Jacob literally fights for his blessing and Jacob becomes Israel.
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 32:28-29
“And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with GOD and with men, and have prevailed.”
“Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask me about My name?” And He blessed him there.”
Jacob wrestled and won his victory
The LORD blessed Jacob according to his perseverance. Though his hip was fractured, Jacob would not yield and he was granted his blessing: the new name to mark the new nation he would carry.
Jacob was nervvy
My goodness! No ‘thank you’ and not much humility, Jacob further demanded — though with enough humility to add, “I pray” — What is Your name?
But GOD refused to say.
I suppose Jacob reckoned, ‘I’ve come this far, I might as well go for broke.
Well, he did receive a broken hip. He received the blessing too: the promise of a nation. But he did not get the answer to his question.
GOD in this, the message for us is…
GOD gives promises but sometimes we need to fight, to persevere through to receive them. This is not because GOD begrudges us, but because in the perseverance we grow character, strength, courage, grace and fortitude. In Jacob’s case, he even gleaned a bit of humility.
GOD’s promises are “Yes and Amen” but to hold on to them, sometimes we need to keep wrestling, keep aiming, keep our readiness, and above all, keep believing, for:
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)