Genesis 32:30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

This is a very interesting incident. Things were definitely not as Jacob perceived them, but they were certainly part of God’s plan to transform him from the devious, self-centered person he had been into the patriarch of the Jewish people that he became. Bible scholars are pretty well agreed that this was an angel who wrestled with Jacob, but even at that, this was a “fixed fight.” That anyone or anything could prevail over the infinite Creator is out of the question, and actually, that a human being could prevail over an angel is pretty absurd. God wanted Jacob to be prepared for his confrontation with Esau, whom he had every reason to fear, and He also didn’t want him to get cocky. This “wrestling match” accomplished that, letting him know that God wasn’t out to squash him, but also giving him a lifelong physical reminder that he couldn’t get by on his own. Jacob’s theology certainly wouldn’t pass muster in any genuinely Christian seminary today. He had no foundation to understand things as we see them. However, the perception that he had been face-to-face with divinity, and yet had survived, shook him to his core. We aren’t likely to have such a physical encounter with God as Jacob did, but we too need the awareness that God is intensely personal, that He cares about us, and He’s not out to crush us. We can see Him in Jesus Christ, whether or not we are given any direct visions, because His Word portrays Him in every way we need it to. We too need to know that apart from Him we can do nothing, (John 15:5) but that’s just fine, because in Him we can do anything and everything He asks of us. (Philippians 4:13)

I am delighted to be reminded of this specific verse, because a Korean missionary friend has named his church Peniel, and I was wracking my brain for the specific reference for that name. Calling your church, “The Face of God,” isn’t bad! Churches and individual believers alike should be presenting the face of God to the people around them. We are to increasingly be like Jesus, who said to Philip, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:9) We won’t represent Him perfectly on this earth, but we are to be more and more transformed into His likeness. (1 John 3:2) Not everyone will respond well to seeing Christ in us, (Colossians 1:27) but we aren’t to let that discourage us. I experience moments almost every day when I am aware that someone is seeing God through me, and I am humbled and grateful. My prayer is that I would be more and more Peniel, so that people may be drawn to Him in repentance and faith, for their salvation and His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I’ll be recording three messages this morning for CGN Christian TV. I can’t do that right on my own, but You can certainly use me. May I be prepared as You want me to be, accurately representing You and Your Word, so that people may be touched and transformed, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!