GENESIS 32:28

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.”

TO PONDER

Have a look at the whole of Genesis 32 if you are not familiar with the rest of this story, it's one of my favourites. But if your short on time, here's the short version...

Jacob has been away since fleeing from his brother Esau's wrath after 'stealing' Esau's birthright and blessing from their father, Isaac. Esau, by the way, was a much more physically imposing and threatening figure that Jacob. But now that he has amassed some of his own wealth and a household of his own to hide behind, Jacob is on his way to make amends with his brother. However, the night before they reunite, Jacob encounters a man who engages him in a wrestle on the banks of a river.

They wrestle all night, and as day begins to break, the strange visitor recognises that he is not going to overpower Jacob and so somehow deliberately injure Jacob hip or groin. Jacob refuses to release the man until he receive a blessing, at which point the man pronounces a blessing over Jacob and gives him the name Israel, "because he has struggled with God and humans and has overcome."

I often wonder why Jacob wrestled with God, or rather, why God came as this mysterious man and wrestled with Jacob. Jacob had already received a blessing and the inheritance from his Father, the covenant promises of God had already been passed to him. I suspect though that Jacob's own deception and rogue like behaviour, may have caused him to doubt his standing in the eyes of God, and so he needed assurance.

Sometimes I know I am my own biggest hurdle or struggle when it comes to trusting God and struggling or wrestling with his promises. "How can God love someone like me?" is a question many Christians struggle with or stumble over at one time or another. However, just on look at the cross of Christ should be enough to snap us out of it. Why would Jesus allow himself to be hung and killed on a cross if not out of love for those who would be saved through faith in Him?

Jacob's wrestle with God left him changed, God loves you too much to leave you where you are and wants to change you too. Engage with him, wrestle with him, but all the time trust and be assured that he loves you and is for you, even if you end up feeling like you have been kicked in the groin.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, so often I fail to see how you are at work. One look at the nightly news and I see violence and destruction, natural disasters, famine and disease. I take a look at my own life and only manage to see the ways I have not lived up to your perfect standard and plan for my life. So I simply pry that you would sustain me as I continue to wrestle with you and what it means to be one of your children in this fallen world of sin. In Jesus Name, Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.