Genesis 32:24-32 (AMP)
24 And Jacob was left alone, and a Man wrestled with him until daybreak.
25 And when [the Man] saw that He did not prevail against [Jacob], He touched the hollow of his thigh; and Jacob’s thigh was put out of joint as he wrestled with Him.
26 Then He said, Let Me go, for day is breaking. But [Jacob] said, I will not let You go unless You declare a blessing upon me.
27 [The Man] asked him, What is your name? And [in shock of realization, whispering] he said, Jacob [supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler]!
28 And He said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob [supplanter], but Israel [contender with God]; for you have contended and have power with God and with men and have prevailed.
29 Then Jacob asked Him, Tell me, I pray You, what [in contrast] is Your name? But He said, Why is it that you ask My name? And [the Angel of God declared] a blessing on [Jacob] there.
30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel [the face of God], saying, For I have seen God face to face, and my life is spared and not snatched away.
31 And as he passed Penuel [Peniel], the sun rose upon him, and he was limping because of his thigh.
32 That is why to this day the Israelites do not eat the sinew of the hip which is on the hollow of the thigh, because [the Angel of the Lord] touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh on the sinew of the hip.

Why was Jacob alone? He sent everyone away and remained- God initiates circumstances to separate us from our self-will and self-sufficiency and most human support until we are left alone with Him and can do nothing of our strength, knowledge and wisdom but depend totally on Him.
Peni’el, meaning the face of God. Jacob named the place in which he had wrestled with God: “He called the name of the place ‘face of El,’ for I have seen Elohim face to face. It is obvious from Jacob’s experience that not all physical altercation is spiritual or vice versa, but Jacob physically wrestled with a human form with supernatural and everlasting consequences.
Face of God or in modern-day Hebrew, “he turns to God,” where Jacob obtained his new name Israel.
We must always need to learn to turn to God.
There is always a victor in every spot, especially in spiritual wrestling. You are never by yourself in a wrestling match, you have the Holy Spirit on your side, Jesus Christ interceding for you and the host of heaven defending you.
Vs 31 is a connection to 2 Corinthians 12:7, Jacob was touched with a limp, Paul was touched with a thorn, an encounter with the Lord will leave God’s chosen vessels with a “thing” to make them despair of their strength, and wisdom, which makes them lean on God. Jacob’s lameness was to keep him mindful of this mysterious scene in vs 31 as Paul’s thorn kept him humble. Brokenness is a key to blessings, we must be broken of pride, arrogance, and superiority to be elevated by the Lord.
When we come to “Penuel,” turning to the Lord to seek Him earnestly and humbly, we experience the Lord in glory.
Penuel is a place of encounter where we can wrestle with the Lord.
It is a place of change: Jacob became Israel like Saul became Paul on the way to Damascus. Where they were both changed from the man they were, that was not fit for God’s use to one fitted for kingdom purpose.
A place of discovery, Jacob would no longer be the man he was, the man everyone knew him to be, the schemer, deceiver, and supplanter. He discovered Israel; the man God needed to perfect His prophecy.
A place of prevailing- Luke 18:1,7 tells us to not lose heart but keep praying, faithing and waiting until we prevail, no matter how discouraging and challenging it gets.
Penuel is a place of preservation. The Lord could easily have destroyed Jacob for all his faults, but He preserved Him for His purpose. Vs 30
A place of perpetual experience, when we encounter the Lord, it is long-lasting, especially if there is something that reminds you of the encounter, like Jacob’s limp. Each time we feel, think, see, or talk about our encounter, we use the remainder as a reference point.
Penuel is a place of favour. Hosea 12:4 says although he prevailed in wrestling with the Lord, it was not in his might, but the Lord showed favour from Jacob’s tears and prayer.
The place of blessing. Jacob’s encounter with God changed his perspective and opened new opportunities for him, as well as establishing God’s plan and purpose for Israel. Keep seeking His face.
Shalom