“That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.”
Genesis 32:22-24
The story of Jacob and Esau is familiar to most of us, but I will condense the story down for those who may be unfamiliar with it. Twin brothers, Jacob and Esau, were born to Isaac and Rebekah. Esau was the first born. Jacob came out second, grasping the heel of his older brother. The two boys grew up very differently. Esau a rugged hunter. Jacob a shepherd. To say the least, there was contention between the boys, most likely created by Rebekah’s favoritism towards Jacob and Isaac’s favoritism towards Esau. The ill feelings were compounded when Esau lost his birthright to Jacob and later his father’s blessing. The enraged Esau sought to kill Jacob and the younger sibling was forced to flee the country. After many years, Jacob, along with his family are returning to finally face Esau. The Bible says that on the evening before their meeting, Jacob was filled with uncertainty:
“ In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well.”
Genesis 32:7
He had been running from this problem his entire adult life, but before he could face Esau, first he had to face God! Left alone on the other side of the river, Jacob had nothing to hide behind. Behind him was his family, his possessions and his past. As he stood gazing over the river a man apprehended him and began to wrestle with him. As Jacob grappled with the man in the early morning hours, he realized that the man he was struggling with was the Lord, Himself.
The word wrestle means to struggle for control. The ultimate goal of wrestling is not “pinning” someone to the ground. It is about submission. God wrestled for control of Jacob’s life that night. Jacob fought against it!
“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.”
Genesis 32:25
What? God could not overpower Jacob? That doesn’t make since! He is God Almighty! How is that possible? The answer is simple. God will never force His will upon you if you are not willing to submit. God loves you too much to allow you to stay in a fallen state, so He will wrestle with you, but He will never pin you down and force His will on you. Reluctantly, He will let you stay in control, but He may not contend with you forever!
Pastor Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com
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