He blessed him there. Genesis 32:29

The main thing is to get a blessing. The angel did not gratify Jacob's curiosity when he asked his name; but he did bless him. May the same be the case with us at this time; even as it was with the disciples when they asked, "Wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" and the Lord replied, "It is not for you to know the times and the seasons, but ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you:' We need not know the future, but we do need power for the present.

I. WHAT WAS JACOB'S BLESSING IN THAT PLACE? – "He blessed him."

1. He was saved from a great peril. Esau's attack. "For I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children" (verse 11).

2. He was forgiven a great wrong. His supplanting of Esau was condoned by his brother.

3. He was able to feel that a great breach was healed. "Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him; and they wept" (Gen. 33:4).

4. He had won a new name and rank (verse 28). He was knighted on the spot, made a prince on the field.

5. He was now under a fresh anointing: he was a superior man ever after. "The angel redeemed him from all evil" (Gen. 48:16).

II. WHAT WAS THE PLACE? – "He blessed him there."

1. A place of great trial (verses 6 and 7).

2. A place of humble confession. "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed to thy servant" (verse 10).

3. A place of pleading(verses 1 and 12). "There wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day" (verse 24).

4. A place of communion. "I have seen God face to face" (verse 30).

5. A place of conscious weakness. "As he passed over Penuel, the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh."

All this is full of instruction to us, for we read in Hosea 12:4, "Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Beth-el, and there he spake with us."

III. ARE THERE OTHER SUCH PLACES?

1. Before the earth was created the Lord blessed his chosen people in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:3-4).See also Matt. 25:34. "Come, ye blessed of my Father," etc.

2. At the cross, the tomb, and the throne of Jesus. "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 22:18).

3. In the heavenly places. "And made us sit together heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6).

4. At conversion. "From this day will I bless you." "Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven" etc. (Ps. 32:1-2).

5. In times of stripping, humbling, chastening, pleading, etc. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation," etc. (James. 1:12).

6. In times of prompt obedience. "Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord" etc., (Ps. 1)."In keeping of them there is great reward"

7. At the ordinances (Acts 8:39; Luke 24:30-31).

IV. IS THIS SUCH A PLACE?

Yes, if you are:

· Willing to give up sin.

· Willing to have Jesus for your all in all.

· Willing to resign yourself to the Father's will.

· Willing to serve God in his own way.