Comment: A good story can be done a number of ways. A story about Jacob lent itself as a short story when I did it. Since then, I have come to see it as a radio drama, not unlike those frequently heard in the '40s and '50s in which the hero narrates and has some dialogue with a limited number of other characters. Sound effects would be nice and could be handled by a creative team working on this story.

Those who study the biblical story closely will realize I have taken some liberties, as most storytellers do. But I hope that in doing so, I have not detracted from how God and Jacob struggled that night on the bank of the River Jabbok. By the way, I understand some psychotherapists use the technique described here in certain circumstances. Integrating "modern" activities into ancient stori…