Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
Genesis 32:24
I used to work in a lumber yard. I was strong then. I used to be able to carry 80# bags of Redi Mix and stacks of lumber on my shoulder without a second thought. Just about everyone I worked with there in the yard was strong. One day, as my team closed up the yard for the evening, two of the guys decided to wrestle during the last half hour of our day (we had very few customers at that time of day). So, these two started wrestling. They grappled and squeezed and wrestled, trying to gain the advantage over the other. It was funny to watch them as they neared the end of the match. The two men leaned on each other with their arms resting on each others shoulders. It ended up a draw, and the two wrestlers limped to a stack of lumber and collapsed in exhaustion. And that was just about a half hour match.
Imagine wrestling for a whole night. As I was reading the account of Jacob’s wrestling match, I wondered at which point in the night did Jacob realize he was not wrestling with an ordinary man. I imagine that the two of them grabbed and thrashed around on the ground and tried to gain the advantage over the other – with little success. Finally, the man Jacob wrestled reached over and dislocated Jacob’s thigh. But, get this, even in his pain, Jacob did not let go. He was not about to lose the match. The man said, “Let me go, the dawn is breaking.” Jacob said, “Not until you bless me.” Jacob recognized the man was greater than he was. So, the man blessed Jacob. He changed his name.
Now, you might not think that to be very significant, but listen to what Jacob means. It means, one who takes by the heel or supplants. The name he was given, Israel, means, he who strives with God or God strives. The man gave Jacob a new name, but look what Jacob said about the whole thing. Genesis 32:30, “So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, ‘I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.’” Allow me to give you some of my thoughts on this.
First, how often do we take the time to wrestle with God? How many times have I – and you – taken the time to strive with God over our finances, our family, our church, our life, anything and everything. More often than not we pray to God in the comfort of our own bubble and we pray our dainty little, “God bless us, everyone” prayer and fail to actually say anything of meaning to God. All too often we exhaust ourselves of what to pray in a matter of moments, say “Amen,” and go about our business having not changed one iota. We think that our prayers are for us to tell God how we feel and that is the end of it all. Prayer is so much more than that. Prayer is the opportunity for you and I to approach the unapproachable God with the burdens of our hearts. Prayer is the opportunity for us to have a change of heart as we pour out the inner thoughts and hurts of our own souls before the God who created all things and who knows our deepest pain better than we do. Prayer is the opportunity to wrestle with God over those deep issues of the heart. We take prayer too lightly. I know. I do the same. Prayer is just one of those things that make me feel better. It’s wasted breath. It’s wasted time. It’s a shame the way I cavalierly approach God in prayer. How about you?
Second, how long could we endure wrestling with God? I don’t think I would last too long. I venture to say that Jacob had some help to wrestle all night, but look at his tenacity. Even when he was wounded, he refused to let go. We wrestle with God for a little bit and then we give up because it is too difficult. It hurts too much. I can get things done without God, if He wants to require something of me. I could ask the question of myself and you, what am I willing to give up for God’s blessing? Jacob lost sleep. He exhausted his strength. He came away with a limp. But, he also came away with a blessing! That was worth it all.
I fail so many times at wrestling with God in prayer. All too often I do not take my wife, my children, my work, my church, or my whole world to the wrestling mat of prayer. I’m too frightened at what the cost will be. I’m too tired from the day’s events. I’m too this or that to focus my heart on what God desires most from me – a real relationship that matters. Prayer is not about me getting what I want. Prayer is about me aligning my heart with the Creator of the Universe. Sometimes, that requires a wrestling match.
O God, may I have the stamina and the tenacity to wrestle and to hold on until I get a blessing from You.
mrc
