Our
leading text points to a monumental wrestling match …
There are many struggling matches taking place in our world today:
The match
of families against challenging times,
The match
of ethnic groups against social injustices,
The match
of hearts wrestling with the bitter pain of loss,
The match
of my nation in an electoral process,
The match of all nations against COVID-19,
The match
of the world against what has been an unimaginable 2020.
All are challenging matches of strength and resolve;
And, we could discuss at length any one of these situations – and many more
However –
today we are focusing on a match which Jacob had in the Old Testament
What a Match!
The story
tells of Jacob’s encounter with a man –
A Man who we later understand to be the LORD
And how Jacob
boldly declared, even after significant personal injury,
‘I
will not let go unless You bless me’ [Genesis 32:26]
The response from the
Man was this,
“Your name will no
longer be called Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and
with men and have prevailed" Genesis 32:28
That is a power-packed statement!
You
have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed
Now, I
have always understood the struggle with man …
But, can
anyone truly struggle with God and
prevail?
After all,
He is the LORD Omnipotent – All Powerful and Mighty
He cannot
be overcome by anyone or anything
Yet Jacob
is told, ‘you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed’
I believe
the prevailing victory that Jacob encountered pointed toward the first part of
the declaration which was delivered to him at the end of this long wrestling
match
‘Your
name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel’
Jacob underwent
a life-changing, identity altering experience
An
experience which was not the sole product of his encounter with the Man that
night;
Rather,
he had many experiences which culminated in his encounter with the Man that night.
His birth
name was Jacob – which means ‘one who grabs at the heel’, ‘supplanting’ or ‘deceiver’
His new name
was Israel – meaning ‘God Contended’, ‘Wrestles with God’ and/or ‘Triumphant
with God’
He was Triumphant with God
Triumphant over an upbringing plagued by favoritism, competition, contention and family dysfunction – playing his own role in the situations and living up to his name
Triumphant
over being tricked in business dealings
And now
here he was, not stealing a blessing by trickery this time, but obtaining a blessing by clinging to
the Blessing Giver
It was not a short process –
This wrestling match occurred on the eve of him meeting his brother whom he had tricked out of blessing many, many years earlier – at least twenty years. In the process, he had endured many challenges. He had also amassed a large family, servants and great wealth
Yet, here he was still seeking a
blessing from the LORD
I believe
he understood that there was a blessing with his name on it –
A blessing he would not have to manipulate
or trick others to obtain
Because a
blessing received by ill-gotten means is not a blessing at all and certainly not one which can truly be enjoyed with peace
‘I will
not let you go unless you bless me’
And that
is exactly what happened –
‘Then he blessed him
[Jacob] there. So Jacob called the place Peniel saying, “It is because I saw God
face to face, and yet my life was spared.”’ Genesis 32:29-30
I believe
all the trials Jacob faced – and the transformation he underwent – prepared him
for the blessing which was for him all along.
What God has for you is for
you!
You do
not have to want or grasp for the blessing of another.
And, even
when you miss the mark [which we all have at one point or another], it does not
cancel out the call of God on your life or the blessing He has reserved just
for you.
It may
take a while for the blessing to fully manifest.
But, in
the process, the LORD will use all of your circumstances –
to prepare you for what He has prepared
for you.
If you will patiently wrestle and work & struggle and strive –
allowing your character to be developed
If you will
steadfastly cling to the Blessing Giver –
You will ultimately prevail … and you will not be disappointed.
I promise!
‘For the vision is
yet for the appointed time;
It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail.
Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come,
it will not delay.’
Habakkuk 2:3
Have a Blessed Day!
