Sunday, June 9, 2024
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 [heel
catcher, supplanter].
28
And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: [he
will rule] for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast
prevailed.
Ps 119:133
133
Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Jacob
was a wrestler even prior to his birth. He
wrestled with his twin brother for the first opportunity to exit the womb!
Though he was number two in order a string around his wrist gave him first-born
authority. He literally opened the matrix. He continued to wrestle and
manipulate circumstances throughout his life. He was crafty! He was a problem
solver! He was independent!
Jacob’s
rugged individualism was confronted by the
Lordship of the Almighty. The issue was whether Jacob would continue to rule
his life or would he yield to the superior leadership of
God. Jacob stubbornly wrestled until God was forced to wound him to
bring him into submission. Then God blessed him and changed his name. He would
no longer be a wrestler but a prince!
I
am a wrestler too. In some ways my life has been one long
selfish struggle with a superior force. Sometimes God has used that
stubbornness to accomplish His purposes but generally God has had to wrestle me
to the ground and subdue me. Sometimes He has been forced to wound me
so that He could bless me. I find comfort in knowing that Paul
was also a wrestler, stubbornly “kicking against the pricks” (Acts 26:14).
Perhaps
you too are considering wrestling with God. Please
know that He has superior strength. His ways are wiser than our own. He sees
more clearly than any of us. His way is perfect.
Like
a puppy with a new collar and leash, we
struggle with our owner until we learn that where He is trying to lead us is a
place of peace and plenty. Ultimately, we learn to trust, and the
leash comes off and we crawl up into the lap of the Master who smoothes our
head. Ah, the contentment of surrender!
Dear
Lord, help me to abandon my struggle and receive your blessing. AMEN
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