创世记32:22-30
恩惠、平安从父神和救主耶稣基督归于你们所有盼望他祝福的人。阿们。
在今天的旧约经文中，摩西记载了两个人摔跤的故事，其中一个叫雅各，这个我们都很熟悉，圣经中常常提到亚伯拉罕、以撒和雅各的神。我们先看这个摔跤事件的背景。雅各按照神的吩咐和应许带领他全家归回本地本族，就是他父亲以撒和神的应许之地那里。他之前离开迦南地，去他母舅拉班那里逃难，要逃离他哥哥以扫。为什么呢？他哥哥以扫因为雅各用诡计从父亲以撒那里骗取了长子的祝福，就嫉恨他，准备要杀他。所以，不得已，雅各就逃离了。这一走就是整整二十年，在这期间，偏爱他的母亲利百加也早已不在人世了。
按照人的意思，雅各肯定不愿意回来的，但他回去，是凭着信心，神应许他了，“回你本地本族去，我要厚待你。”（创世记32:9）雅各在那舅舅那里，娶了两个媳妇不说，还生了十一个儿子，当然至少还有一个女儿，还有一个儿子没多久就要出生。虽然跟他舅舅因为财产纷争，关系不太好，但还过得去，因为他舅舅也清楚，雅各的耶和华上帝祝福他，也藉着雅各祝福自己。雅各这个时候积累了许多产业啊。他自己不也向神祷告说：“你向仆人所施的一切慈爱和诚实，我一点也不配得；我先前只拿着我的杖过这约旦河，如今我却成了两队了。”（创世记32:10）但雅各义无反顾地归回了。
回去可不是一件容易的事啊，不仅要逃离拉班——因为这个时候拉班是不会轻易让他走的，还要面对这二十年前的旧账。谁知道以扫的怨气消了没有。他们快到老家的时候，前方放哨的仆人回来说，以扫带着四百人迎过来了。雅各一看，这情况不对啊。赶紧把队伍分成一批一批的，最前面几队都是带着礼物要送给以扫的，自己跟妻子和儿女在最后面，盼望礼物先到，以扫的怒气逐渐消解，面对面相见的时候能够和好。
雅各这个时候把人的智慧都用尽了，但可想而知，他内心仍然是忐忑不安，害怕啊。他也有犹豫，要不要过雅博渡口，仆人和群羊都过去了，只剩下妻子和儿女，还有自己了。如果过去了，那就是破釜沉舟，没有回头路了。如果不过去，这个渡口可以作为最后一道防线，看见情况不对，或许可以有机会逃走，但也可能因此更加激怒他的哥哥以扫，而且以扫马上就要到跟前了。没办法，只能凭着信心，相信神的应许，知道神必会给他预备平安的路，所以就在“夜间起来，带着两个妻子，两个使女，并十一个儿子，都过了雅博渡口。”（创世记32:22）
就在他所有心思都被自己与哥哥以扫的恩怨以及能否和好占据的时候，“有一个人来和他摔跤，直到黎明。”（创世记32:24）我们想一想，这二十年前自己和母亲利百加所做的欺骗行为，应该是历历在目了。羞愧、自责、软弱、担心以及对母亲的怀念等等所有复杂的情绪都涌上心头，五味杂陈。也可以说，这个时候最不需要的就是有人打扰他，更不要说在这漆黑的夜晚跟他摔跤到天亮了。他需要的是独处和安静的时间，对不对，就像我们遇到事儿的时候也需要这样。雅各也的确是这样做的，经文说：“只剩下雅各一人。”（创世记32:24）
然而就在这时候，偏偏有人来打扰，这不是来添乱吗？其实不是，这个来找雅各摔跤的不是别人，正是应许他平安的神，与他同在同行的神，赦免他罪过、挪去他羞耻的神，要亲自祝福他的神。我们怎么知道是神在跟雅各摔跤呢？我们看这些细节，雅各自己说的，“你不给我祝福，我就不容你去。”在这漆黑的夜晚，谁还会跟他单独摔跤到天亮，而且让雅各胜过他——虽然按照实力，这个对手只需要摸一下大腿窝就能让雅各瘸腿呢？还有，这个人给雅各改名叫以色列的时候，说“你与神与人较力，都得了胜。”（创32:28）当雅各问他名字的时候，这人说：“何必问我的名？”（创32:29）最后雅各给这个摔跤的地方起名叫毗努伊勒，意思就是“我面对面见了神，我的性命仍得保全。”（创32:30）
