Are you ready to hear
a very strange story about a man named Jacob who wrestled with God? In this story, Jacob fights on, all night long, he wrestles with God - he does not let go! The wrestling takes place at the River Jabbok, the boundary separating the territory of Reuben and Gad from that of Ammon. Jacob was on the run from his uncle Laban, and he was heading into the Land of Edom where his twin brother, Esau, lived. Twenty years prior, Jacob was running from Esau because he had used deceit to steal Esau’s birthright and blessing. Esau was so angry that he wanted to kill him. And now, at the River Jabbok, Jacob was about to come face to face with Esau after everything he did. Jacob took his two wives - the sisters, Rachel and Leah, his two female servants, Bilhah and Zilpah, and his eleven sons (the 12 sons of Israel minus Benjamin) and sent them across the stream. Jacob stayed back just for one night to gather all of their possessions and bring them the next day. The scripture says, “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 humans and have overcome.” Genesis 32:24-30 When I read this story all I could think was “zeal!” Jacob had lived in bondage for way too long! And now he was jumping from the frying pan into the fire - moving from Laban in Harran to Esau in the Land of Edom. And all the while - Jacob knew God! The Lord showed himself and was with Jacob all along! The Lord did not take him away from suffering. The Lord lead him to and through the place where he needed to be. The Lord was transforming him into a man of God who possessed great humility. In this story, we see Jacob wrestling with a man - who many refer to as the angel of the Lord. We see Jacob tossing and turning all night long. We see Jacob holding on tight and demanding His blessing. Jacob knew he was about to face the man who wanted to kill him. He knew he was about to face the brother that he took advantage of. He knew Esau had a great army - 400,000 men accompanied him. Jacob and his whole family and all of his possessions were entering the mouth of hell and there was nothing he could do. He knew that only God could save him from destruction, so he met the angel of the Lord and he wrestled with God to obtain his blessing! Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever needed God more than anything? Have you ever stayed up praying all night long? Have you ever learned that without God you could not make it on your own? Have you learned to swallow your pride and give all the glory back to God? Have you ever come face to face with God, and lived to share that your life was spared? 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.” Genesis 32:22-31 This my friend, is how we boast in our weakness. This my friend, is where I am at, where I have been and where I am going.
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