Day 227: He Struck Jacob’s Hip
Genesis 32:23-33
Since the beginning, man has tried to take control over God and others. Instead of having an open hand and receiving the blessing from God, Adam and Eve took the apple because they wanted to be like God apart from God; that is, by their own doing. Jacob is an interesting character. Not only did he swindle Esau out of his birthright, but even after receiving God’s blessing from Isaac, he is unwilling to release the angel until he receives God’s blessing. The angel changes his name to Israel because, “you have striven [or contended] with God and with men, and have prevailed,” (Gen 32:28, brackets NABRE).
Jacob is one, therefore, who has grappled with man and God. This is not necessarily a good thing. Being a stubborn trickster with a control problem can lead to many bad things, some of which are seen in Jacob’s life, such as taking multiple wives. Not only does he not think that his father’s blessing is good enough, he thinks he must take it by force.
“Christ does not force our will, He takes only what we give Him. But He does not give Himself entirely until He sees that we yield ourselves entirely to Him.”
Saint Teresa of Ávila
John recounts, “but Jesus did not trust himself to them, because he knew all men and needed no one to bear witness of man; for he himself knew what was in man,” (Jn 2:24-25). If Christ reveals man to himself (cf. GS 22:1), and man cannot find himself without a sincere gift of himself (cf. GS 24:3), then we must give ourselves entirely to Christ Who will reveal who we were meant to be.
There is something too about the Jewish people not eating the sciatic muscle where Jacob was struck. The covenant sign of circumcision can seem confusing out of context. Man wanted to be like God and pass on divine life without Him, so in order to remind man that God is the Author of Life and the Lord and Giver of Life, this sign was implemented. Likewise, not eating the hip socket reminds the people of where they came from; that they are part of something bigger than themselves. Though Jacob was acting out of insecurity and pride, he is a father to the people of God. He serves as a reminder that God will always provide for those who have not only tried to understand and wrestle with men and God, like the author of Ecclesiastes, but that when one gives oneself over to God completely, there will be no need to fight for blessings and grace. They will be given by a loving Father Who desires nothing but our true happiness and fulfillment.
Prayer: Lord, help me to give my entire self to You, knowing that I am not losing anything, but gaining all things for myself and those whom I love