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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Touch (the sense of touch) (08/05/10)
(KJV)
I began to look at Genesis 32 verses 24-28 and realized that Jacob had sent his family on up ahead of him and he stayed behind. I can only imagine that he had a sense of what was coming.

Why does God allow us to come into places of isolation? I feel it is because when we seek to serve His purposes, to grow more in His word and empty ourselves of things that are not of Him, He can fill us more for His Glory. But, at times there are things that we aren’t willing to let go of. The only way God can completely get us to the point of emptiness is by breaking us.

This scripture doesn’t say that Jacob wrestled with the angel, it says,

"And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day."

The next verse is even more evident of this, because Jacob was not stronger than the angel was by no means. Neither did he have power over the angel. Verse 25 says,

"And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacobs thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him."

One touch after all that wrestling, crippled Jacob for the rest of his life, yet he continued to fight. Sometimes we go through things in our life that cripple us forever. It could be a divorce, a distraught past, a feeling of failure from backsliding, depression, anxiety, heartache, a rough childhood or loss. Whatever each individual’s situation may be, it has left a scar. Though the blood of Jesus covers it now, it’s something that happened that broke us in the presence of God.

In the next verse, the angel tells Jacob to let him go, for the day has broken, and Jacob says,

"Nope, I am not letting go, until you bless me."

If that doesn’t prove his stubbornness, I don’t know what would. He wrestled all night, with no avail, holding on and fighting with all his might! He was determined to get a blessing!

Doesn’t that sound like some of us? God tells us to let go of things, and we refuse to let them go. Still expecting Him to give us a blessing. We have to realize that in order to receive a full blessing we truly have to let go and realize who we are in Him. When we realize that it’s not about what He can give us, but about what we can give Him that is when we will receive the blessings from Heaven.

Verse 27 is my favorite verse. "And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob."

You know the last time Jacob was asked his name he lied to his earthly father and stole his brothers blessing. (Genesis 27:18-19)

This time God asks him in Genesis 32

"What is thy name"

Jacob answered and the angel of the Lord replied,

"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."

I think Jacob prevailed when he was truthful to himself and answered with a whole heart unto the Lord. He prevailed only after he completely revealed himself, vulnerable. Jacob asked him, in verse 29,

"Tell me, I pray thee, thy name.”

And he answered asking Jacob,

“Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?”

There is a question there, Wherefore, I believe Jacob was asking in his heart, because he said, "Tell me I pray thee", why else would the angel of the Lord ask "Wherefore?" I believe at that point, Jacob surrendered over to the almighty power and blessing of God, and he was blessed there.

Verse 30 says,

"And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel; for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."

When we face that confrontation between self and God, stubbornness and humility, pride and humbleness, guilt and forgiveness, or whatever that wrestling match may consist of. If we don’t come willingly broken before God, one touch from his mighty hand will change our lives forever! Have you completely given your heart to God, or are you still wrestling with some things? Don’t you think its time you realize God wants you to let go, so He can change your name!
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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This article has been read 1071 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Jeanne E Webster
08/13/10
A good reminder who the boss is! Thoroughly researched and you brought forth the gist of the story quite well.

An excellent devotional here. With a few grammatical and punctuation fixes and this will wring out fine. Blessings. :)
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
08/14/10
This is a wonderfully done sermon, that walks the reader verse by verse through the turmoil that Jacob encountered. There are many good lessons peppered throughout this entire piece.
Philippa Geaney 
08/14/10
I enjoyed this article very much. What a wonderfully patient though prevailing God He is. Such blessed assurance that He will have His way as long as we are hanging in there with Him.
AnneRene' Capp
08/15/10
I was very ministered to by this excellent devotional. Using Jacob and his wrestling with God is something we all walk through. As believers we need to be reminded of this principle in order to let go "of ourselves".