Was Jacob's wrestling match at the Jabbok a literal event or a figure of speech?
The wrestling at the Jabbok was a literal event, not a figure of speech. God literally came down in a theophany in the form of a man and engaged Jacob in a true wrestling match. He touched Jacob's thigh, crippling him, and Jacob walked with a limp afterward.
Les teaches that this account is not a figure of speech. He explains that God literally came down in a theophany in the form of a man and began a true wrestling match with Jacob. When God saw that He did not prevail against Jacob, He touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh, putting it out of joint, crippling him, so that Jacob walked with a limp for the rest of his life. Les then notes that Jacob understood he was dealing with the God of Isaac and Abraham, and that unless this God blessed him, he was destitute. This contrasts with Esau, who was destitute of faith and saw nothing in God's promises, while Jacob had a flicker of understanding that something was to be gained through the birthright and blessing.
And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
More Questions
Who did Jacob wrestle with in Genesis 32?
The man who wrestled Jacob was God himself appearing in a theophany in the form of a man.