The weekly Torah portion Vayishlach (Genesis 32:4–36:43) describes how Jacob, after returning to Canaan, meets his brother Esau, the struggle with the mysterious opponent, and Jacob's name change to Israel.
YHVH had promised Jacob when he dreamed of the ladder:
And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. Gen 28:15
After twenty years in a foreign land, YHVH was now about to fulfil his promise:
I am the G-d of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred. Gen 31:13
Jacob gratefully acknowledges that when he left for Haran, he had nothing but a staff, and now, on his return home, he looks at his blessings and riches:
now I am become two bands. Gen 32:10b
Is Jacob's return home with his two wives not a prophetic image of the future return of the entire house of Israel, the house of Judah and the house of Israel?
Leah and Rachel with their children represent two bands. And just as YHVH changed Jacob's fate, he will change the fate of His people Israel and Judah:
I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. Jer 30:3b
He will bring us home. Jacob was afraid of meeting his brother Esau:
Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed (
yatsar). Yatsar can mean to be in distress, a strait, as it is a primitive root that can describe being pressed, narrow, or vexed.
A strait is a place in the sea where two land masses come close together, forming a narrow passage. The image conveys confrontation. It is reminiscent of the situation when the Israelites were at the Red Sea, with the sea in front of them and the Egyptians behind them. An existential threat.
and also he [Esau]
cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. Gen 32:6b
Confrontation: Will Esau kill him? Or even Jacob threatening his brother Esau. Him against Esau and four hundred men? Him and Esau. Jacob had forgotten YHWH's promise:
I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; Gen 28:15b
Jacob thought up various strategies for how he could reconcile with his brother or how he could achieve maximum safety. He tried to resolve the delicate situation in a human way.
When Jacob had done all he could do, he was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until dawn broke (Genesis 32:24). The Hebrew word for man is
ish. So it was indeed a man, not a messenger (
malak). When he left and fled from Esau, he was alone, and now on his return, on that night, he was alone again. At that time, he had nothing but a staff, and now he had acquired riches. Jacob had an encounter with YHVH on his way home, face to face. It is said that Jacob wrestled with G-d and with men and won. To be a Jew means to wrestle with G-d and to fight.
Abraham wrestled with YHVH to spare the people of Sodom and Gomorrah if enough righteous people could be found in the city. Moses wrestled with YHVH to spare His people after their idolatry of the golden calf. Job challenges YHVH about his suffering. The text says that Jacob wrestled with a man, ish. And a few verses later it says that Jacob wrestled with G-d and with men. The word for men here is no longer ish, but
anashim, coming from
anash, meaning weak, sick, frail, malicious, ill.
Had Jacob also wrestled with his human nature?
Weak, unbelieving, malicious.
Malicious: How will I face Esau when he wants to kill me? It should be emphasised that Jacob had to face Esau on his way home to the Promised Land, and this caused him to fear for his life. The Israelites went through a similar situation: Pharaoh and the sea, no way out.
We will be led back to our land and will encounter the line of Esau.
Why?
Because YHVH proclaims the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10) and all biblical events are prophetic of the last (
acharon) generation. We will be led into this fear of death. Let us then trust that YHVH has said:
For, lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it... it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. Jer 30:3 .7b
I deeply believe that we should take this message to heart spirit: We will be led home, to the land that is part of our marriage covenant; it will be a time of fear, but we will be helped out of it. One can read the following Bible passage, Genesis 35:1-2, personally as follows:
And G-d said unto Jacob [the house of Israel and the house of Judah]
, Arise [first of all spiritually, in understanding who Jesus and the Torah is]
, go up to Bethel [to the Kingdom, spiritually and later literally]
, and dwell there: and make there an altar [in your heart]
unto G-d [YHVH]
, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you [all pagan, non-Torah thoughts, customs and practices within you]
, and be clean [
mikvah, now follow the ways of the Torah]
, and change your garments: [bring yourself into accordance with the Torah]
. Gen 35:1-2
