July 25: Wrestling with God

Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that He could not defeat him, He struck Jacob’s hip socket as they wrestled and dislocated his hip. Then He said to Jacob, “Let Me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me.”  “What is your name?” the man asked. “Jacob,” he replied. “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” He said. “It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.    (Genesis 32:24-28 — Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Jacob’s entire life up to this point had been a struggle. He struggled with his twin brother in the womb, and grasped his brother’s ankle as he was being born. Later on he struggled with his brother over his birthright, and still later with his father-in-law, Laban. Now, right before he meets his brother Esau after a twenty-plus year absence, Jacob has the struggle of his life… with God. The man who came in to this world grasping his brother’s heel, now grasps onto the bodily form of the angel of God, and is forever changed, for the better.

Jacob was in real danger. His brother, who had threatened to kill him years before, was coming to meet him with 400 men. Jacob was traveling out in the open with his entire family and all his worldly possessions. He felt the need for God's help and protection because the next day could mean the complete destruction of all he had. No one would come to his aid. He was desperate, yet determined. God had to help him, and so he did the unthinkable and wrestled with God all night long and would not release Him until he received His blessing.

What was God’s response? Did God strike him with lightning for his audacity? Did the ground open up and swallow him for saying “no” to God? Was he punished for insisting on a blessing? No, he received exactly what he asked for, and more. God did an amazing thing, He changed his name, which was God’s way of saying, “You are forever changed because of what you just did”. His name was changed from Jacob, which meant “cheater” or “deceiver”, to Israel, which means either “prince of God” or “one who struggles with God and overcomes”.

Jacob’s attitude is so foreign to most Christians today, and even pastors. In general we are taught to be spiritual wimps, to accept whatever happens as God’s will no matter what it is. But Jacob fought with God and insisted on being blessed. Most people today would give up if they found themselves in the same situation. Most people pray a little, go to church a little, and then declare that their situation is impossible. But I ask you, is that what you want out of life? Do you have the guts to wrestle with God and refuse to let go unless He blesses you? If so, God is ready to bless you just like he blessed Jacob — and if not, you’ll have to be content with the life you already have.