Jacob’s Famous Death Grip: Wrestling with God

Jacob. There are 24 stories about him, the way I count—the exact same as his Grandpa Abraham. But the climax of the 24 has to be his wrestling match with God—bringing back that famous death grip he had from day one. And it gives us an inside look at his heart.

This grandson had zeal. He had fire. Jacob wasn’t afraid to go after something with everything he had.

He was also a liar and an opportunist.

Jacob’s Life Begins—Turbulently

When Rebecca was pregnant with him, the pregnancy was so turbulent, she sought out an oracle to tell her what was happening to her.

“Two nations are in your womb,
    and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
    and the older will serve the younger.”

The older serving the younger was definitely unusual. It was the eldest son who got the bulk of the inheritance and the blessing that went with it. And it wasn’t unreasonable. It was the eldest who paid for the family funerals, weddings or dowries, and just about any other big expenses the family would incur. The eldest needed that money.

When Rebecca’s firstborn made his debut, he was red and hairy. So, she named him Esau, which means “hairy.”

But his twin was literally right on his heels. He gripped Esau’s ankle as if to pull him back, so he himself could be first.

Rebecca named him Jacob, which means “someone who grasps or circumvents.” And boy, would he ever—especially when he ends up wrestling with God.

Adulthood Sets In

Esau grew to be a real hunting man’s-man. And his father loved him—as well as the game Esau hunted.

Jacob didn’t. But his mama loved him.

Jacob also swindled Esau out of his birthright. Esau was famished. Jacob would give him food in return for his birthright—and all the inheritance that came with it. And Esau gave it.

Later, when his dad was dying and ready to give Esau his blessing (making the birthright official, so to speak), mom urged Jacob to trick Isaac into giving it to him instead.

Jacob was reluctant, but his mother urged him, saying she’d take the blame if it went bad.

So, she put goat hair on his arms and neck and sent him in his father tent with hot food. The plan worked. His father felt his hairy arms and neck convinced Jacob was Esau. Jacob got the blessing and left—just before Esau came to the tent. You could imagine Esau’s reaction when Isaac said he had already given the blessing away.

Rebecca urged Jacob to leave town after overhearing that Esau was planning to kill him.

Jacob left. For decades he lived and built wealth and traded trickeries with Laban for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Jacob agreed to work for Laban 7 years to get Rachel. But Laban sent his other daughter into Jacob’s dark tent wearing a veil and pretending to be Rachel. The trickster got a taste of his own medicine.

But Laban said, “What did you expect? Leah’s the oldest and still not married. Seven more years and you can have Rachel, too.”

And Jacob did it.

Then he swindled Laban with some trickery with sheep breeding. Jacob made sure his own flock would be the best and most bountiful while Laban’s dwindled.

You can imagine Laban’s reaction when he found out. Just like Esau, he was ready to kill him. He pursued Jacob and finally caught him. But they ended up calling a truce, and Laban went home.

Finally, Jacob decides to go home, too.

Jacob Finally Grows Up

He prepares to meet Esau after all this time. He sends all his wealth ahead of him: his goats, cows, donkeys, and oxen. He’s prepared to give it all up as a peace offering. He even going to offer himself and his own family as Esau’s servants.

He sends spies ahead and sees that Esau has 400 armed men with him. So, he splits his “offering” in half. If Esau takes out one group, the other will can flee.

By the end of the day, Jacob sends everyone and everything ahead caravan-style. He crosses back over the Jabbok to grab the last of his riches. While he’s there, a man wrestles with him.

Jacob knows exactly who it is. He ends up wrestling with God all night. God throws out Jacob’s hip. Jacob doesn’t relent.

The sun comes up. God says, “Give it up.”

Jacob says, “Not until you bless me.”

This is where it hits me. This is where you see Jacob’s heart. He doesn’t care any more about his riches or the inheritance from his father. He cares about life, peace, and love. And that’s the blessing that God has to offer.

And he will not. let. go.

So, God asks Jacob his name.

“Jacob,” he answers.

“From now on you’ll be called ‘Israel,’ because you’ve struggled with God and with humans and overcome.”

That word struggle is sometimes translated at “striven.” The lexicon says “persist,” “exert oneself,” and “persevere.”

Jacob’s Story is Our Story

And if we are grafted into this family line of Jesus—if we are Abraham’s descendants—this is our story, too.

And isn’t this still our struggle: Wresting with God?

We aren’t just sons of Abraham—not just grafted into Jacob’s line through Jesus. We are Israel.

And wrestling with God is what we do. We wrestle between doing what we want and doing what we ought. We wrestle between what we want and what God gives. And when we sin, our hearts are grieved—because we know we’ve grieved God. And we owe him our repentance as much as the person we sinned against.

For non-Christians, God doesn’t even cross their minds.

So, take heart, fellow pioneer. As you brave whatever territory you’re in, remember this: the wrestling with God is age-old. As you cultivate your child’s seeds of faith, tell them of Jacob and this wrestling that’s taken place all the way up the family tree. Tell them of the overcoming. And remind them we are of the tribe of Israel.

Family Tree

While all we who love God and are submitted to his will are children of Abraham, sometimes it’s hard to keep our family tree straight. But our ancestors are important. And being able to trace our history reminds us who—and whose—we are.

Download and print our crafty Family Tree game, then gather the family.

Our printable follows Abraham and Sarah all the way through to the Twelve Tribes of Israel—the Twelve Tribes of Us. There’s even a blank tree for you to fill out with your child.

Enjoy, fellow Pioneer!

And remember: No matter what territory you’re navigating, keep cultivating their seeds of faith—simply—for real legacy.