NOTES for Gen 32:23-32
23 And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. |
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. |
25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. |
26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. |
27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. |
28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. |
29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. |
30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. |
31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. |
32 Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank. |
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It is common to hear people say, "I do not ask God for anything for myself; sometimes I ask for relatives, but I feel awkward asking for myself." This awkwardness comes from having no need for God, who, like any free person, will most likely suggest a path that is not at all the one a person wants. I ask for nothing, I owe nothing, I live as I want here, and He can somehow manage there by Himself.
But can a person do anything at all without God? From what can he protect himself? Can he withstand the evil he sees in abundance around himself and those he loves? He can, knowing that God is a person who loves each one separately and concretely. Jacob's ardor, his persistence, his boldness - this is an example of how a person should act when asking God for blessing. This is the persistence of one who knows where the source of life is. This is the ardor of one who knows: there is no other way to survive.
Readings for 8 July 2025
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