Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 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." The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered. Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared." The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob's hip was touched near the tendon." Genesis 32:22-32
Jacob is on the brink of encountering his brother Esau…the very brother that he had cheated out of an inheritance. He had feared what was to come, certain that Esau was coming with his army to exact revenge on his brother for his deceitfulness. It was evening and Jacob sent his entire family ahead, "across the stream" with "all his possessions." We’re not told what Jacob is thinking as he is now alone apart from his family but we know he is in "fear and distress" (Genesis 32:7) You’ll remember that this leads to Jacob exclaiming in prayer, "Save me, I pray from the hands of my brother Esau…" (Genesis 32:11). Jacob asked for God to enter in…and God answered.
For our scripture today tells us that "a man wrestled with him till daybreak". At first we’re not told who the man is, we only know that the wrestling match lasts hours with neither Jacob or the man gaining victory. In fact, the man is so desperate to end the match that he tries to injure Jacob’s hip to get him to let go. It doesn’t work for Jacob is determined and demanding. He refuses to surrender to this man until he gets blessed. The man responds by asking Jacob for his name and Jacob tells him, leading to the man changing Jacob’s name to Israel.
We’ve examined the importance of biblical names in a prior blog entry (What’s In A Name…October 8th) and this scripture continues to highlight that importance. You see "Jacob" meant "he who supplants" or in other words, "he who supercedes another by force or treachery". Jacob would live up to his name when he duped his own father, Isaac, to take what was rightfully Esau’s. But now, the man Jacob wrestled with renames him, "Israel", which means "you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome". Out of the struggle between Jacob (representing man) and God emerges Israel who the man (God) blesses before departing. The encounter leaves Jacob transformed and certain he has been in the presence of God himself. Limping now because of his encounter, Jacob sets out to face his brother, unsure of what was ahead.
This story holds significance for us because we are so much like Jacob. We all have something that we struggle with and sometimes we have more than one. As we seek to live lives that are pleasing to God, we find ourselves in direct conflict between our sinfulness and the Lord’s holiness. Truly, there is a battle that rages with us…a wrestling match as God tries to gain a hold on us that will never be broken while sin seeks to separate us from that hold. Too often, we let sin get the upper hand. This doesn’t stop God from continuing to wrestle with us, pursuing us with dogged determination and a love that refuses to give up on us. If only we exhibited the same determination and love toward not letting go of Him.
Going back to Jacob, he had let go of God too many times in favor of deceitful actions. But then something awesome happens as highlighted in the scripture. Jacob latches onto God so hard that God can’t escape. It’s only after He gives special blessing to Jacob that He is set free. Jacob was ready to be rid of his deceitfulness and knew the only way to do so was to grab a hold of God and never let go.
Question: What sin do you need to get rid of in your life? Are you tired of continued failings where sin has prevailed over the One who sent His only Son to die on the cross, paying the price for you and bearing the cost of sin? Are you ready to end the wrestling match within you and give God the victory over Satan in your life? If so, start right this very minute and say this short prayer:
Dear Lord, I’m tired of letting go of you and giving into my sinful nature. I want you to be the only One I surrender to…the only One I serve. So right now, I invite you to fill my heart, mind, body and soul. Saturate me with Your Spirit so there is no room for anything but you. Lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil I pray. Know that from this point forward, I am yours. Use me in whatever way you wish to bring glory to your name and thank you for so richly blessing me with Your grace, mercy and love. For it’s in Your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.
As Israel emerged from his encounter with God, he was a changed person. He would never deceive another again. God is ready to transform you as well but only if you are ready to let go of sin and hold onto God in such a way that He can’t get away…at least until He blesses you. Don’t delay…grab a hold of Him today.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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