弟兄姐妹们，神做事情的方式常常出乎意料，并不按照我们所期待的方式。如果是你处在雅各的位置，你会期待神怎么帮助呢？比如，亲自照亮整个星空，亲自向他们所有人显现，尤其是自己的哥哥以扫，最需要神亲自显现，吩咐他要爱，要饶恕自己的兄弟等等。但神没有，夜晚仍然是漆黑一片，他的哥哥和所带的四百人依然是快马加鞭朝自己赶来。他的妻子儿女的安全也没有什么保障。哥哥能否饶恕自己仍然是一个大问题。有时候是不是这样，要得到人的饶恕是难的，比得到神的饶恕难多了。人不都是这样吗？人看起来要比神更加所谓的“主持公义”，不轻易饶恕。然而神不跟人一样，他不轻易发怒，满有怜悯恩慈。
神这个时候来找雅各摔跤，也恰是时候，因为雅各最需要的就是转向神，他最需要的就是耶和华神向他仰脸、光照他，祝福他，更新他，坚固他。我们要感谢神，主动寻找人摔跤。不是这样吗？这位跟雅各摔跤的是上帝第二位格耶稣基督，是神也是人，“你与神与人较力，都得了胜。”你说道还没有成肉身，基督还没有降世为人，哪来的基督啊？这是旧约当中常常出现的场景，耶稣基督提前临时性地变成人的样式，跟人打交道。约翰福音1：18“从来没有人看见神，只有父怀里的独生子将他表明出来。”雅各亲眼见到的神就是神人耶稣基督。
感谢上帝，基督时候满足，就成了人，且死在十字架上。他亲自寻找世人，与世人摔跤，并且被人胜过了，被人诬陷、鞭打、钉死在十字架上。第三天还未到黎明时刻，主耶稣就死里复活了。并且要升天回到父上帝的右边。在这之前，基督祝福门徒们，赐给他们平安的话语，赐下圣灵和赦罪的权柄。今天，我们凭着信心来迎接神继续跟我们每一个人摔跤，为的是叫我们完全认识他，依靠他，领受他的祝福。这个摔跤就是藉着主的话语，圣经来实现的。“圣经都是神所默示的，于教训、督责、使人归正、教导人学义都是有益的……务要传道，无论得时不得时总要专心，并用百般的忍耐、各样的教训责备人，警戒人，劝勉人。因为时候要到，人必厌烦纯正的道理，耳朵发痒，就随从自己的情欲。”（提摩太后书3:16；4:2-3）
读圣经是不是与神摔跤啊，如果按照人的理性，人的意愿，我们是反感神的话语的，因为这话语要对付我们身上的邪情私欲，对付我们的罪啊，神要藉着圣经的话摸我们的大腿窝，让我们瘸腿，不靠自己的智慧，不靠人的力量。但神不要我们放弃，在这看似不符合理性的话语中，圣灵赐给我们信心，仰望主的应许。不是凭着眼见，而是凭着信心，雅各在这漆黑的夜晚认识这位摔跤的是耶稣基督。同样，我们也是凭着信心认识我们的救主耶稣基督，信靠他的话语，在这黑暗的世界中知道我们有神的同在，有光照亮我们前面的路。他赐给我们饶恕和平安，也赐给我们力量把这份赦罪和平安带给身边的人。
每个主日，我们聚在一起，藉着祷告恳求主的祝福，“你不给我祝福，我就不容你去。”主在教会里面，已经借着洗礼赐给我们所有弟兄姐妹们一个新的称呼，基督徒，神的儿女。我们不仅是聆听主的话语，而且还尝了生命的宴席，就是主耶稣的身体和血在圣餐礼中赐给我们，这是何等的亲密无间，何等的生命赐给我们。感谢上帝。奉圣父、圣子、圣灵的名。阿们。
Genesis 32:22-30
Grace and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to all who hope for his blessing. Amen.
