“Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the day is breaking.’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go, unless you bless me.’”
Genesis 32:26
Dear members and friends,
Jacob is one of the most compelling figures in the Bible. What makes him so memorable is not primarily his faithfulness or moral integrity, but his humanity. He embodies the ordinary desires, ambitions, and struggles that are familiar to us all. Determined to obtain what he longs for, Jacob pursues his goals with remarkable persistence. At the same time, he openly reveals his fear, insecurity, and anxiety without concealing them. Through all of this, the mysterious providence of God is quietly at work, shaping Jacob’s life through his very weaknesses. Although Jacob shows little interest in genuine worship during much of his early life, he eventually becomes one who longs for—and even refuses to let go without—the blessing of God.
Genesis 32 presents one of the most extraordinary encounters in Scripture: a human being wrestling with a divine figure. While the Bible records several appearances of angels and heavenly messengers, wrestling suggests an entirely different kind of encounter, one that is deeply personal, intimate, and transformative. Scholars have offered various interpretations of the mysterious figure who wrestled with Jacob throughout the night. Yet the defining moment of the story is the changing of Jacob’s name to Israel, a divine act that signifies a new identity. For this reason, many understand the wrestler to be a manifestation of God through an angel, revealing that God Himself entered into Jacob’s struggle in order to begin his transformation.
One theme stands out clearly throughout Jacob’s life: his desire for blessing. At times he deceived others to obtain it; at other times, as in this story, he clung tenaciously until the blessing was given. Jacob seems to have believed that God’s blessing meant prosperity, success, and honor. Yet the biblical understanding of blessing is far deeper. To be blessed by God is to become a living witness of God’s presence in the world; to bear the signs of His life and love before others.
According to Emanuel Swedenborg, Jacob’s journey represents our own spiritual journey, especially the lifelong process of regeneration. Even while our attention is often fixed on outward concerns—our work, relationships, achievements, and daily responsibilities—the Lord is quietly guiding us inwardly, leading us toward spiritual transformation. Like Jacob, we may not always recognize what God is doing within us, but His providence is continually at work.
My brothers and sisters in God, I invite you to spend some time in quiet reflection this week. What occupies your heart most deeply? What blessings are you seeking, and why? As we wrestle with life’s challenges and with our own inner struggles, may we discover that the greatest blessing is not merely what God gives us, but the new person He is shaping us to become. May the Lord bless you and gently lead you along the inward journey of regeneration.
Blessings,
Rev. Junchol Lee