The passage above, in Jeremiah, prophesies that the Woman in the wilderness would experience the "time of Jacob's trouble" This is the Biblical description of the intense crisis that the Woman would experience when brought face to face with Messiah; when the turning point of her entire life would be precipitated by Michael appearing in the wilderness to spend the night with her, to bring her into covenant relationship with Himself. This is a reference to the time when Michael, the Archangel of the covenant, came unexpectedly to deliver Jacob, at midnight, because he was facing death at the hand of his brother, Esau. Michael came to remove the cause in Jacob's character which was rendering him accessible to death at his brother's hand.
And Jacob was left alone, and a Man* wrestled with him until daybreak. And when the Man saw that He did not prevail against Jacob, He touched the hollow of his thigh; and Jacob's thigh was put out of joint as he wrestled with Him." "Yes, he had power over the Angel of the Lord (Michael the Archangel) and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor. He met him...and there God spoke with him, and through him, with us—even the Lord the God of hosts, the name of Him Who spoke with Jacob is the Lord." "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." Gen. 32:24,25; Hosea 12:4,5; Gen. 32:30 Amplified. *Amplified Footnote: This is God Himself (as Jacob eventually realizes).
We have compiled several inspired accounts of Jacob's night with Michael, the Archangel of the marriage covenant. If you have been spending the night of your soul with Michael, as He is Personally taking you through the greatest crisis of your own life, you will keenly relate to the details of Jacob's experience, for it was a historical parable of the experience of every soul who prevails with God, over their own self, at the hand of Michael, the Archangel of the marriage covenant. The night of the consummation of the soul with the Son of God is a very real process. I have seen so clearly that Michael, in Person, with the Woman in the wilderness, is dealing with us in exactly the same way as He dealt with Jacob centuries ago.
Jacob, in the great crisis of his life, wished to be alone with his God. He was filled with one overmastering purpose--to seek for transformation of character, and he had decided to spend the night in humiliation and prayer. [The people in the new land, the Woman in her wilderness retreat, have come away during the night of her wilderness feeding. It is the darkest hour and the crisis of her life.] All that made life dear to him was at a distance [outside of the new land in her old world], exposed to danger and death. The bitterest drop in his cup of anguish was the thought that his own sin had brought this great peril upon his wives and children, who were innocent of the sin of which he was guilty. God was his only refuge and strength. In Him was the patriarch's only hope.
It was in a lonely, mountainous region, the haunt of wild beasts and the lurking place of robbers and murderers. In a desolate place, solitary and unprotected, Jacob bowed in deep distress upon the earth; his soul was rent with anguish, and with earnest cries mingled with tears he made his prayer before God. It is the crisis of his life, and everything is at stake. It was midnight, and in the darkness and solitude he continues praying and humbling himself before God.
But while he was pleading with God, an enemy, as he supposed, placed his hand upon him, and he wrestled for his life. He put forth all his strength to resist him, supposing that he was wrestling with a lawless opponent, and in the hands of a robber or murderer [or adulterer]. He endeavored to wrest himself from the grasp of his assailant for he feels that this attack is a design upon his life. With all the energy of despair he wrestles. [It seems that the messenger is taking everything from her, even all of her possessions and family.] It was a life-and-death question with him. But the purpose of his soul was not changed by peril of life itself. The contest is severe; in the darkness [of soul while in the new land] the two struggle for the mastery; neither utters a word [of accusation or blame], but Jacob puts forth all his strength, and does not relax his efforts for a moment. He wrestled for hours [1260 days], but gained nothing over his opponent, and he dared not relax his efforts for one moment, lest he should be overcome and lose his life.
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. Satan had accused Jacob before the angels of God, claiming the right to destroy him because of his sin; he had moved upon Esau [past sins] to march against him; and during the patriarch's long night of wrestling, Satan endeavored to force upon him a sense of his guilt, in order to discourage him, and break his hold upon God. But in his terrible extremity he remembered God's promises, and his whole heart went out in entreaty for His mercy.
