In Genesis 32, Jacob departs and heads back to his homeland. As he approached he learns his brother Esau is headed his way with 400 men. Jacob is fearful and wonders what will happen to him. He fears the worst and takes some preventative measures. He splits his possessions in half and separates them. Then he sends a number of things ahead as gifts to “soften him up with the succession of gifts”. As a precaution during the night he took his wives, kids, servants and possessions across the river and out of sight. He puts a rather elaborate plan in place to overwhelm Esau with generosity and avoid what he fears – retribution for what he did when he stole Esau’s birthright and blessing from Isaac many years before. Seems Jacob is still wrestling with some guilt here. He knows he took things from his brother deceitfully, and even after more than 20 years away serving Laban, he knows the pain still remains and really could come back to haunt him. We only can deal with guilt by receiving forgiveness – it never goes away on its own.
During the night Jacob stayed by himself and “a man wrestled with him until daybreak”. All night they wrestled and Jacob would not give up. As daybreak approached, the man “saw that he couldn’t get the best of Jacob” and asked to be let go. Jacob refuses and “he deliberately threw Jacob’s hip out of joint”. That seems a little unfair, but what do you expect when you wrestle with God. He has a few advantages on His side. Jacob finally agrees to let him go if he blesses Jacob, which is what happens. What a story…..God comes down and wrestles with a man who is terrified for his life and Jacob hangs on for dear life. After the event Jacob says this: “I saw God face-to-face and lived to tell the story”. So what would you do if you met God face to face? Would you bow down and worship Him, or would you wrestle and hold your ground? God meets us in many ways every day. Be ready!
Posted by asorensen 
