what do you really want from God now? what blessing do you need from him? how badly do you need it?
there are times when god most effective releases his benefits on us after a season of prolonged and even painful wrestling with him.
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in genesis 32, Jacob is on his manner back domestic to Canaan together with his small tribe of better halves and kids after a twenty yr sojourn in padded-Aram. and he is scared to death, due to the fact his estranged brother, Esau, is coming to meet him — with 4 hundred guys (genesis 32:6). this is no welcome party; it’s military.
so after splitting up his household into camps to try to keep away from the whole annihilation, Jacob, understandably struggling insomnia, intends to spend the night time alone — no question in desperate prayer.
“all of our struggling with god in religion leads to peace.”
however, an extraordinary guy showed up and Jacob wrestles him until dawn. in some unspecified time in the future in the course of this weird contest, Jacob realizes that he is wrestling God. and when God decides it’s time to quit the fight, he dislocates Jacob's hip and demands to be released. and Jacob, in extensive ache, replies, “i will not let you go unless you bless me” (genesis 32:26).
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this reaction simply pleases God, who announces this blessing on Jacob: “your call shall now not be called Jacob [deceiver], but Israel [strives with God], for you've got striven with God and with men, and have prevailed” (genesis 32:28).
Jacob then limps toward his demanding reunion with Esau with a weakened frame and a reinforced faith. having wrestled with God, he is aware of his prayers regarding Esau may be responded.
advantages thru wrestling
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pay attention to what God did whilst he wrestled Jacob. Jacob started the night time dreading Esau's arrival. he became complete of worry and desperation. however he ended the night of warfare with god’s blessing and a renewed faith. all of our struggling with god in faith ends in peace.
and isn’t it exciting that god did no longer simply speak to jacob in a dream or vision as he had at other instances (genesis 31:13) and reiterate his promise and speak comforting phrases? this time god addressed jacob’s fear by way of requiring him to wrestle all night. this possibly felt to jacob like a badly timed problem when he simply desired consolation and warranty. but later he found out simply how comforting it become. occasionally while we want god’s consolation, he sends it in sudden or even undesirable packages.
“if important, god will reason us to limp to increase our religion.”
God even afflicted jacob with a debilitating injury. this had the impact of making jacob even extra prone to esau, forcing jacob’s faith to more absolutely relaxation on god and not himself. if vital, God will cause us to limp to increase our faith.
finally, wrestling with god modified jacob’s identity. he was now not to be referred to as one who acquired his blessing by way of deception. this time he received god’s blessing with the aid of triumphing with god through religion. this struggle turned out to be a profoundly gracious gift of recovery that god gave jacob, no longer unlike the present jesus gave peter through letting peter affirm his love for jesus as frequently as he had denied it (john 21:15–17). jacob’s tenacious religion pleased god and he rewarded jacob’s request (hebrews 11:6). whilst god calls us to battle with him, there’s constantly more happening than we first recognize and god continually uses it to transform us for suitable.
God desires to bless you
when God makes us struggle him for a few blessing(s), it isn't always due to the fact god is reluctant to bless us, even supposing that’s how it first feels. it is due to the fact he has greater blessings for us within the wrestling than without it.
recollect, god pursued jacob for this healthy. god turned into the initiator. jacob become stewing in his own anxiety over esau and his approaching slaughter squad whilst god confirmed up. and the wrestling drew jacob out of his nervous preoccupation and forced him to focus on god.
i doubt that jacob wanted this compelled attention or even believed he needed it at first. it wouldn’t marvel me if at the beginning jacob had prayed, “god could you get rid of this guy? that is the remaining factor i need proper now.” but what he found became that the wrestling become a way of god’s grace, a channel for god’s blessing on him.
the identical is real for us.
preserve wrestling
so i’ll ask again. what do you really need from god right now? what blessing do you need from him? how badly do you need it?
“do not allow God pass till he blesses you.”
God will meet you on your pain, worry, and uncertainty. but he won't meet you in the way you anticipate or preference. your best ally may also show up looking at first like your adversary, inciting you to wrestle with him.
in that case, recall jacob. there are multiple advantages within the wrestling. you could not need smooth words of consolation, you could now not need to be left by myself together with your mind, you could not want sleep, you may no longer even want a healthy hip! what you want is god’s blessing!
so when God calls you to wrestle with him in prayer, it's miles an invite to obtain his blessing. stay with him and don’t surrender. do not let him pass till he blesses you! he likes to bless that sort of tenacious faith and you'll pop out transformed.
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