Jacob discovers a new self.

We find Jacob at the point of change in his life. Jacob is moving for the first half of life into the second half of life. This step is radical discipleship by Ron Rolheiser, OMI or as Richard Rohr describes it as the second half of life. I like both of these descriptions because they describe the process of becoming or returning to individuals as God intended. The process of returning formed in the image of God.

One thing we find that has changed in his thinking from either/or to both/and thinking. The is one of the signs of change as people advance on their spiritual journey. The simplistic thinking of either/or does not continue to remain in their thinking and actions.

Esau chooses the both/and. He accepts Jacob’s return by welcoming home. Jacob had not expected to receive this kind of welcome. Jacob discovers his code of existence either/or is replaced by both/and. Jacob returns home, plus he is welcomed back by his brother. He can now experience a new way of living out his life.

The best of both worlds is possible. This is like those of us who like cowboy movies but do not care for alien movies. Now we can enjoy both at the same time with Cowboys and Aliens. Jacob finds himself in a world where he does not need to prove to himself that he is the strongest, smartest or superior in anyway. He can now just be Jacob.

Jacob's challenge

Why does God wrestle with Jacob? Many suggest that God responds to Jacob’s history of deception; the story constitutes a disciplinary move on God’s part to teach Jacob that he cannot proceed into the future relying on his own devices. Up to this point Jacob’s life, his behavior has basically been along the path he chooses. The struggle up to this point has come from his desire to achieve the set goals in his life.

The struggle or wrestling with God brings Jacob to a place of change in his life. The inner change within himself may not have been realized at this point in his life. His main goal has been survival, saving his own life. Now he receives a name and purpose. All the change has been done by God, Jacob has been the object being acted on by God.

How will Jacob respond when faced with the challenge of the future? Has God adequately prepared Jacob for this change?

Jacob wrestles with God

Jacob has come to the edge of his resources. He reaches appoint where he cannot deal with his relationship with God with his present skills and resources. At this point in our spiritual journey, we can find no reason to leave our present comfort zone. We will not leave this comfortable spot until we are forced to leave. The invitation has to be unexpected and unsought by ourselves.

Jacob finds that he is no longer in the driver’s seat. This could be the first time in his life that he is not in control. He also finds that his present plan is not sufficient to take him where he wants to go, back home. Only at this point does Jacob reach out to the real source that provides him a way home. Before, Laban had allowed Jacob to name his own wages but now God does not allow him to choose. There is only one way for Jacob.

At some point in our lives, we recognize that we have reached the place where we cannot fix, control, change, or understand this turmoil happening within us. Jacob has reached this place in his life as he wrestles with the messenger from God.

We see this happening in Paul’s experience on the Damascus road. The voice says, “It hurts to kick against the goad (Acts 26:14b). The goad is a sharpened stick for prodding and steering cattle. The symbol of this object is that it pushes us forward even beyond the point we wish to go and in the direction we do not want to go. Jacob experiences being pushed beyond his comfort zone into a new relationship with God that was never possible in his former state of being.

Jacob seeks a new journey

Jacob begins to feel the desire to return home. He has spent several years raising a family, securing financial security but realizes something is missing. He asks Laban for permission to go to his own home and country. Jacob is seeking spiritual maturity. He is seeking the opportunity to return home. Jacob is seeking to enter the second half of life. Though he does not know the details of his journey he desires to begin the journey.

What happens to Jacob and his search for the path to return home? His uncle discourages his when he offers Jacob an opportunity to receive more things. Jacob will receive all the spotted and speckled goats and sheep.

Richard Rohr says this is what happens when one moves from the first half of life into the second half of life. The world we live in is a first half of life world. The goal is to acquire “The Three P’s” or power, prestige, and possessions. This is what Laban offers Jacob to discourage the process of moving to the second half of life. The first half of life is prepared to offer us anything to keep us from returning home.

The three p’s stand between Jacob and his new name!

Jacob leaves for home

Jacob feels the need to return home. He has been gone twenty odd years. This becomes both a physical longing for home as well as a spiritual movement in Jacob’s life. The part of Jacob’s life up to this point some would refer to as the Lizard brain-reproduction and gathering stage. He as a family and also has acquired great wealth. Jacob has been preparing all his life for this time, although he may have never realized this point.

We find Jacob at a place where he is left alone wrestles with God. The image begins as a man or messenger but everyone sees this as God or a direct representative of God. Jacob wrestles all night maintaining in control of this situation. For the first time in his life while being in control he does not receive the blessing he is asking for. He does receive a new name along with all that it means for the future. It does not seem that this was what Jacob was actually expecting.

Reaching the end of the wrestling match, he does not know for certain what will happen next. About the only difference is that he is no longer afraid. He has confidence to continue the journey.

The spiritual transformation has occurred. Spiritual maturity begins with a new awakening. Jacob will continue to have trouble in his life. He is returning to the original person God intended his to be. Created in the image of God.

Jacob’s story is our story. We all struggle to return to the point where we were created in the image of God. Back to the beginning seem like we have not accomplished much on this journey. This is an invitation to a further journey. Richard Rohr says: “A journey into the second half of our own lives awaits us all. Not everybody goes there…A further journey is a well kept secret for some reason.” (Richard Rohr Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life)