The Night I Wrestled God

The Night I Wrestled God is a story based on the events recorded in Genesis. In this tale, Jacob has an epic wrestling match with God. Amid their struggle, God sees that he cannot overpower Jacob, so he touches the socket of Jacob's hip and wrenches it. God then demands that Jacob let him go. Jacob, now wounded, refuses to let God go until God bestows a blessing.

The events leading up to that night record Jacob as a man whose life is marked by lies, betrayal, and fraud. In his encounter with God, he must reckon with his shady past. How could God bless a man whose life was marked only by sin? How could God show mercy to a man whose redeeming qualities were sheer determination and cunning? However, God does not condemn Jacob; the conduct in his life seemed to have little bearing on God's favour toward him. Before God bestows His blessing, He gives Jacob a new name: "Israel." Hence, God names Jacob the father of the Jewish nation. In the unfolding drama, God redeemed the blessing Jacob secured through deceit. Therefore, the story of Jacob becomes an extraordinary embodiment of unconditional love and grace.