31. Here again there occur to me considerations
which must be taken into account in a complete treatment of the
subject. But the order of defence must adapt itself to the order
of attack, and I reserve these outstanding questions for discussion in
the next book. For the present, in regard to God Who demanded
honour for God, it will suffice for me to point out that He Who was the
Angel of God, when He spoke with Hagar, was God and Lord when He spoke
of the same matter with Abraham; that the Man Who spoke with Abraham
was also God and Lord, while the two angels, who were seen with the
Lord and whom He sent to Lot, are described by the prophet as angels,
and nothing more. Nor was it to Abraham only that God appeared in
human guise; He appeared as Man to Jacob also. And not only did
He appear, but, so we are told, He wrestled; and not only did He
wrestle, but He was vanquished by His adversary. Neither the time
at my disposal, nor the subject, will allow me to discuss the typical
meaning of this wrestling. It was certainly God Who wrestled, for
Jacob prevailed against God, and Israel saw God.