Young people, especially teenagers, often think they’re smarter than older folks. You see children who don’t listen to their parents because they assume their parents are old-fashioned and out of touch with modern life. Sure, they may be more tech-savvy or know things their parents don’t, but they overlook one truth—their parents have lived longer, seen more, and experienced things they haven’t.
In life, success requires more than just education and knowledge. You also need something that is called experience, and the wisdom that only comes from it. That’s why an employer won’t hire you, even with the right training, if you don’t also have the right experience.
Children should listen to and follow the godly examples of their parents—even though their parents aren’t perfect. In the same way, the stories of the patriarchs and other figures in Scripture are recorded for us to learn from. We are meant to draw lessons from their faithfulness to God and from their failures.
“Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”
— 1 Corinthians 10:11
In my previous post No Shortcuts to the Good Life (part of the series Knowing Who You Are), I briefly mentioned that the staff Jacob held at the end of his life carried deep significance. With this in mind, let’s do a deep dive.
“By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.”
— Hebrews 11:21
Picture the scene: an old, frail man, nearing the end of his life, leaning on a staff he had carried for more than 100 years. That staff represents the entire span of his life—his experiences and his encounters with God. It symbolizes many things: God’s faithfulness, providence, and protection. But it also stands for God’s wounding and bruising of him.
Jacob’s Wrestling and God’s Bruising
In my next posts, I’ll explore the other symbolisms of Jacob’s staff. But here, I want to focus on one truth: sometimes, God has to wound us before He can bless us or move us into the next phase of His blessings. This truth is powerfully illustrated in Jacob’s wrestling match with the angel in Genesis 32. But before we get there, if the idea of God bruising His people seems uncomfortable to you, consider Isaiah’s prophecies about Christ:
“But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.”
— Isaiah 53:5Then,
“Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.”
— Isaiah 53:10
First, verse 5 tells us Jesus was wounded and bruised for our sins. Then, verse 10 says that it pleased God to do it. This is not pleased as in God deriving pleasure from it, but as in that it served a purpose. God never rejoices at our pain—even when we suffer for sins. Now, let’s see how and why God bruised Jacob.
In Genesis 32, twenty years after Jacob fled home, he was returning to his father at God’s command. Knowing he would pass through Esau’s territory—and remembering their bitter parting—Jacob sent messengers to try to gain his brother’s favor. But Esau, instead of a welcome party, marched out with 400 armed men. Clearly, reconciliation was not on his mind.
Jacob panicked. He tried all kinds of schemes, but none could save him. God had promised to protect Jacob, but there was a problem—Jacob still carried unconfessed sin. Twenty years earlier, he had deceived his father and stolen Esau’s birthright blessing. God could not let Jacob go forward until that sin was dealt with. So, God brought him to the place of prayer.
“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.”
— Genesis 32:24
This “Man”—I believe an angel—wrestled Jacob all night but could not overpower him. Finally, he touched Jacob’s hip and dislocated it. Still Jacob refused to let go.
“I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
— Genesis 32:26
Then the angel asked him:
“What is your name?”
— Genesis 32:27
Jacob answered, “Jacob”.
By saying his name, Jacob confessed who he truly was. Jacob means “supplanter.” For the first time, he admitted his guilt. Only then could God bless him.
Maybe God has also been wrestling with you. Perhaps He’s waiting for you to stop resisting, to finally own up to whatever sin you’ve been carrying. Remember His warning:
“My Spirit shall not always strive with man.”
— Genesis 6:3
You may want God’s blessings, but they could be delayed because you’ve refused to surrender to His will or admit wrongdoing. Sometimes, it might be a character flaw that makes you unready. You could be facing struggles in your marriage, work, health, or even with your children. It could be that God is allowing you to be bruised—not to harm you, but to bring you to repentance or self-recognition. Until you confess, turn back to Him, or make the necessary changes, He cannot move you forward. God longs to bless you, but He will not do so until you surrender.
To be clear, not every struggle you face is because you need to surrender to God on something. Not every hardship is the result of hidden sin. Job, for example, endured great trials—not because he had anything to confess or repent of, but because God was holding him up as a living example of faithfulness. Jesus was not bruised because of sin—He was bruised for the purpose of our redemption and salvation.
From that night on, Jacob walked with a limp leaning on that staff (Genesis 32:31–32)—a permanent reminder of this divine encounter and chastening. Sometimes God leaves lasting marks on us too, reminders of where we’ve been and warnings never to return there. Jacob’s staff carried that lesson, and it still speaks to us today.
In the coming posts, I’ll unpack the other meanings behind Jacob’s staff. Until then, remain blessed.