Jacob looked upon the face of His Maker and was spared (Gen 32:30). Later that morning, he faced Esau who did not seek to eliminate him but to embrace him. In return, Jacob urged him to accept the presents (Gen 33:10). The favor Jacob saw on Esau's face was favor given by God. Having seen the face of God, he need not fear the face of Esau or of any other man. He had been delivered, not just from the hand of Esau, but from the hand of God.
That the Lord appeared as a man to wrestle with Jacob anticpates the Incarnation. Such a theophany appears later when the Angel who represented the presence of God, distinct from the Lord yet identified with Him brings them into the Promised Land (Ex 23:21). Reflect on similar situations in Genesis 18-19, Joshua 5-6.
The Lord suffers an apparent defeat to Jacob but yet, He gains the true victory. The Lord of glory humbles Himself so that helpless sinners may receive His blessing.
The name of the Lord is too wonderful, too glorious for Jacob. Yet, He Himself comes to Jacob that he may know Him. Jacob saw the face of the Lord but dimly. Yet, it anticipates we seeing the full light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Jacob asked for God's own name; we are baptized into the name of the triune God.
What about Jacob's wrestling in the darkness of Peniel and Christ's agony in the darkness of Gethsemane? The agony that came upon Jacob, being struck by the Angel on the thigh points to a greater agony that came about because a greater Jacob was smitten, struck down, afflicted by God.
As God's servant and the heir of God's promise, Jacob points us to the true Israel, who prevailed in the agony of His death to bring us to God, that we may see His face.
References:
Edmund Clowney, The Unfolding Mystery - Discovering Christ in the Old Testament
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