Genesis 32:25

When he saw that he prevailed not against him.

The Speaker's Commentary says: "The mystical meaning of the whole transaction must be of this kind; the time was an important epoch in Jacob's history. It was. turning point in his life. There had been much most faulty in his character, which had led him to much trouble, and subjected him to long penitential and reformatory discipline. He was now returning after an exile of twenty, or more probably of forty years, to the land of his birth, which had been promised to him as an inheritance. It was. great crisis. Should he fall under the power of Esau and suffer to the utmost for his former sins? or should be obtain mercy and be received back to his father's house as the heir of the promises? This eventful night, this passage of the Jabbok, was to decide; and the mysterious conflict in which, by divine mercy and strength, he was permitted to prevail, is vouchsafed to him as an indication that his repentance, matured by long schooling and discipline, and manifested in fervent and humble prayer, is accepted with God.". think the spiritual force of "he prevailed not" is that Jacob was not willing to surrender his self-confidence, his self-trust and his selfishness. The divine messenger wrestled with his spirit to induce him to surrender his sins and cast himself entirely in the arms of God. There was still. trust in his own craft and strength and. readiness to cling to his old sins until he was taught his helplessness.

The hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint.

Thus he was taught his physical helplessness, and to humble him. "As Paul had. thorn in the flesh given to humble him lest he should be too much exalted by the abundance of the revelations given him, so Jacob's lameness was to keep him mindful of this mysterious scene, and that it was in gracious condescension that the victory was yielded to him."-- Jamieson. He was brought by the physical infirmity which showed him that he was helpless in the hands of God, into that very frame of mind that fitted him, by renouncing self, to prevail with God. Paul said, "When. am weak, then. am strong." It was when Jacob saw his weakness that he was strong enough to prevail.