Jacob Wrestling with the Angel

Jacob wrestling with the angel is a biblical story found in Genesis. The account includes the renaming of Jacob as Israel, literally "He who struggles with God." So here he is wrestling with an Angel. Why? Jacob was anxious to make peace with his brother Esau, whom he had not seen for more than twenty years. Esau hated Jacob and planned to meet him with a small army. Jacob realized he needed God’s help so he prayed all night. The angel appeared in front of him presenting Jacob with his sins and true character. But as the angel turned to leave Jacob grabbed hold of him and would not let him go. He pleaded that he had deeply repented of his sins and wrestled all night with the angel, demanding a blessing. In the struggle the angel touched the socket of Jacob’s thigh joint and because of this Jacob limped for the rest of his life. Perhaps it was to teach him humility; a constant reminder not to be overly exalted because of his God-given prosperity or for having grappled with an angel.