The Old Testament is filled with words that if you’re reading too fast, you’ll miss what this term means. At the conclusion of his wrestling match with an angel of the Lord, Jacob receives a revelation from God. Jacob was so moved by outlasting God, he named this particular place Peniel. The context of this dedication is the realization that Jacob has seen the face of God and lived.
Then Jacob asked Him, Tell me, I pray You, what [in contrast] is Your name? But He said, Why is it that you ask My name? And [b][the Angel of God declared] a blessing on [Jacob] there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel [the face of God], saying, For I have seen God face to face, and my life is spared and not snatched away, Genesis 32:29-30.
According to the scholars who completed the King James Version of the Bible, there are 783,137 words in this particular translation. Meanwhile, other theologians suggest that there are actually 790,676 totals words in the entire Bible. When I took a speed-reading course in my junior year of high school, this was designed to prevent me from daydreaming as I read. However, even when I daily study the Bible, I often glance over words like Peniel.
And as he passed Penuel [Peniel], the sun rose upon him, and he was limping because of his thigh. 32 That is why to this day the Israelites do not eat the sinew of the hip which is on the hollow of the thigh, because [the Angel of the Lord] touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh on the sinew of the hip, Genesis 32:31-32.
Dr. Temperance Brennan played by Emily Deschanel in the television series Bones would be fascinated by the above passage of the Bible. This is the type of knowledge that scientist’s geek out over. However, the more sentimental the individual, the place where this happened to Jacob will be more appealing. Subsequently, Peniel symbolizes the beginning of Israel, a new identity, and the end of Jacob. As modern Christians put into practice the apostle Paul’s advice in Colossians 3:5-14, you too can have a fresh start as a new creation in Christ Jesus.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 