Peni-el is a place of struggle. Paul would call it "fightings within, fears without." Pharaoh behind you, Red Sea in front. In Jacob's case, back to a forbidden land of challenge with Laban, or into the possibly violent hands of his own brother Esau. No place to go. So you are left alone. And God meets you in your extremity, but you don't recognize Him. So you fight or you die. Or a little of both. That's Peni-el.

It's also a place of losing. Oh I know, Jacob prevailed. In the way a fighter prevails in the ring by staying standing after 15 bloody rounds. Jacob would not go down. Jacob would not be denied. But Jacob limped away from that encounter and my sense is that he limped the rest of his life. It's costly fighting with God. You better know what you want, and be willing to lose it. Then be ready to know what He wants, because He is going to win the battle even if you get the blessing you crave. That's Peni-el. You see His face and you limp away forever changed.

It's a place of transition. You come in certain of your past, unsure of your future. You go out loathing your past, but with clear direction. You come to Peni-el full of your own self-importance, demanding your needs be met, and now. You leave not able ever to trust yourself again, filled with the Importance of Heaven.

Been there? Peni-el? You've lived to talk about it, but do you want to? You suffered a nasty blow as you looked in His Face and were transformed. It's not what you thought it would be, looking at Him. You expected sweet rest and angelic countenance, but saw a man, and a fighter at that. But you prevailed? And He did too? That's Peni-el.