Genesis 32:22-32

Read Genesis 32:22-32 – Jacob Wrestles with God

22 During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants, and his eleven sons, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23He took them and sent them across the stream, along with all his possessions.

24 So Jacob was left all alone, and there a mand wrestled with him until daybreak.

25 When the man saw that he could not overpower Jacob, he struck the socket of Jacob’s hip and dislocated it as they wrestled.

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 “What is your name?” the man asked. “Jacob,” he replied.

28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob,e but Israel,f because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.”

29 And Jacob requested, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed Jacob there.

30 So Jacob named the place Peniel,g saying, “Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

31 The sun rose above him as he passed by Penuel,h and he was limping because of his hip. 32Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon which is at the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was struck near that tendon.

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Sometimes a person will say to me, “If I could only have your faith.” Then I think, “If you only knew how I struggle with faith, and prayer, and sin.” Oh, I try, but my Christian life is more like Jacob’s wrestling match with God in the night. The rising of the sun was bringing judgment upon him. His life had been like a tossed salad of success and failure with God. Now, the day had come (It always does), the one that he had wronged the most was approaching with a great army behind him. There would be no sleep tonight, and no rest, just a fast beating heart, and a long, long wrestling match with God.

Often prayer can be without much effort. Effortless prayer may also be in danger of being meaningless prayer, or prayer without a heartbeat, (say the words, get it over with, or just go through the motions). Our Prayer life reflects our walk with God.

When we can’t take it anymore, can’t face another day, and are tired, weary, and broken; take heart because we are now where we need to be for the Lord to bless us. He has been waiting for this moment. Take hold of God with both hands (That means you must let go of everything else). Hold on with a humble but determined heart. Pray like Jacob, “I will not let go of you until you bless me!” We are like a camel: the burden cannot be lifted from our back until we get on our knees.

“And God blessed Jacob.” In fact, God changed Jacob’s name to Israel (One who strives with God) and, I might add, “One who prevails with God.” Jacob came out a winner (not the winner, but a winner) with God. When my children were small, I wrestled with them. They always won, not because they were stronger, but because I loved them (we call that grace). How much more God loves us all and is willing that we wrestle with Him and come out a winner.

Charles Wesley wrote a hymn from this passage, that is probably my favorite hymn of all. “I need not tell Thee who I am, my sin and misery declare…Wrestling, I will not let Thee go, Till I Thy name, Thy nature know… ‘Tis Love! ’tis Love! Thou diedst for me, I hear Thy whisper in my heart; The morning breaks, the shadows flee: Pure, universal Love Thou art; To me, to all Thy mercies move; Thy nature and Thy name is Love.”