Jacob put forth all his strength and wrestled with all the energy of his being. The struggle continued until the dawn of day [until the Woman is actually able to start seeing herself as she really is]. His strength was almost exhausted, and neither had gained the victory. The contest went on until the stranger brought the conflict to a close. As the day begins to break, the stranger puts forth his superhuman power; at his touch the strong man seems paralyzed, and he falls, a helpless, weeping suppliant, upon the neck of his mysterious antagonist. It was not until then that Jacob learned who his opponent really was. Jacob knows now that it is the Angel of the covenant with whom he has been in conflict. He placed his finger upon Jacob's thigh, and the wrestler was crippled instantly. He knows that he has been in bodily conflict with a heavenly messenger, and this is why his almost superhuman efforts did not gain for him the victory.
In the inspired history of this event, the one who wrestled with Jacob is called a man; Hosea calls him the angel; while Jacob said, "I have seen God face to face." He is also said to have had power with God. It was the Majesty of Heaven, the Angel of the covenant, that came, in the form and appearance of a man, to Jacob. Jacob had wrestled all night with God before he gained the victory. But the Lord (Michael) put His finger with a divine touch upon him, and the wrestling ceased. He is now disabled [the Woman is disabled when she sees herself as she truly is] and suffering keenest pain . In his distress he falls, a conquered foe, all penitent and broken and weeping, upon the neck of the angel and held Him, and made supplication with tears. Jacob pleaded for his life, "Bless me, even me." He must have the assurance that his sin was pardoned, and he would not loosen his hold.
The heavenly Messenger, in order to try his faith, also reminds him of his sin, presenting his wrong before him in its true character, and endeavoring to escape from him. "Let me go, for the day breaketh," pleaded the Angel, but Jacob ceases not his intercession. As the angel turns to leave him, Jacob will not let him go; he will not loosen his hold.
The angel (Michael) seemed to be resisting his prayer, by continually calling his sins to his remembrance [in almost every meeting with the Woman that Michael has, and in every post], at the same time endeavoring to break away from him [being drawn out to His Father still more]. Jacob was determined to hold the angel, not only by physical strength, but by the power of living faith. Jacob would not give up his earnest efforts for bodily pain. His object was to obtain a blessing, and pain of body was not sufficient to divert his mind from his object.
In his distress Jacob referred to the repentance of his soul, the deep humility he had felt for his wrongs. The angel regarded his prayer with seeming indifference, continually making efforts to release himself from the grasp of Jacob. The divine messenger uses some force to release himself from the grasp of Jacob. The angel could easily have exercised his supernatural power and released himself, but he did not choose to do this. He pleads with Jacob, "Let me go, for the day breaketh." But it was Jacob's turn to make the terms, and the answer came from the suffering but determined Jacob," I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
As he reviewed his life, he was driven almost to despair; but he held fast the Angel (Michael). He ventures to plead the promises of God, and the tokens of his favor to him from time to time, in his absence from his father's house, and with earnest, agonizing cries urged his petition until he prevailed. His determination grew stronger, his faith more earnest and persevering, until the very last. Jacob's persevering faith prevailed. He held fast the angel until he obtained the blessing he desired, and the assurance of the pardon of his sins. That for which Jacob had vainly wrestled in his own strength was won through self-surrender and steadfast faith. Jacob was in fear and distress while he sought in his own strength to obtain the victory. He had mistook the divine visitor for an enemy, and contended with him while he had any strength left. But when he cast himself upon the mercy of God, he found that instead of being in the hands of an enemy, he was encircled in the arms of infinite love.
The error that had led to his sin in obtaining the birthright by fraud was now clearly set before him. He had not trusted God's promises, but had sought by his own efforts to bring about that which God was abundantly able to perform in his own time and way [He used almost superhuman energy to get better]. The suppliant's tears and prayers gained for him what he struggled in vain to obtain. Christ (Michael) has to make terms with this helpless soul. He cannot tear himself away from a soul wounded and helpless, and crying unto him for help. He saw God face to face, and his sins were pardoned.
Jacob had been pleading the promises of God; he had been trusting his pledged word, which is as sure and unfailing as his throne; and now, through humiliation, repentance, and self-surrender, this sinful, erring mortal, can make terms with Jesus Christ: "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." What boldness is here manifested! Was this presumption and undue familiarity on the part of Jacob? Had this been a boastful confidence, Jacob would have been instantly destroyed. He would not have lived through the scene. His was not a self-exalted, boastful, presumptuous claim, but the assurance of one who realizes his weakness and unworthiness, and the ability of God to fulfill his promise; it is the assurance of one who confesses his own unworthiness, yet trusts to the faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God.