In today's Old Testament text, Moses records the story of two people wrestling. One of them, Jacob, is very familiar to us, as the Bible often mentions the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Let us first look at the background of this wrestling incident. Jacob was leading his entire family back to his fatherland, the place of promise to his father Isaac, as commanded and promised by God. He had previously fled Canaan to his maternal uncle Laban's place, seeking refuge from his brother Esau. Why? His brother Esau hated him because Jacob had cunningly taken the firstborn's blessing from their father Isaac and intended to kill him. Thus, out of necessity, Jacob fled. This journey lasted a full twenty years, during which his mother, Rebekah, had already passed away.
According to human reasoning, Jacob surely would not have wanted to return, but he went back by faith, for God had promised him: "Return to your country and to your kindred, and I will do you good." (Genesis 32:9). At his uncle's place, not only did Jacob marry two wives, but he also had eleven sons—and, of course, at least one daughter, with another son soon to be born. Although his relationship with his uncle was strained due to disputes over wealth, it was manageable because his uncle also knew that Jacob's LORD God blessed him and, through Jacob, blessed Laban himself. By this time, Jacob had accumulated great possessions. Didn't he himself pray to God: "I am not worthy of the least of all the steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps." (Genesis 32:10). But Jacob returned resolutely.
Returning was not an easy matter. Not only did he have to escape Laban—who at this time would not let him go easily—but he also had to face the twenty-year-old conflict. Who knew if Esau's resentment had subsided? As they approached their homeland, the servants sent ahead as scouts returned, saying that Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men. Jacob saw that the situation was critical. He immediately divided his company into groups. The foremost groups were carrying gifts for Esau, while he, his wives, and children were at the back, hoping that the gifts would arrive first, gradually appeasing Esau's anger, and that they might reconcile when they met face to face.
Jacob had exhausted all human wisdom at this point, but it is understandable that his heart was still unsettled and fearful. He hesitated about crossing the Jabbok ford. The servants and flocks had crossed, leaving only his wives, children, and himself. If he crossed, it would be 'burning the boats,' with no turning back. If he did not cross, the ford could serve as a final line of defense, where, seeing an adverse situation, he might have a chance to escape. However, not crossing might further provoke his brother Esau, who was already fast approaching. There was no way out but to rely on faith, trusting in God's promise and knowing that God would surely prepare a peaceful path for him. Therefore, "he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok." (Genesis 32:22).
Just when all his thoughts were occupied by his conflict with his brother Esau and the possibility of reconciliation, "a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day." (Genesis 32:24). Let us consider that the deceitful act committed by him and his mother Rebekah twenty years earlier must have been vividly present in his mind. Shame, self-reproach, weakness, worry, and missing his mother—all complex emotions surged up, a mix of feelings. It could be said that what he needed least at this moment was to be disturbed, let alone to be wrestled with in the dark of night until morning. He needed time alone and quiet, didn't he, just as we do when we encounter difficulties. And Jacob was indeed doing this; the scripture says: "And Jacob was left alone." (Genesis 32:24).
