Mythological Stories

Osho on Old Testament Story of Jacob

Osho : There is a very unique story in the Old Testament – the story of Jacob. Jacob was seeking god. He distributed all his wealth. He sent all his beloved friends, his wife, his children, his servants – he sent them all far away. He was waiting for god on the deserted bank of a river. God arrived. But it was very strange – Jacob started wrestling with god. Does anyone wrestle with god? But Jacob started struggling with god. It is said that they fought the whole night. As morning approached, as dawn was about to come Jacob was defeated.

When god was about to leave him, Jacob fell at god’s feet and said, ”Please give me your blessing.”
God said, ”What is your name?” Jacob told him his name.

God said, ”Today you have become Israel” – the name that the Jews are known by – ”From today on you are Israel. Now you are no longer Jacob, Jacob has died.” – just as I change your name when I give you sannyas initiation. The old is gone.

God told Jacob: ”Jacob has died, from now on you are Israel.”

This story is from the Old Testament. There is no other story of someone fighting with god. But there is a great truth in this story. When that ultimate energy descends, what happens is almost like a fight. And when the ultimate experience happens and you are defeated by the divine and the body is vanquished and you accept defeat – then your final initiation happens. In that moment divine blessings shower on you. Then you are new. That is when you taste the nectar of the eternal for the first time.

Source: “The Mahageeta, Volume 1” - Osho