But that night he rose and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok stream. (Gen 32:23)
וַיָּ֣קָם בַּלַּ֣יְלָה ה֗וּא וַיִּקַּ֞ח אֶת־שְׁתֵּ֤י נָשָׁיו֙ וְאֶת־שְׁתֵּ֣י שִׁפְחֹתָ֔יו וְאֶת־אַחַ֥ד עָשָׂ֖ר יְלָדָ֑יו וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֔ר אֵ֖ת מַעֲבַ֥ר יַבֹּֽק׃
Cumque nocte surrexisset, tulit duas uxores suas et totidem famulas cum undecim filiis et transivit vadum Iaboc;
Ἀναστὰς δὲ τὴν νύκτα ἐκείνην ἔλαβεν τὰς δύο γυναῖκας καὶ τὰς δύο παιδίσκας καὶ τὰ ἕνδεκα παιδία αὐτοῦ καὶ διέβη τὴν διάβασιν τοῦ Ιαβοκ·
Biblical nights are not merely a consequence of the earth’s rotation. Many of them became witnesses to God’s intervention, action, and revelation. The night Jacob experienced first revealed the image of a ladder reaching up to heaven. Another was spent wrestling with the angel of the Lord. God drew near to Jacob to reveal to him the mysteries of His presence, blessing, face, and promises.
Often, our sleepless nights precede a new day marked by pain, hope, peace — new life. Yet, most of our nights should be a time of rest and entrusting ourselves to Divine Providence.
