Wrestling With God
May 27, 2007 · Print This Article
“Your name will now be Israel, because you have wrestled with God and with people, and you have won.”
Genesis 32:28
The word Jabbok in Hebrew means “wrestle,” and wrestle is what Jacob did. He wrestled with his past; all the white lies, scheming, and scandalizing. He wrestled with his situation; a spider trapped in his own web of deceit and craftiness. But more than anything, he wrestled with God …
Jacob wrestled with God the entire night. On the banks of Jabbok he rolled in the mud of his mistakes. He met God face to face, sick of his past and in desperate need of a fresh start. And because Jacob wanted it so badly, God honored his determination. God gave him a new name and a new promise. But he also gave a wrenched hip as a reminder of that mysterious night at the river…
We too should unmask our stained hearts and grimy souls and be honest with the One who knows our most secret sins.
The result could be refreshing. We know it was for Jacob. After his encounter with God, Jacob was a new man.
1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2
Originally printed in God Came Near
Mirrored:
I think it is but natural that one gets weary after a long struggle against God. I admire Jacob for being able to gather all his strength to struggle against God one last time. However, Jacob doesn’t fight to earn his way, he fight to receive God’s blessing.
It is indeed wearisome to struggle against God. However, we do have the option not to fight. Yield to God… not doing so hurts.
I am not very religious but I am neither an atheist… in fact I don’t know what I am. But I live in peace with other people and myself!
yup, we wrestle with the unknown. not knowing that we are being confronted with our past, with the present, that would lead us to where God is leading us. We struggle and resist, but God has always the way to break our stubbornness, that we are dependent to him, for we are children of God.
SIDNEY
I believe that all things being equal, mankind does not seek God. He seeks for us and then we seek Him in return.
VINCE
It is only sad that we gain nothing but pain because of our stubborness. We know that, yet still we resist.