Saturday 27 July, 2019

22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 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. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” 29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” 31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.

So clearly an encounter with God will always be life changing. But in this encounter there are a few things that strike me. Firstly Jacob held his own – he wrestled back, he didn’t just take it. Often when I approach God with something I want his answer to my problem… now. But maybe I can persist and wrestle it out. Jacob wanted blessing. Isn’t that what I want too? Secondly, Jacob’s wrestle with God changed him forever. I would hope that my relationship with God is evident to others because of how it changes me. Jacob left that night with a limp. So even someone who had never known him before could see something had happened to him.

I am quite intolerant of my own flaws but maybe I need to look at them differently. Jacob’s flaw/limp was a reminder to him and others of God’s blessing on his life. My best testimony to others of God’s power at work in me is not in my own perfection, but in the process of God perfecting me. I want to be like Jacob and wrestle with God until He is tired. I want to be transformed and clearly show God to others.

Heavenly Father there are not enough words to thank you for all you have done for me. God I ask you to release your power into my life. I ask you to change me and I ask you to bless me. May I always bring Gory to you. In Jesus Name Amen!!

Written by Christine Knight