Jacob in his desperation realized the precious opportunity before him. If he let go, then God would leave with his needs unmet, his prayers unanswered! So, Jacob WRESTLED WITH GOD, back and forth, a head lock here, an arm hold there, the struggle perhaps went on for hours. God in His grace and mercy allowed Jacob to wrestle, ...to work out his fleshly nature and anxiety, ...for in his struggle, ...in his wrestling, his faith and understanding was growing! The turning point came when God touched Jacob in the hollow of his thigh dislocating the ball-and-socket joint of his thigh. Suddenly he was weakened and immobilized. Jacob yelled out in pain, Ahhhhh, as he stopped wrestling and started clinging! There is a difference between wrestling and clinging. To wrestle is to contend and fight for dominance. However, to cling is to hold on to, to grasp in desperation. The pre- incarnate Christ knew that morning light was breaking, and instructed Jacob to let him go. Jacob responded in verse 26, I will not let thee go, except Thou bless me. He was persistent in his prayer; persistent in his plea; serious in his request from God, even though his body was racked with pain. I believe God knew the change which had transpired in Jacobs heart. Jacob was now holding on in faith, rather than wrestling in fear. God was moved by the persistence of Jacob. It is the same for us! We are to wrestle in prayer. In Colossians 4:12, Paul writes, 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 word labouring in the Greek is agonizomai (ag-o-nid-zom-ahee) and it means to contend in the gymnastic games, to contend with adversaries, to fight and struggle so to obtain. The Lord desires our prayers to be fervent and persistent. Jesus said, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. God blessed Jacob, not because He had to or was forced to, but because Jacob was ready to receive the blessing. What a blessing! What is your name? God asked. What He was really asking Jacob was, Who are you? As Jacob hung on to Him in pain, he answered, Im Jacob, the schemer, the one who grabs from behind, the scared mamas boy, the con-man, the self-centered, self- serving, self-sufficient one! Then God 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. God was saying, This is who you were, from now on you are the one who prevails with God, not wrestles without Him! youtu.be/465oXQegB2k
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 09:00:53 +0000
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