It was in a lonely, mountainous region, the haunt of wild beasts and the lurking place of robbers and murderers. Solitary and unprotected, Jacob bowed in deep distress upon the earth. It was midnight. All that made life dear to him were at a distance, 197 exposed to danger and death. Bitterest of all was the thought that it was his own sin which had brought this peril upon the innocent. With earnest cries and tears he made his prayer before God. Suddenly a strong hand was laid upon him. He thought that an enemy was seeking his life, and he endeavored to wrest himself from the grasp of his assailant. In the darkness the two struggled for the mastery. Not a word was spoken, but Jacob put forth all his strength, and did not relax his efforts for a moment. While he was thus battling for his life, the sense of his guilt pressed upon his soul; his sins rose up before him, to shut him out from God. But in his terrible extremity he remembered God's promises, and his whole heart went out in entreaty for His mercy. The struggle continued until near the break of day, when the stranger placed his finger upon Jacob's thigh, and he was crippled instantly. The patriarch now discerned the character of his antagonist. He knew that he had been in conflict with a heavenly messenger, and this was why his almost superhuman effort had not gained the victory. It was Christ, "the Angel of the covenant," who had revealed Himself to Jacob. The patriarch was now disabled and suffering the keenest pain, but he would not loosen his hold. All penitent and broken, he clung to the Angel; "he wept, and made supplication" (Hosea 12:4), pleading for a blessing. He must have the assurance that his sin was pardoned. Physical pain was not sufficient to divert his mind from this object. His determination grew stronger, his faith more earnest and persevering, until the very last. The Angel tried to release Himself; He urged, "Let Me go, for the day breaketh;" but Jacob answered, "I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me." Had this been a boastful, presumptuous confidence, Jacob would have been instantly destroyed; but his was the assurance of one who confesses his own unworthiness, yet trusts the faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God.

Pludselig blev der lagt en stærk hånd på ham. Han troede, det var en fjende, der stræbte ham efter livet, og søgte at vriste sig ud af angriberens tag. I mørket kæmpede de to om overtaget. Der blev ikke sagt et ord; men Jakob lagde alle sine kræfter i og slappede ikke af et eneste øjeblik. Mens han således kæmpede for livet, tyngede skyldfølelsen hans sjæl, og han kom til at tænke på sine synder, der skilte ham fra Gud. Men i sin store nød mindedes han Guds løfter, og af hele sin sjæl bad han om Guds nåde. Kampen fortsatte til kort før daggry. Da rørte den fremmede ved Jakobs hofte med sin finger, så at Jakob øjeblikkelig blev krøbling. Patriarken forstod nu, hvem hans modstander var. Han vidste, at han havde kæmpet med et himmelsk sendebud, og at det var derfor, at han trods næsten overmenneskelige anstrengelser ikke havde vundet sejren. Det var Kristus, "pagtens engel", der havde åbenbaret sig for Jakob. Patriarken var nu vanfør og led stærke smerter; men han ville ikke slippe sit tag. Dybt angrende og sønderknust klyngede han sig til engelen; "han bad ham med gråd om nåde" (Hos. 12, 5) og tryglede om en velsignelse. Han måtte have en forsikring om, at hans synd var tilgivet. Trods fysiske smerter tabte han ikke dette mål af syne. Hans beslutsomhed blev stærkere og hans tro mere alvorlig og udholdende lige til det sidste. Engelen prøvede at gøre sig fri. Han sagde: "Slip mig, thi morgenen gryr!" Men Jakob svarede: "Jeg slipper dig ikke, uden du velsigner mig!" Hvis dette var blevet sagt i overmodig formastelig selvtillid, ville Jakob øjeblikkelig være blevet dræbt; men hans frimodighed skyldtes, at han erkendte sin egen uværdighed og stolede på den trofaste Gud, der holder sin pagt.