Jacob "had power over the angel, and prevailed." This sinful, erring mortal prevailed with the Majesty of heaven (Michael, the Son of God). "And when he saw that he prevailed not against him" -- the Majesty of Heaven prevailed not against a man of dust, a sinful mortal! The reason is, that man has fastened the trembling hand of faith upon the promise of God, and the heart of infinite Love could not turn away the sinner's plea. The divine messenger cannot leave him who is hanging repentant, weeping, helpless upon his neck; His great heart of love cannot turn away from the suppliant without granting his request. Christ did not wish to leave him unblest when his soul was shrouded with despair; for he is more willing to give good things to them that ask him than are parents to give to their children.
Who was it that inspired Jacob's spirit of persistence? -- It was He who wrestled with him (Michael), it was He who gave him the victory, who changed his name from Jacob to Israel. The angel inquired of Jacob, "What is thy name?" And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, [the supplanter], but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. As an evidence that Jacob had been forgiven, his name was changed from one that was a reminder of his sin to one that commemorated his victory.
And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved" (Gen. 32:26-30). "Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him; he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us, even the Lord God of hosts; the Lord is his memorial." What a morning of light and joy dawned upon Jacob. The dark, despairing shadows brooding over him the previous night had disappeared. Jacob had received the blessing for which his soul had longed; his sin as a supplanter and deceiver was pardoned. The crisis in his life had passed.
Doubt, perplexity, and remorse had embittered Jacob's life; but now all was changed, and how sweet was the rest and peace in God, in the assurance of his restored favor. The brightness of the sun, shining in its glory, fitly represented the heavenly light that filled his soul. He was crippled in body, but his spirit was strong in God. He bore some marks of the battle, but the victory was his.
In his night of anguish beside the Jabbok, when destruction seemed just before him, Jacob had been taught how vain and groundless is all trust in human power. Jacob saw that his only help must come from Him against whom he had so grievously sinned. Helpless and unworthy, he pleaded God's promise of mercy to the repentant sinner. That promise was his assurance that God would pardon and accept him. Sooner might heaven and earth pass than that word could fail; and it was this that sustained him through that fearful conflict. He had learned that God is merciful, and he cast himself upon His mercy. By self surrender and confiding faith Jacob gained what he had failed to gain by conflict in his own strength. God thus taught his servant that divine power and grace alone could give him the blessing he craved.
It was Christ (the Anointed One, Michael) that was with Jacob [the Woman in the wilderness] through the night [of her soul in the new land]...the great I AM, the mighty God, the Prince of peace [the King of the chamber of love], and just as long as he continued his wrestling, he found no comfort, no hope. Then the Angel touched his thigh, and he knew that he wrestled with no common adversary. Wounded and helpless, he fell upon the One with whom he had wrestled. Condensed from: ST 2-22-92; 5-20-03; 11-20-79; TDG 298; YI 5-24-00; GC1888 616; MB 144; PP 201-3; 3SG 127,8; 1 SP 119,120.
Jacob was consummated to Michael completely, after Michael came, in Person, to spend the night with him. When Michael Himself ended Jacob's long night of wrestling, by Personally disabling him, this caused Jacob to spontaneously lay down all of his superhuman trying, and all of his religious tension to save himself. This disabled state to which Michael brought Jacob, was the point where Jacob laid hold of the Son of God, and wouldn't let Him go until Michael's Own faith had come into Him, the divine Seed of the "faith of the Son of God." At this point Jacob received his new name, and it was at this point that Wayne, received his new name. He was no longer called Wayne, but Michael, One Who is like God. Not one soul will translate without having their religion and their very self completely disabled, as Jacob experienced, and receive the name of God. "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." Rev. 3:12.
The Woman in the wilderness has not been the only one who has felt the struggle in her wilderness place. In His human form, Michael has felt it even more keenly than the Woman has, for He took the responsibility of her onto Himself when He began to draw her out of herself and into His Own Self.
