Wrestling with God.

October 28, 2020 (Wednesday)

 

What happens when we are trapped between two lives? The life we knew and the uncertain life ahead of us? Jacob is leaving a deceiving uncle only to run into the arms of a brother who has threatened to kill him.

 

What can we learn from Jacob’s life? Sometimes, it’s those in-between times when we meet God and this encounter can be very painful. Our story picks up in Genesis 32:1, “As Jacob started on his way again, angels of God came to meet him.” [NLT]

 

Jacob NEEDS a sign, something, and anything at this point in his life. He’s left his life working for his uncle Laban. He was literally on the run from his brother. Now he is on the run from his uncle. Bridges have been burned, Jacob is on his own. Or is he?

 

Jacob sends word to Esau of his return. He asks Esau to be kind but, “The messengers returned to Jacob and said, “We went out to your brother Esau, and he’s coming to meet you with four hundred men.” [Genesis 32:6 CEB] For us to understand the story, if these were 400 trained men, they would have been a formidable army for the day.

 

Jacob assumes this response is hostile. “Jacob was terrified and felt trapped, so he divided the people with him, and the flocks, cattle, and camels, into two camps.” [Genesis 32:7 CEB] His hope is one of the camps will survive the impending attack. Here is a desperate man. Desperate is good because God has his attention.

 

Jacob prays, for the first time in the story. His prayer is directed to the God of Abraham and Jacob. It includes a timeless truth as he admits, “I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant….” [Genesis 32:10a NLT] He admits his fear (Genesis 32:11) and throws himself on God’s promise (Genesis 32:12).

 

That night, Jacob spends the night alone in his camp. “But Jacob stayed apart by himself, and a man wrestled with him until dawn broke.” [Genesis 32:24 CEB] It seems whenever God wants to grab us by the throat, He gets us alone.

 

Despite being hurt (crippled by the injury), Jacob held on to the “man” through the night, insisting on a blessing. As day light came we find Jacob transformed. “Then he said, “Your name won’t be Jacob any longer, but Israel, because you struggled with God and with men and won.” [Genesis 32:28 CEB]

 

Jacob recognizes the LORD in this encounter. “Jacob named the place Peniel, “because I’ve seen God face-to-face, and my life has been saved.” [Genesis 32:30 CEB]

 

When God needs to do business with us, it will hurt. Transformation is not an easy thing. There are times when God offers us a choice; change or die. Or as Jesus said, “you must be born again.” [John 3:7b]