Why did Jacob limp for the rest of his life after wrestling with God?
The encounter signaled a permanent change: Jacob, the old supplanter and deceiver, became Israel, the spiritual side. God made him a changed man who would halt and limp the rest of his life, yet never again be a deceiver. This limp marked his transformation.
Les teaches that Jacob represents the part of Israel still in the old life—the old supplanter and deceiver—while Israel is the spiritual side, so his name is changed. God makes the point that Jacob is a changed man; he will always halt and limp the rest of his life, but he will never again be a deceiver. After Jacob asked God's name, God blessed him there, which only God can do. Jacob named the place Phaneel, saying he had seen God face to face. Les explains this was God the Son in an Old Testament theophany, since no one has seen the triune Godhead; Abraham also ate with God the Son in Genesis 18, and the burning bush was God the Son.