“Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us; Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial. Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.” (Hosea 12:4-6)
Jacob finally came to the realization that the situation for him and his family was dire. No, he would not scheme his way out of this one. He would soon come face to face with a brother who vowed to kill him. But before that he had one last opportunity to be face to face with God. Oh how the broken, desperate man in the darkest night of his life clung to God like never before! And as a result, he entered a new phase of his life, with a new identity: “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.” (Gen. 32:28)
There are times when circumstances force us into an encounter with God. We are compelled to turn to Him. Prayer should not be our last resort, but it often is because we are much more self-reliant than we realize. God knows how much we need Him, and He uses vexing, perplexing, desperate situations to drive us to our knees. Religion will not help us in a day of real trouble; we need a vital relationship with the living God. Jacob spoke to God; he heard from God; he saw God; he touched God; and God touched and blessed him.
We can read or hear about the experience others have had in encountering God; but we need our own personal experience. Jacob would never forget the lonely night when he wrestled with God and prevailed. “And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” (Gen. 32:30)
The best thing that can ever happen to us is that we get with God. If it takes the worst thing that ever happened to you to bring about such a connection, thank God for it. We all need to enter a different phase of life; where we go from being self-reliant to God dependent. We all need a new identity; where we go from being religious or irreligious to being a true man or woman of God.