In his dream at Beth-El, God had shown him the Temple in Jerusalem, first in all its splendor and then in ruins, with his descendants dispersed among the nations, hounded, massacred. Now, during this night at Peniel, he must have asked himself the awesome question: How are the victims responsible for the evil inflicted on them—to what extent are they to blame for arousing rancor and hate in their enemies—or in their neighbors turned enemies?

On this night, before the final battle with his brother—who could have been here in his stead—Jacob wanted to commune with himself, do something with his solitude, provoke a change—a mutation?—in his existence. And thus prove himself worthy of his parents.

Peniel: crossroad, dramatic turning point in Jacob’s mind. No longer was he content to be the son of Isaac and the grandson of Abraham; he yearned to have a name all his own, fraught with a significance all his own and linked to an event that would immortalize him or destroy him—no matter, as long as it was as great, awe-inspiring and transcendant as the sacrifice there at Mount Moriah. So obsessed was Jacob by the story of that ordeal that he ached for an ordeal of his own. No more petty bargaining for him, no more conversations about trivia, no more family games. Jacob was determined to surprise others—and himself. Like his father and grandfather, he wanted to engage God in dialogue, no matter how great the risk. It was God he wished to confront. Not in a dream, but standing erect and with his eyes wide open.

The adventure at Peniel? A conscious, deliberate act, a challenge by Jacob. The battle? Conceived and arranged by Jacob. The initiative was his, so was the stage setting. Laban had already left and Esau had not yet arrived. What better moment to show Abraham and Isaac that he was lonelier than they ever were, that he was capable of going further than they ever did? They had submitted to God, but the idea had come from God, whereas he, Jacob, had provoked this confrontation. It was a challenge without precedent. He had not endured the harrowing experiences that marked his father nor had he accomplished the extraordinary feats of his grandfather, but he would show them that he too had the stuff pioneers are made of; no man before him had revealed to other men the battle God wages against them; no man before him had compelled God into open contest with man; and no man before him had ever established relations of provocation with God.

That night, at Peniel, Jacob suddenly discovered another self. A more perceptive, freer self. And never did he command so much respect.

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