relationships (Genesis 32:24-32) Wrestle With the Lord

(Genesis 32:24-32)  Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” 31 Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh. 32 Therefore, to this day the sons of Israel do not eat the sinew of the hip which is on the socket of the thigh, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew of the hip.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION: 

Jacob's intense prayer with God was a literal struggle with the pre-incarnate Jesus (THE angel of the Lord).  We can wrestle with God, but we should know that even if we "get our way", it still won't be exactly as we thought we wanted.  Just like the apostle Paul's "thorn in his side" which remained, Paul saw it as something to keep him humble and looking to God for strength!  We don't know if Jacob's dislocated hip was temporary or not, but it was a reminder and solid proof to Jacob that what he went through was NOT just a dream!  

When Jacob asked the man what his name was, the Lord basically told Jacob that the answer was in the name He had just given him.  The name "Israel" means "he fights or persists with God"!  Although it was dark, Jacob was able to be face to face with the Lord - and not die.  The only way anyone can see God and live is to be His child.  The only way we can be born again is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ - God who came in flesh to die for our sins, and rise again to have victory over death.

In salvation, our sins are forgiven, and we are covered by the righteousness of Jesus so that we can have eternal life.  When we pass away from this earth, we will be able to stand before God, face to face.  Until that time, God is still kind of our "captive audience" - since He is omnipresent!  So whenever we go through tough times or have tough questions, we can wrestle with Him in prayer!  I love that He allows us to do that!  His patience and strength is endless, so we can keep going to Him with our concerns and issues until we understand... or until we find peace!

It's not about the need to "win" or "get our way".  Jacob only wanted a blessing, and when God did bless him, we don't even know what the blessing entailed.  I think people tend to equate financial gains and luxury as blessings, but God's blessings are far more meaningful than that.  In Him we can experience His peace, comfort, love, joy, understanding, contentment, satisfaction, encouragement, wisdom, strength, confidence, purpose... So as we wrestle with the Lord, prefer that God wins and He will help us do things His way!  And in that, He will bless us!