Yet, precisely at this moment, someone came to interrupt. Wasn't this just causing trouble? Actually, no. The one who came to wrestle with Jacob was none other than the God who promised him peace, the God who was with him and journeyed alongside him, the God who forgave his sins and removed his shame, the God who intended to personally bless him. How do we know it was God wrestling with Jacob? Let's look at the details: Jacob himself said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." In the dark of night, who else would wrestle with him alone until daybreak and allow Jacob to prevail over him—though this wrestler, by strength, needed only to touch the socket of Jacob's hip to make him lame? Furthermore, when this person renamed Jacob as Israel, he said, "for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed." (Gen 32:28). When Jacob asked his name, the man replied, "Why is it that you ask my name?" (Gen 32:29). Finally, Jacob named the place where they wrestled Peniel, saying, "for I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered." (Gen 32:30).
Brothers and sisters, God's way of doing things is often unexpected and not according to the manner we anticipate. If you were in Jacob's position, how would you expect God to help? For example, by personally illuminating the entire starry sky, by personally appearing to all of them, especially to his brother Esau, who most needed God's personal manifestation to command him to love and forgive his brother, and so on. But God did not do this. The night remained pitch black, and his brother with his four hundred men was still approaching them rapidly. The safety of his wives and children was also unsecured. Whether his brother would forgive him remained a huge question. Is it sometimes the case that obtaining human forgiveness is difficult, much harder than obtaining God's forgiveness? Are people not all like this? Humans seem to be more so-called "upholders of justice" than God, not easily forgiving. Yet God is not like man; he is slow to anger and abounding in compassion and mercy.
God's arrival to wrestle with Jacob at this time was also precisely the right moment, for what Jacob needed most was to turn to God. What he needed most was for the LORD God to lift up his countenance upon him, to shine upon him, to bless him, to renew him, and to strengthen him. We should thank God for actively seeking out humanity to wrestle. Is this not so? The one who wrestled with Jacob was the Second Person of the Godhead, Jesus Christ, who is both God and man: "You have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed." You might say that Christ had not yet become flesh, had not yet come into the world as a man, so how could it be Christ? This is a common scene in the Old Testament, where Jesus Christ temporarily takes the form of a man to interact with people. John 1:18: "No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known." The God Jacob saw with his own eyes was the future God-man, Jesus Christ.
Thank God that when the time was right, Christ became man and died on the cross. He personally sought out the world, wrestled with the world, and was overcome by humanity—falsely accused, scourged, and nailed to the cross. Before the break of dawn on the third day, the Lord Jesus rose from the dead. And he was to ascend to return to the right hand of God the Father. Before this, Christ blessed his disciples, giving them words of peace, bestowing the Holy Spirit and the authority to forgive sins. Today, we receive God's continued wrestling with each of us by faith, so that we may fully know him, rely on him, and receive his blessings. This wrestling is realized through the Lord's Word, the Holy Scriptures. "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness... preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions." (2 Timothy 3:16; 4:2-3).
Is reading the Bible not wrestling with God? According to human reason and human will, we are resistant to God's Word, for this Word must confront the wicked desires within us, confront our sins! God wants to use the words of Scripture to touch the hollow of our thigh, to make us limp, so we do not rely on our own wisdom or human strength. But God does not want us to give up. In this seemingly irrational Word, the Holy Spirit grants us faith to look to Lord's promises. Not by sight, but by faith, Jacob recognized the one wrestling with him in the dark night as Jesus Christ. Similarly, we too recognize our Savior Jesus Christ by faith, trust in his Word, and know in this dark world that we have God's presence and light to illuminate our path ahead. He grants us forgiveness and peace, and he also gives us the strength to bring this forgiveness and peace to those around us.
Every Lord's Day, we gather together, pleading for the Lord's blessing through prayer: "I will not let you go unless you bless me." In the Church, the Lord has already given all brothers and sisters a new name through Baptism—Christian, children of God. We not only listen to the Lord's Word but also taste the Feast of Life, which is the body and blood of the Lord Jesus given to us in Holy Communion. What intimate closeness this is, what life is given to us! Thanks be to God. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.