Question 70: When did the change in Jacob’s spiritual nature occur?

Answer:

It began at Bethel but the change there was extremely slight. Jacob regarded his vision there very much as a business arrangement. If YHVH would help him and give him bread to eat and bring him back safe, then YHVH should be his YHVH and he would give him a tenth of all. At Jabbok the crisis was much more far-reaching. He realized there his danger and his need of a blessing. He no longer bargained with YHVH, he saw that his own strength was futile, he was a humble suppliant for YHVH's favour. From that night on he was a different man, by no means perfect, but far better than before.