JACOB WRESTLES WITH THE LORD

Gen 32:24-31

Morning Meditation 1/4/2013

Genesis 32:24-31, "And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh."

It is now 20 years since Jacob made a covenant with the God of all grace. Had God been faithful to His promise? Genesis 32:10, "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands." There are various attitudes that are brought before us in this passage.

WE SEE HIM FEARING

Genesis 32:7, "Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;" Proverbs 9:10, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."

WE SEE HIM RESISTING

“There wrestled a man with him” When Jacob was alone the divine overcomer comes near. At once Jacob finds himself resisting. How natural it is that at our first response to the divine will is to resist.

WE SEE HIM CRIPPLED

“When He saw that He prevailed not, He touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint.” Many times the Lord has to cripple us in order to use us.

WE SEE JACOB CLINGING

Jacob said, “I will not let thee go except thou bless me.” Now that his strength is broken the resister becomes a clinger. When we wrestle with God in prayer we give up before we get the blessing.

WE SEE JACOB CHANGED

“Thy name shall no more be called Jacob, but Israel, for as a prince thou has prevailed.” The new name indicates a new nature. The new nature came not by struggling but by yielding. The measure of our submission to Christ will be the measure of our victory for Him.

WE SEE JACOB TESTIFYING

“I have seen God face to face.” This is a great testimony. When people see us they need to see in our testimony that we have been with God.

WE SEE JACOB HALTING

Jacob limped the rest of his life. It would always be a reminder of his Peniel experience. Our old sin nature is a constant reminder of limitations in our walk with God.

The believer who walks with God is constantly repenting of his weakness. 1 John 1:8-9, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

May the Lord bless these words to out hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White