"Let me go, for the dawn is breaking."

[Precis]

I think JAY has the right thought in understanding this verse. I to believe that GOD was in a manifested body and that GOD refused to give HIS name to Jacob for this reason. GOD was or could be telling Jacob of the New Covenant and wanted to make sure he was going to be as his grandfather Abraham in standing for GOD as Abraham was. The New Covenant is a new day or a new dawning. What I don't understand is why the Entity would not give his name. Abraham got to see GOD in a manifested body twice, once as Melchizedec and once as just an ordinary man with two other men at Abraham's tent door. even though GOD never said HE was GOD by name. The scripture states it is GOD. Abraham pleaded with GOD over the people of Sodom where Lot was. Yet there is so much we lack in understanding but GOD will give the true answer to a person that is truly diligent in prayer and fasting desiring more closeness with GOD.

[Praxeas]

God sent the angel to do a job and was on a time table of sorts?

This was supposed to happen before Esau came

Gen 33:1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked. And behold, Esau came, and four hundred men with him. And he divided the children to Leah, and to Rachel, and to the two handmaids.

[Hoovie]

Perhaps it really meant nothing to the angel at all, but he was being compassionate on his human counterpart that had wrestled through the night.

[stony ground]

My take was that God knew Jacob was to meet Esau that morning and wanted him to make that meeting. I don't think it was a coincidence that God's will for Jacob's life forced him to have to confront his brother and their past emnity before Jacob could be where God wanted him to be (literally and spiritually).

[Lafon]

Originally Posted by shag

Gen. 32:26
Then he said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking." But he said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."


So, why was he concerned about the sun coming up, or was he just saying he's tired of wrestling with Jacob?

When considering the entire context of the scriptural record describing the circumstances which transpired during this encounter between Jacob and God, I believe the language used to describe this event must be construed in the metaphorical sense. I am not one that believes every statement of the scriptures should be interpreted literally (some of them, yes, but not necessarily all), for we are advised by the words of Proverbs 25:2 that God conceals the truth about things, and demands that we invest of our time and energies to search them out for ourselves.

That is to say, I do not believe that the words of these scriptural passages imply Jacob participated in an actual physical contest that involved a close grappling with a theophany of the Spirit [i.e., a manifestation of God to man in a form that, though visible, is not necessarily material]. Rather I believe the language used here implies that Jacob conducted a lengthy [night long] struggle in prayer directed to God, during which He appeared to him much in the same manner as He oft-times appears visibly and speaks to His servants today [or am I the only one that has experienced such a thing?].

Moreover, I believe that when God said to Jacob, “Let me go, for the day breaketh,” it is, again in the metaphorical sense, language which indicates that God was acknowledging Jacob’s persistent, prolonged struggle in prayer as evidence of his faith, and that the time had come for his petition for protection to come to an end.

To enable Jacob to recognize that his petition would be granted, God said to him, “ Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”

These represent my personal thoughts concerning this event, and, as always, I tender them for consideration of their merits.