The life of Jacob is certainly an interesting one.  From stealing a birthright to marrying sisters in the wrong order, to running away from their Dad, Jacob has some adventures.  Perhaps, none more interesting than Genesis 32 when He wrestles with God.  Let’s look at the account together today. 

That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” 31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.

God clearly takes some human form that can be wrestled with and is not particularly strong.  Jacob is able to hold on all night although God can clearly disable him at will simply by touch.  The key here is Jacob finally acknowledging and understanding that the source of all blessing is God.  There is no need to steal a birthright when it comes to God.  God gives His blessings freely.  He has already made a promised blessing to Jacob through Abraham and Isaac.  Here the blessing becomes even more specific as God changes Jacob’s name to Israel and he quite literally becomes the Father of a nation.  For us the takeaway is the value of the blessings of God.  We have inherited blessings from God through Jesus.  Do we “wrestle” and hold onto God to receive more blessings from Him?  The closer we hold onto God the more we will see and experience His blessings in our lives.  May we all hold tight to God and never let go.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave