Psychological Forces and Spiritual Encounters: The Bruising and Breakthrough of Jacob

Abstract

Jacob was shaped in his formative years by his manipulative mother and passive father. His father, in turn, had been significantly bruised by the trauma of the Akedah. The effects of this horrific event are interpreted through psychological theories, along with Winnicott's notion of the "False Self" (to understand the impact of his dominant mother on Jacob). The turning point in Jacob's life is his encounter with the "angel of God" at Peniel, which leaves him lame physically but "straightened out" in his relationship with God, thus, enabling him to take on the role of the father of the nation of Israel. He lived to 147 years and passed on to his descendants the blessing he had inherited. This study shows how psychological pressures may negatively influence (and be rescinded in) the life of someone who plays a critical role in the purposes of God.