Peniel

Haiku of struggle

Jacob heads for home

hoping that time has softened

his brother’s anger.

Jacob is fearful.

He prays for deliverance,

hopes in God’s promise.

He hedges his bets:

sends his ample gift ahead

trying to appease.

Pausing for the night

Jacob buys time, putting off

the confrontation.

Sends the mob ahead,

waits alone. A man appears;

strange, mysterious.

Coming together

in a primeval contest,

Jacob fights the man.

They wrestle, Jacob

and the stranger. No one wins,

The sun is rising.

The man asks Jacob,

Let me go! Before I do

give me your blessing.

I’ll give you a name.

you have contended with God;

you are Israel.

Jacob understood;

he had wrestled with the Lord.

Somehow he survived!

Each of us wrestles

with the Lord in our own way;

we don’t often win.

© Ken Rookes 2019