God blessed Jacob. Jacob who received the blessing went into Haran and walked the suffering course for 21 years. He went the path of persecution even being deceived ten times. He was in the sorrowful position. He was driven to the lonely position. However, if Jacob had ever became a person who complained about his despair, who felt grief for oneself centering on himself, he could never have come to be known as the one representing the people of Israel.

Jacob believed until the end that God's blessing would never change even in the suffering course where 20 years were added. He believed that God's promise would never change no matter how much the environment changed. He penetrated and went forth no matter how great a financial power blocked him. Laban tried to block the path of Jacob by presenting different things. However, the final victory went not to Laban, but to Jacob.

Without bringing such a historic result God cannot establish His victorious day in history. Therefore, you must understand that the victorious foundation for God is the history established when people in torment do not lose hope.

Although Jacob was driven to the realm of lamentation and despair, he did not lament nor felt despair. He stood proudly believing in the future blessing. Therefore, the realm of the First Israel was established.

It is same for God. No matter how much He was immersed in the realm of despair, He did not lose hope because of despair. He did not lose the ideal of creation because of despair. The stronger and heavier the despair became, the more God determined internally to achieve the ideal of creation centering on his heart and ideal.

Therefore, even if the path that God walks becomes engulfed in the whirlpool of the realm of despair, He does not amalgamate within but steps over that realm of despair to create a day of victory.

If God does not do so, then there is no way for Him to be liberated totally from the realm of despair. Therefore, you must understand that even in the situation of extreme despair and suffering, victory is assured to the people who hold onto God and go forth in belief that "Even in such a position, God does not lose hope nor become discouraged." (64-212)

Jacob treasured the blessing he received from God, and in order to receive the blessing he did things that were inconceivable in the humans. He believed in God's promise absolutely and escaped to the land of Haran to fight for 21 years, overcoming all the difficulties by investing his sincerest effort. You must understand that no matter how much opposition you receive, you must overcome it and reach the position of love where you become one with God. (53-43)

Jacob left his home to go to Haran and lived as a servant. He was deceived by his uncle Laban. Uncle Laban gave him Leah instead of Rachel. After taking Rachel, he escaped and returned home. Upon the foundation of difficulties during his 21 years, God was finally able to bless him. During his stay, Laban deceived him ten times. However, by overcoming all those hardships, he was able to leave Haran.

Even in the midst of such hardships, he had the mind of praying for those who deceived him. Also, his action of wrestling with the angel was the action of fighting against Satan who interfered with accomplishing his mission. (52-54)

Jacob fought with such desperate effort that he even broke his hip. He wrestled, betting his life, thinking, "My effort during the past 21 years is decided with this one fight! Depending on the outcome of victory or defeat in tonight's battle, the destiny of my life is decided and the foundation for the blessing of Israel is decided!" Do you think he fought with the angel in a joking manner?

When the angel came, Jacob knew that he came as a messenger from God. Therefore, he asked the angel, "Do you come with the mission to hinder me or to bless me?" The angel answered "I have come to bless you." Jacob then asked, "If you came to bless me, then why don't you simply give me the blessing?" The angel answered, "I cannot give it to you freely because your portion of responsibility is still left."

In other words, the angel was saying unless Jacob could win the fight, he could not give the blessing. That meant that unless Jacob fought with the angel, betting his life, the angel would not give the blessing. When angel came out with such a condition, Jacob wrestled with the determination that, "OK! Even if I break my finger or my arm, I will not lose to you! I will not let go of you even if you behead me with a sword." How long do you think the battle took? They fought the whole night. Jacob fought with the determination that "unless I die first, I will not let go."

God attended there and so did Satan. How desperate was Jacob at that last decisive moment? Jacob did not let go even when the angel broke his hip bone and bent his leg. His determination was such that "Even if I and you both die, I will not let go." How many hours do you think he fought on like that? Ten minutes? One hour? Two hours? He fought like that for more than seven hours. (20-229)