Jacob and the Angel by Sir Jacob Epstein, 1940–1941
I saw you in the middle of the night,
in the middle of my failure.
For twenty years had I striven with my foes,
seven years of hard work for Rachel…
but I was deceitfully given Leah,
whom I did not want. Another seven for Rachel.
Fourteen years, with nothing to show for them,
and then, six years of success
against all odds: Laban’s cheats,
his sons’ cheats, their animosity.
A most unlikely place to make a fortune,
and yet, I did.
And I escaped,
and Laban saw that You were with me,
and let me go.
* * *
And now my brother, my enemy, Esau,
comes against me with four hundred men.
And he has good reason.
I have provoked his anger with my trickery.
I do confess it.
On what grounds then, can I ask you to protect me?
None, really, save your goodness.
* * *
How I have wrestled for blessing with Esau, with Laban.
But one cannot trick for blessing, exploit, extort, or manipulate.
You are the giver of blessing,
And you give it freely.
I will not let you go, unless you bless me.
I will not take no for an answer.
Bless me, bless me indeed,
for that is what I have wanted all my life,
what I have wanted above everything:
Your blessing
Then the man said, “You have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
Then he blessed him there.
So Jacob called the place Peniel saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” (Genesis 31)
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