Jacob's wrestling match represents his turning point of faith and salvation, where he clung to God for a blessing and was transformed from Jacob the deceiver to Israel the prince with God.
According to Les Feldick, this event is the moment of Jacob's true salvation—what we would call the new birth. The stranger was God Himself in a theophany, appearing in human form and wrestling with Jacob until daybreak. Jacob's refusal to let go until blessed was an expression of faith, and God rewarded it by giving him a new name, Israel.
Genesis 32:24-28 — This passage directly describes the wrestling match, the changing of Jacob's name to Israel, and the blessing that followed.
In Genesis 32:24-28, the Bible records that Jacob was left alone and wrestled with a man until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh, dislocating it. The man asked Jacob to let him go, but Jacob replied, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." The man then asked Jacob his name, and upon hearing "Jacob," he declared, "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."
Les Feldick teaches that this was a literal, physical wrestling match—not a figure of speech. God came down in a theophany in the form of a man and wrestled with Jacob. Les emphasizes that even though God could not prevail in the wrestling, He crippled Jacob by touching his thigh, leaving him with a limp for the rest of his life. The important part, however, is that Jacob understood he was dealing with the God of his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham, and he refused to let go until he received a blessing. This act of clinging to God was a demonstration of faith, and God responded by changing Jacob's name to Israel, signifying that Jacob had power with God and with men and had prevailed.
Les Feldick is a literalist and teaches that this was not a figure of speech. God literally came down in a theophany in the form of a man and began a true wrestling match with Jacob. He even touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh and crippled him, leaving Jacob with a permanent limp.
Jacob showed faith by refusing to let go of the Lord until he was blessed. Even though he was crippled, he held on and said, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." Les teaches that this was a simple but decisive expression of faith, and God saw that faith and transformed him.
The name change from Jacob (meaning deceiver/supplanter) to Israel (prince with God) marked Jacob's true salvation and new birth. Just as God gave him a new nature, He gave him a new name. Les emphasizes the principle that first comes the natural, then the spiritual—first Jacob the deceiver, then Israel the prince with God.
Les teaches that God had sovereignly mandated that Jacob would be the one through whom His promises would continue, even before the twins were born. While Jacob had a deceitful past, God saw a flicker of faith in him, unlike Esau who was destitute of faith. God worked with Jacob because He knew Jacob could be transformed.
Jacob's Awareness of God's Host
Les notes that even though Jacob was aware of God's angels, he was still not yet a heart believer, setting the stage for his salvation encounter.
Literal Theophany and Wrestling Match
Les teaches that God literally came down in a theophany as a man and wrestled with Jacob, and that Jacob was left with a permanent limp.
Jacob's Faith and Determination
Les explains that Jacob understood he was dealing with the God of Abraham and Isaac, and his refusal to let go until blessed was an expression of faith.
Name Change to Israel
Les teaches that Jacob's new name Israel signified his power with God and that God transformed him because of his persistent faith.
God Confronts Jacob Man to Man
Les sets the scene, showing that while Jacob feared Esau, God intended to confront him in human form to change his life.
Jacob's Salvation and New Birth
Les identifies this as Jacob's true salvation or new birth, where he became a new man and received a new name.
God's Sovereignty in Choosing Jacob
Les reminds listeners that God mandated Jacob's position before he was born, showing it was not a human accident.
Faith vs. No Faith
Les contrasts Jacob's faith with Esau's lack of faith, emphasizing that Jacob saw value in the promises of God.
Genesis 32:24: And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
This verse sets the stage for the literal wrestling match between Jacob and the Lord in human form.
Genesis 32:25: 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.
This shows that even though the Lord could not defeat Jacob in the wrestling, He crippled him, leaving a permanent mark.
Genesis 32:26: And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
This verse records Jacob's persistent faith—his refusal to release the Lord until he received a blessing.
Genesis 32:27: And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
Jacob acknowledges his name, which means deceiver, showing his honesty about his natural character.
Genesis 32:28: 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.
This verse contains the name change to Israel, marking Jacob's transformation and victory through faith.
Yes, Les Feldick teaches that this was a literal, physical wrestling match, not a figure of speech. God appeared in human form as a theophany and wrestled with Jacob until daybreak.
Les teaches that the man was God Himself—specifically God the Son in an Old Testament appearance, a theophany. Jacob knew he was dealing with the God of his fathers.
The name change to Israel signified Jacob's transformation and salvation. He had power with God and with men and had prevailed through faith, so God gave him a new name.
According to Les Feldick, the limp shows that the encounter was real and physical. While it was not the most important part, it was a permanent reminder of that night of wrestling.
Yes, Les teaches that this is where Jacob experienced his true salvation and what we call the new birth. His faith was openly expressed as he clung to the Lord for blessing.