Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today we’ll look at persevering to be blessed.

In today’s scripture, Genesis 32:24‭-‬30 (NLT), we read about Jacob wrestling to be blessed…
This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.” “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.” “Please tell me your name,” Jacob said. “Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there. Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.”

Consider…
Today’s scripture is fascinating because, who wins a fight with God? Yet, that’s what the passage says happened. In fact, that’s what Jacob’s new name Israel means. Let’s look closer at the wrestling match recap.

First, we’re told Jacob wrestled a man, who we subsequently discover was God in the flesh. The fact that the supernatural became natural to bless mankind didn’t only happen with the immaculate conception. God has been visiting man since creation with Adam and Eve in the garden (Genesis 3:8). We also know…

• He gave the promise of Isaac (Jacob’s daddy) to Abraham, in the form of a man in Genesis 18.
• Hung out in Nebuchadnezzar’s sauna with His boys, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in Daniel 3:25

This suggests to me that we should take Hebrews 13:2 (NLT) to heart, which says…
Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

Next, we read the man broke Jacob’s hip with one touch. That tells me Jacob was truly no match for God, thus his “victory” was God allowed. In fact I picture a father wrestling with his young child and letting him win. In the child’s mind, he won the wrestling match with his daddy. The caption I see above that picture is ‘humility’. You see humility is not being weaker, it’s allowing someone us to feel stronger.

In Phillipians 2:5-8 we’re told to be humble like Christ. And just two verses earlier (verse 3), we’re told to think of others as better than ourselves. Perhaps, the scripture that captures the heart of God’s expectation of humility, which Jesus modeled, is Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)…
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Rethinking Jacob’s victory in context of humility, helps me see that God never loses, He just allows us to win.

Our last lesson from today’s scripture is Jacob’s perseverance. The passage reveals two keys to perseverance…

• A made up mind. Jacob said “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” To better appreciate Jacob’s resolve, you need to know his back story includes convincing his brother Esau into selling him his birth right. Also tricking his daddy, Isaac to completing the sale by speaking blessing over the first born over him instead of his brother. Clearly, Jacob wasn’t a stranger to knowing the value of God’s blessing and doing whatever it takes to get it. Getting our blessings from God begin with a made up mind that they’re worth whatever it takes to get them. Thus, perseverance.
• In addition to a made up mind, Jacob had a persistent pursuit. Pursuing his blessing made him wrestle all night long with a broken hip. 🤕 That means, despite his adversity, he endured until his change came. Hebrews 12:1 tells us to put aside all obstacles and run the race God has given us with endurance. That suggests to me that we, like Jacob, may have to wrestle hurt, but we must hold out until our change comes.

The rest of the story is, Jacob’s name was changed to Israel. And as we now know, Israel would become God’s chosen people and the ancestry Jesus would come through. This makes me realize one more thing, this wrestling match wasn’t an accident. It was God’s plan and providence in fulfilling His promise. What that means for us is expressed best in Romans 5:3‭-‬5 (NLT)…
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Oops, I almost forgot the most important takeaway for today. Jacob wrestled for a mere blessing, only to discover he was in the presence of the Blesser. When we, like Jacob recognize that we’ve been with God, we too should say, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.”

The Holy Spirit is gently reminding me to pause and emphasize God’s promise that…
If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. – Jeremiah 29:13 NLT

So today, make up your mind like Jacob, and don’t let go of God. Wrestle with Him, despite your brokenness. If you persevere, you too will leave His presence better than you came.

Today’s song is…
Jacob’s Song

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)