What do we do when we’re really, really scared?
How do we face our fear? I think our first instinct is to do whatever we can to control the situation. It’s only when we’ve exhausted our own resources — be it money, physical strength, personal contacts or intellectual prowess — that we finally surrender. Facing fear is something for us all from time to time. And Jacob is no exception.
Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story
How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.
Genesis 32:22-24
“And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had. Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.”
Jacob was terrified
Desperate to protect his family, Jacob took them, organised them, and sent them over the brook, a tributary of the River Jordan.
Water will play a significant role throughout the Biblical story of the Hebrews and this case marks that tendency. Crossing over the water demonstrates a crossing into safety, although Jacob can’t know that until the encounter with his brother, which ultimately will lead to the survival of Jacob’s family.
Alone, Jacob would wrestle — yes, with a physical person but also within himself.
Wrestling
When we are under strain, do we not wrestle within ourselves to resolve our inner turmoil? Although Jacob battled physically, surely he had emotional, spiritual tension that led to his total exhaustion… But still he fought on. He would not give up, desperate, terrified, but determined to save his family and himself from certain death should he be forced to fight his brother’s army.
What causes you to keep fighting, keep struggling, keep wrestling — unable to give up?
Next time, we’ll look at why he wrestled and what motivated him to continue throughout the night…