PENIEL

 

Last Shabbat's Parasha took us to the bank of the Jabbok brook, where a frightened Jacob was taking precautionary measures before meeting his brother Esau, who was about to launch an assault on him and his entourage. Splitting his family into two groups ("camps"), so as not to be bereaved of all of them, was a desperate move on the part of this man who was making his way back to the land of his fathers. But to Jacob's credit, it must be pointed out that he also did something else – he addressed the Elohim of his father Abraham and the Elohim of his father Isaac – YHVH who had called him to return to his land. Jacob prayed and asked the Elohim, who according to his admittance, had shown him much favor, to rescue him from his brother. He then did something else, he sent many gifts of livestock to Esau, to entreat his favor. Having done all things he was still restless on that fatal night; he therefore arose and took his now double entourage and helped them cross the Jabbok brook. Left alone, was Jacob at the mercy of his brother, or was he at the mercy of his Elohim? … Whose authority did he deem to be the greater in this situation?

But Jacob didn't have to ponder for long, as suddenly he found himself in a struggle. Out of nowhere, there appeared "a man" who fought him until the break of dawn. At such a time Jacob no doubt forgot his troubles, the possible outcome of his encounter with his brother, and the future and fate of his family. The current situation left him no choice but to concentrate on what was at hand, including the dialog between him and his unnamed opponent. Having fought hard and relentlessly, and although now maimed, a shift of focus has taken place in this man's state of mind – as he has just seen Elohim face to face, but his life has been spared. If seeing Elohim has not brought about an end to his life, meeting his brother certainly seemed much less consequential. What's more, he was no longer Jacob, he was now Israel who "struggled with Elohim and with men and prevailed".  Jacob named the place of his momentous encounter Pni-El. But in the next verse, the name is transformed into Pnu-El. 

"When a man's ways please YHVH, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him" (Proverbs 16:7 emphases added).  Evidence of this truism is found in Jacob's words to his brother Esau following the nocturnal episode: "If I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of Elohim, and you were pleased with me" (Genesis 33:10 emphasis added).

Ezekiel chapter 20 covers an extended time period, past and future, with an abridging passage that may be quite relevant to our day. Here are some excerpts from that interim segment: "And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will plead My case with you face to face... "I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant" (vs. 35,37 emphases added). When the sheep pass under the shepherd's rod, they do so one by one, for the shepherd to examine each individually.  Additionally, in Isaiah chapter 27:12, we read: "And it shall come to pass in that day that YHVH will thresh, from the channel of the River to the Brook of Egypt; And you will be gathered one by one, O you children of Israel" (emphases added). Are all these prophecies cornering each member of restored Israel into their respective Peniel moments? And what about the name change, mentioned above, from Peni-El to Penu-El? (That is, in 32:31 it is no longer Peni-El, but rather "Penu-El" – TURN TO EL).

The Pni-El - Pnu-El experience not only accomplished the peace that now existed between the two brothers but also established Jacob as a man with a clear and fearless vision as to his affairs and the calling that was put upon his life by his Elohim. When offered to come and live under his brother's auspices, which could have been a tempting proposition, Jacob didn't hesitate, and declined (politely, we may add) the generous offers "and [he] journeyed to Succoth, built himself a house... (Genesis 33:17).  

Turning to El, resolve and clarity were the results of Jacob's water-shed experience. Thus, before their reunion, an experience of no lesser magnitude is awaiting Jacob's-Israel's sons at the bank of each of their own Jabbok* experience!

*Jabbok – Yabbok – possible root a.v.k (alef, bet/vet, kof) meaning "dust", as is also the meaning of "struggle" – ma'avak. Or, b.k.k. (bet, kof, kof) which is "to empty/pour out".