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"He struggled with the Angel and prevailed"

Text: Hosea 12:4a

A SYMBOLIC STRUGGLE

The long wrestling match between Jacob and the Angel of the LORD lasted through the night.

“Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed;
He wept, and sought favour from Him.
He found Him in Bethel,
And there He spoke to us-”
Hosea 12:4

1. “Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed”

a) The word “wrestled” (Genesis 32:24) is interpreted as “struggled” (Hosea 12:4).

b) This word describes a number of things Jacob sought to do.

2. “He wept”

a) This was not mentioned in Genesis 32.

b) Hosea shed light on this struggle with the Angel of the LORD.

i) He must have struggled with his fear of being killed by his brother whom he deceived.

ii) He must have struggled with how he could obtain assurance that he would be spared.

iii) He wept before the Angel of the LORD as he struggled.

3. “And sought favour from Him”

a) Favour must be found.

b) This would come from prevailing prayer.

c) This would come from his exercise of faith in the LORD.

d) Favour was needed for:

i) Himself

ii) His family

iii) His future

4. “And prevailed”

a) God heard his prayers and saw his tears.

b) He had not faltered but had persevered.

c) God gave him a new name.

d) He would be called “Israel”.

e) This was a name with glorious significance.

f) Israel means, “A prince with God”.