WRESTLING FOR A BLESSING

 

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

 

WRESTLING FOR A BLESSING

 

Gen 32:24-28

24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

 

Jacob had purchased his brother’s birthright with a bowl of pea soup, had stolen his father’s blessing of the eldest by subterfuge, and now was wrestling for a blessing at the entrance into Canaan. An unknown person blocked his path and Jacob engaged him with all the mental energy and physical exertion at his disposal. This mysterious person was, most agree, the “angel of the covenant” which is none other than Jesus before He was born and took on a human body.

 

Jacob wrestled the Lord to a draw until, at dawn, Jesus touched his hip socket and pulled it out of joint. Still Jacob grappled and demanded a blessing and received one. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel which means “he will rule as God” or “prince of God.”

 

Col 4:12

12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

 

The idea of “wrestling” is seen in the actions of Epaphras who labored [wrestled] in prayer. The Greek which is translated “labouring” is agonizomai which means to struggle or to compete for a prize.

 

We agonize in prayer because we have become desperate for a blessing from God. We may emerge from the conflict with a perceptible limp, but the prize is often worth the pain. Jacob gained status as a prince. He now has access to the throne room where he may come uninhibited to present his requests.

 

By the blood of Jesus, we have been adopted into the family of the King! We have been given status and the scepter has been extended in our direction.

 

Heb 4:16

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

 

Dear Lord, thank you that the battle is over and that we can come freely with our requests. AMEN