Why Jacob wrestled with GOD
It may seem that Jacob had no choice but to carry on fighting for his survival but actually, that isn’t why he fought through the night.
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 32:24-28
“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”
But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!
So He said to him, “What is your name?”
He said, “Jacob.
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.”
Jacob fought to obtain a blessing!
In his youth and again now, Jacob determined that he would have a blessing — and so he does obtain a blessing. He has a damaged hip, but he has his blessing. He will face his brother the next day, but he has his blessing. He has a name change — the name change marks that he will be the father of the nation of Israel.
That is his blessing – the birth of a nation for his descendants. Extraordinary.
GOD does not look at the outside
If I were GOD, I would never choose Jacob. I’m not sure I’d choose Esau either. So, how is it that GOD chooses one over another, or anyone at all?
When we look at ourselves, whom would we choose? Wouldn’t we like to choose a nice person. Is Jacob nice? Wouldn’t we want to choose a smart person. Is Jacob smart? Wouldn’t we like to choose a person we can trust and respect? Is Jacob trustworthy? I might say 1 out of 3 — that doesn’t seem great, does it.
BUT GOD.
GOD looks at the heart. He looks at what keeps us going. In Jacob’s case, He chose someone with perseverance, someone who would not give up. And isn’t that a key characteristic of the Jewish people even today?
I think so.
The Jewish Perseverance
How many times throughout history have the Jewish people been put down. And yet, here they are.
There was Hamen. There were pogroms in Europe. There was the cleansing of the North African coast, to name only a few. And of course, there was the Holocaust. Finally, after threats from Iran for decades, of the annihilation of Israel, October 7th 2023 brought carnage from Gaza.
Yes Jacob had what it takes — perseverance — for the father of a nation who would ensure it’s survival.