THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST: WRESTLING WITH GOD

GENESIS 32

Jacob had been a wrestler from birth; the second of twins, he came out of his mother’s womb grasping his brother Esau’s heel – in itself a pretty good wrestling move! His name even means "wrestler," sort of Jacob means, "he grasps the heel," or figuratively "he deceives" (see Genesis 25:26). Up to this point Jacob had wrestling experience, but he wasn’t a good wrestler. He was effective but sneaky, and he used his skills in deception to cheat his older brother Esau out of the firstborn’s blessing. Esau’s rage resulted in Jacob’s escape and exile. But even in his new surroundings, he wrestled with his father-in-law, Laban, who also knew how to put on a few good wrestling moves.

Now in Genesis 32, Jacob is going home, hoping to reconcile with Esau. The day before he meets Esau, he prays, “God of my father Isaac, O Lord, who said to me, "God back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper," I am un worthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant…Save me, I pray from the hand of my brother Esau " (verses 9-11). What lessons Jacob has learned! Before this day, he was a master at manipulating situations for his own good. Now he prays humbly for God’s mercy.

But Jacob is not done wrestling: verses 24-30 describe how he wrestles with God for a blessing-and gets it! And God also gives him a new name, Israel, which means "he struggles with God."

God loves this kind of wrestling. Not much good comes from wrestling with people: resentment rises and enemies are made: Not much good comes from wrestling with life and work either; sleep becomes elusive and ulcers form, "In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to ear" (Psalm 127:2). "Toiling" is another word for fruitless wrestling.

Instead of "toiling," take it to the Lord in prayer. Wrestle with him for the blessing, not with people and circumstances. "Resist God, in the sense of rejecting God, and you will not be able to resist any evil. Bur resist God in the sense of closing with God, cling to him with your strength, not your weakness only…and he will give you strength. Cast yourself into his arms not to be caressed but to wrestle with him. He loves that holy war. He may be too many for you, and lift you from your feet.

But it will be to lift you from earth, and set you in the heavenly places which are theirs who fight the good fight and lay hold of God as their eternal life."