I have felt the strong drawing out of the Father. I feel like I Am in a great vacuum, being taken into the heavens by the great drawing of My Father. My continual cry has been, "Let Me go." I have had this almost overwhelming desire to step away, and I have felt like it was a strange thing, for some of the people pled with Me to stay. I have felt this over and over, "Let me go, for the light dawns." The people of God came to the new land, to be taught of Michael. They were to be fed in the wilderness and be wed with Him in the marriage of the Lamb. They were to be married to His intents and purposes; they were to be married to His name. This is the turning aside that Jacob had done. He let his family and friends go on, but he turned aside and was fed of Michael. Michael struggles with the seeker all through the dark hours of their wilderness experience. He keeps presenting the sins of the people to them as they wrestle for the mastery. The light begins to dawn as people begin to see who they really are of themselves, and Michael wants to pull away and struggle no more. But before Michael leaves, the people lay hold of Him for a blessing. They want their new name of deliverance, and they will not let Him go until it is given. This time of Jacob's trouble has been carried out in the land. Jacob's struggle with the angel is evident here. I have felt the great drawing away, "Let Me go, for the light dawns." The great light of the appearing of Christ is being seen in the east exposing everything to it. Michael wants to pull away, so that the full light of deliverance can shine upon the ones agonizing for it without distraction. Now I understand My feelings as Michael's heart is connected with my own heart. I feel His drawing away. He is not "leaving" the people, He is being drawn up to the Father, in great waves of love and attachment. He wants to draw up the people in the same wave of devotion. He wants to bless them with their new name. This is the "new name" of the people. Their new name is "God prevails." He prevails over their self-righteousness and their self-justification. He prevails over their strong will and independent spirit. He prevails over their kingdoms and self-love. God prevails over it all, as the light dawns. Michael
The tender mercy of Father touches my heart, as I recall that even before He brought the Woman to her wilderness place of crisis with Michael, Father revealed her new name. He revealed beforehand the name which would reflect the character change she would experience from spending the night with His Son. We didn't know that Michael, the Son of God, would be among us, in Person, at the time Father gave the Woman her new name. He drew Blessed Quietness (Elanah) to Deut. 33:26-29, and led her to look deeply into the meaning of every single word in that passage. She was to go into the root of each word, seven generations. When this was completed, in one act of divine Authorship, Father wove all of the meanings together into one precious revelation, bringing out the real depth of meaning He had hidden in this prophetic passage.
There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun. This is the new name of Israel -- Upright One -- describing her ideal character, one that has risen up to fully inherit its power; a character that has persistently investigated the Truth and now confirms it by giving effect to it in the life, a character that esteems rightly the things of God and is able to be agreeably lead straight along, approving of and fulfilling all His ways. There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who causes you to ride astride His own horse, succored by Him, into the very abode of God.
He causes you to grow up into His majesty, pulverizing into the smallest dust every one of your enemies. The ancient eternal God of all that has gone before, Who anticipates your every need and confronts you with it,is the very place where you live, the place where the duty of marriage is made plain, the place where He claims His conjugal rights. His continuous existence produces the Seed, hidden in you who yielded your own seed, that you might be with child, His child of strength and perpetuity.
He drives out every personal foe, quickly divorcing any hostility turned toward you and calls them by their new name- Perished, Exterminated. Persevering Jeshurun, those who prevail with God, are established in their confidence, they are fixed in safety and are separated from all cares. The eye of those who have once overreached themselves and circumvented the movements of God, will now behold the land of Canaan, and their spiritual qualities will spring up and multiply as they come to possess their inheritance. Recognizing their personal poverty, they will devour this new land in their Gratitude.
Like a gentle mist in the night, the Lord enshrouds you completely with Himself. Be straight and make progress, O people of God. You are advanced by the leading of the Lord (Michael Himself), made happy by being led on. Who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the Defender who surrounds you and the Sword who lays waste all your pride. All your personal and corporate enemies are uncovered as deficient and they cringe at their exposure. You will disappoint them all, claiming their necks and starving away even their feigned obedience. By you, the high places of their worship become their funeral mound. There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun. Deut. 33:26-29 Blessed Word Studies from Father, Elanah
Chapter 11, page: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
