Jacob Wrestles with God
So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.
When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.
Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob”, he answered.
Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.”
Jacob said, “Please tell me your name”. But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.
Genesis 32:24-31, NIV
I was reminded of these verses at Hungry For God last night.
Jacob wrestled with God and refused to let go until he was blessed. There was a personal cost – his hip was put out.
But in this wrestling with God:
- he was blessed
- he received a new identity – Israel
- and through his descendants the whole world has been blessed.
Mark talked about passion last night. Pressing in and wrestling as we contend with God. And through this contending passion is revealed.
Jacob carried the memory of that struggle with him for the rest of his life as he limped because of his hip being put out. He also carried his new identity in God and the blessing. My prayer is that I do not give up wrestling with God as I work out my passion with his help.