"Jacob and the Angel" by Sir Jacob Epstein (1880-1959)
... you can find an image of
Epstein's "Jacob and the Angel" at www.tate.org.uk/modern
under their advanced search (just type in Epstein "Jacob and the
Angel"). It's a shame this view doesn't show the figures' facial
expressions clearly -- the utter calm on the Angel's face, the utter
exhaustion on Jacob's. But you can see in Jacob's posture his
abandonment of his struggle -- and that only the Angel is holding him
up now.
Ironic, it is, the Angel told
Jacob after the match was over, "You have wrestled with God and
prevailed," when Jacob clearly lost the grapple. Yet with God, we only
"win" by "losing," as we must inevitably in any extended
struggle vs. the Almighty. African American preachers love to say,
"Your arms' too short to box with God!" They also ain't strong
enough to 'rassle Him for long!
-- Anton N. (Tony) Marco, in an e-mail to THT editor Mike Burch
A little East of Jordan by Emily Dickinson
A little East of Jordan,
Evangelists record,
A Gymnast and an Angel
Did wrestle long and hard--
Till morning touching mountain--
And Jacob, waxing strong,
The Angel begged permission
To Breakfast--to return!
Not so, said cunning Jacob!
"I will not let thee go
Except thou bless me"-- Stranger!
The which acceded to--
Light swung the silver fleeces
"Peniel" Hills beyond,
And the bewildered Gymnast
Found he had worsted God!