Dan and Deb

Genesis 32:24-26

So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
      But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

            This is a wonderful story of our longing for something more in this fallen world we live in. Jacob had been gone for many years and was now returning to his homeland blessed with much more than he left with. As he’s making his trip home, he’s filled with fear about having to face his older brother. You see, when Jacob left home, his brother Esau was not a happy man with him. Jacob had deceived their father and by doing so received the blessing meant for Esau. Jacob was now returning home and would have to face his past head on.

            This is a situation that many of us can relate with. Something in our past is eventually brought forward and we are forced to deal with the consequences of our choices. Jacob is really no different than any of us. How many times have you realized that you have to “face the truth” and have tried getting around it? Have you ever failed to recognize God sent help? Jacob did. Jacob is out in the middle of nowhere and comes across a camp of angels. He’s thinking, surely God is in this place, but fails to recognize that God sent the angels to him for help. Have you ever tried saving yourself? Jacob did. He divided all of his family, servants, and property into two groups. His reasoning was if they defeated one half, the other half could at least escape. What about prayer? You try “fixing” the problem yourself and realize that your plan isn’t working, so then you cry out to the Lord to make your path straight? Verse nine tells us this, “Then Jacob prayed…” What about this one? “I’ve got money, I’ll just pay my way out of this mess.” He (Jacob) selected a gift for his brother Esau: two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty female camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. Then, the night before Jacob is going to meet his brother, he wrestles with God.

          Have you ever wrestled with God? Have you ever done the opposite of what you know is right? Have you ever found yourself telling God that things aren’t going the way you want them to? Have you refused to give up your pride and your struggles to the One that saves? Have you fought long and hard with the God of heaven and still feel like your not getting anywhere but refuse to let go? Let me ask you this. What is it you are wrestling with God about? Are you asking for help inline with His will? Are you asking Him for a nice car, or home, or more money? Are you wrestling with God about a situation in your life involving finances, career choices? I’m sorry to break this to you. You aren’t going to win. God is bigger than anything you or I could ever imagine.  

          When first reading this, we see that Jacob doesn’t stop fighting until God gives him what he wants, which is a blessing. Did Jacob win this fight? In a sense, certainly we could say yes. He got what he wanted from God. God was truly the winner however. Before blessing Jacob, God asked him, “What is your name?” Jacob responded by saying, “Jacob.” See, God first made Jacob step out of denial. Jacob’s name means “deceiver” or “to trip up, to cause to stumble.” Before Jacob received the blessing he wanted from God, he had to first admit that he was not worthy to receive such a blessing, and then God showed His love for Jacob by not only blessing him, but also changing his name from Jacob (deceiver) to Israel.

          Again I ask you, what is it that is causing you to wrestle with God? Are you tired yet? Are you ready to throw in the towel? If so, admit to God your faults and surrender your life to Him. That is how we too can be blessed in this life on earth and live in harmony with the Spirit that lives inside of us.   

Praise the Lord for His Mightiness!