7.1.6 Gen. 32: Jacob’s fight at Jabbok

A difficult story with many possibilities of interpretation. At first glance, it  recounts a milestone of the Father’s story and explains the prohibition  of eating the piece of muscle on the joint of the hip. But there is much  more hidden in it: 

Deep believers like Hildegard von Bingen experience that encounters  with God can also take them physically in such a way that they are  associated with pain or injury. Hildegard’s doctor had finally advised her  urgently to avoid further visions because of her attacked state of health  by diversionary maneuvers. Jacob’s fight at the Jabbok became a  precedent in mysticism for physical phenomena during particularly  intense experiences of God.Despite the great clan, such an encounter with God happens in the  complete solitude of man before God (32:25). Jacob does not seek the  encounter with the overpowering Holy One of his own accord, but  neither does he avoid it and face it. 

This overpowering “one” (32:25) remains strangely indeterminate and in  limbo. Is it Yahweh himself? (because of 32,29 and 31) or an angel? (so the  Mishnah) or a demon (because of 27a)? The card on which Jacob alone  can bet is the fear of the superior before the morning light. This suggests  that possibly a pagan demon was originally worshiped at this ford, who,  like the Norse gnomes, was only dangerous at night. This is also  suggested by the mention of the rising sun, which was certainly meant to  say more than is apparent today. Whether Jacob was aware of these  ancient roots can be left open. The superior with which he wrestled,  however, was in his experience Yahweh himself or a messenger of  Yahweh. 

Jacob’s answer “I will not leave you, for you bless me” (32:27): self confident, crisp and bold. And successful. Quite different from the widely  soft-spoken, half-Celtic Irish blessings currently in vogue. Certainly also  a model for our blessing in the congregation. 

The poetic interpretation of “der Schauende” by Rainer Maria Rilke  is impressive: 

Whom this angel overcame, who so  

often renounces battle, he goes out  

of that hard hand righteous and  

erect and great, 

which, as if shaping, nestled against  

him. The victories do not invite him. 

His growth is: to be the deep  

conquered ever greater.