Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are known at the patriarchs of the Jewish people. In the Bible (Genesis 32:24-32), a story is found of Jacob wrestling with a man. Before the end of the story, this man is also revealed to be a divine being, possibly an angel, or perhaps even God himself. What is most curious about this event is not that Jacob is wrestling with a divine being, but that the divine being does not prevail against Jacob.

This story thus presents at least two questions: With whom did Jacob wrestle? and Why was this person unable to prevail against Jacob? As the story clearly points to a divine being as the answer to the first question, the second question becomes much more significant. It leads us to ask how or why God did not prevail against Jacob. In fact, the paradox of this issue has led some to question or doubt the nature of the God of the Bible, and to question the Christian faith.

This article attempts to answer both questions that arise from this story: With whom did Jacob wrestle? and Why was this person unable to prevail against Jacob?