keeping with normal procedures. That would have given Jacob an opportunity to see who he was getting for his wife, before it was too late! Seeing, or perhaps, even hearing, Leah, would, most likely, have distinguished her from Rebekah! Apparently, hearing and seeing, were not that important to Jacob.
This was his reaction the morning after, “When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, ‘ “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me” ‘ ” (24)?What did you expect Jacob?
The night of his conversion. “So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me” (32: 24-26). Jacob had come into the world, holding on to his brother’s heel, obviously in an attempt to make his entrance into the world before his brother, and receive the blessing that corresponded to the first born. Now, at this critical moment in his life, we find him holding on for dear life, to the only One whose touch can bring about a re-birth, and provide you with a blessing that is all your own! He was not disappointed. That night there was “a new name written down in glory:” “The man asked him, ‘ “What is your name?” ‘ ‘ “Jacob,” ‘ he answered. Then the man said, ‘ “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” ‘ ” At last! He had received the touch that his soul had always longed for. And that touch freed him from a name, and a past, that had held him captive all his life!
Yes my friends, the God that you and I serve, will meet us where we are, and will speak to our souls in terms that we can respond to. Praise His holy name!