When we begin to think about “wrestling” with God, more often than not the first person that comes to mind is Jacob.
We know from scripture that God had promised to bless the nations through Abraham, Issac and also Jacob. The blessing on and through Jacob was a given. Out of God’s mercy He choses Jacob and not his older twin Esau. Romans 9:9-16
However, Jacob chooses to do things his own way through deceit and probably insecurity. He was of course lied to and deceived himself.
Jacob means “heel” in Hebrew, referring to how he was born, grasping onto his twin brother Esau’s heel as if attempting to be born first (Gen 25:26); however, the name also means “to cheat” Hosea 12:3 says that he grasped Esau’s heel. ‘Grasped’ can also mean to supplant, to take, to struggle, to circumvent.
In spite of Jacob’s failures, God never leaves him and continues to pursue him. This is a comforting thought when dealing with our own failures and disappointments.
Gen 32:24 “And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day”
We know later that this man was God Himself.
Gen 32:30 “So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, 'For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered’.”
Jacob was not going to let go of God until He blessed him. The blessing that was already his and one that he tried to enforce himself, he was now struggling and weeping with God for.
Hosea 12:4a “he (Jacob) wept and sought his favour”.
Through our struggles in life and wrestlings with God, we can often find ourselves weeping as we seek a way through the traumatic events in our lives. Weeping is certainly ok and it’s one of the ways we reach out to God in those desperate moments. There have been many times the I have wept uncontrollably in trying to make sense of it all. Have I lost His blessing? Is He still for me?
Through the struggle Jacob is changed. So much so that his name is changed to Israel.
Gen 32:28 “Then he said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed’.”
Israel means He strives with God, or God strives. We strive or struggle and wrestle with God and He does the same with us.
When we become new creations through Jesus the struggle doesn’t stop. In many ways it has only just begun. God wants to change us from one degree of glory to another. In order for that to happen there has to be a wrestling in order for that change to come.
In my situation as I’ve struggled over the past 2.5 years God has and is changing me. I don’t always feel like that is happening for the good. But I must trust that He is shaping me and moulding me more into the image of His Son. Romans 8:29
Yes, it’s uncomfortable and yes like Jacob, it will mean that there is an evidence that God is working albeit painful, just as with Jacob's limp.
Gen 32:31 “The sun rose upon him as he passed Peniel, limping because of his hip”.
What is the evidence that God is changing you and me? It may not be in ways that we think. After all, God’s ways are so different to ours.
The Christian life is one of perseverance. It’s about faithfulness and running the race set before us. When we do so, our character is somehow being developed and let’s not forget the eternal reward.
James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
Can God really shape us into the people He wants us to be without trials, hardship and suffering. From my reading of scripture and from experience, I would have to say no. When we repent, believe and begin to follow Jesus, that is only the beginning. The journey begins. Even with Jacob’s ancestry and list of promises from God, He still failed and he still struggled with finding God and making sense of what was happening in his life. The same is true for us. Many of us do and will go through life changing events and it’s then that God may seem distant. But then He may show up in unexpected ways to do what He has to do, just like he did with Jacob.
Prayer - Father, thank You that You are never finished with us. When we fail and try and do things our way, You forgive us and You never leave us. Thank You for the example of Jacob, a man whom You never let go of, and he never let go of You. Shape us, change us into the people You desire us to be, as uncomfortable as it may be. Amen
Comments