SCRIPTURE: Genesis 32
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
People who live by their own wits eventually bump up against something too big for them to handle. God uses these moments to humble us, to show us His strength and our dependence. Even so, the default habit of relying on self usually kicks in. Jacob is afraid of Esau (rightly so, considering Esau’s threats). After reminding himself of God’s promise to establish him and his family, he devises this scheme to appease Esau. Always the schemer.
Jacob needs to be helped, and humbled. To fulfill his special assignment in God’s mission, he needs to understand his relationship to God. Exalted yet humbled. Honoured to stand beside God face to face, nevertheless humbled and weakened through the encounter. God stoops down to his level, and even allows Himself to be beaten (sound like Jesus?), yet not overcome.
As servants of God, we have a special place. But we are humbled as we serve Him, knowing that we are nothing before Him. We are declared friends of God, yet we are also His servants. We must be humbled in order to be exalted. It is not our striving, our scheming, our charm or our worldly success that makes us special before God, it is our special relationship with God, that He has granted us.
Jacob needed to be humbled to be exalted. So do we. God enters into a personal relationship with us through Jesus. We are able to dialogue and debate and even wrestle with Him in prayer – which is shocking! But God will also use the encounter to show us our weakness and dependence on Him. In the end, we end up with the limp.
This is an amazing story. Jacob sees God face to face in this encounter. This is Jesus, before Jesus is born. The Son of God makes an early appearance, and not the last one (see for example Joshua 5:13-15).
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for stopping to my level, and being willing to work with – and wrestle with – me. I may be a weak, stubborn partner, but I refuse to let go until I receive Your blessing.
When the Lord says to Jacob in verse 26,
“Let me go, for the dawn is breaking”
It reminds me when Mary saw Jesus after his resurrection in John 20:17;
“Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; …”
But with Jacob, his response is different…
“I will not let you go unless you bless me”
It amazes me with these personalities how we can either be of the personality of trust and obey or of the personality to force an action to happen.
These characters in Genesis keep processing in my mind about how they handled their situations.
They remind me that I can either just trust and obey what God is asking me – makes things simple.
Or I can live out my emotion and force and strive to make things happen – making things more complex.
Jacob is becoming sensitive to God, recogizing His messengers, recognizing that although he was undeserving of it, God had been so generous to him.
Jacob cries out in prayer to God, recalling the promise that God had given for protection and safety. This is soon pushed away as Jacob determines to ‘buy’ his safety from Esau with offerings of wealth. LORD, forgive me for the times that I too cry out to You and then proceed to work it through in my own strength. LORD, I long for the steadfast and confident faith that does not waver, does not doubt but knows that before I have even voiced my prayer, You have already taken care of it. ISAIAH 30:19; 65:24 “How gracious He will be when you cry for help! As soon as He hears, He will answer. Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear.”
LORD, I pray that You will help me to grow in my faith, in my relationship with You in such away that You will change my name. Thank You LORD for the promise that You never leave us as we are. “LORD, thank You for the promise that You will fulfill Your purpose for me. Thank You LORD that Your love endures forever – do not abandon the works of Your hands Oh LORD (PSALM 138:8). LORD, may I grow into the name You have chosen for me so that You may be glorified.
Jacob recognizes his brother and his position. He doesn’t insist on his birthright. But when he hears that Esau is coming with 400 men he takes action dividing the family in two. Although the angels of God had met him, he goes to the Lord in prayer, standing on the promises of God. Jacob also realized God’s faithfulness. Standing on the promises, having talked with God, he continues to devise ways to ‘soften’ the heart of his brother. He works out his own plan of safety rather than relying on the Lord.
It was not until after the wrestling match that Jacob realizes God’s work in Him. It was also signified by the name change – from deceiver to prince with God. He realizes that his schemes can not save but God’s presence can. And He built a memory stone to remind himself of the event as God also gave a physical reminder where his help comes from.
Thank You Lord that I can talk to You each day. Thank You Lord that you are always there to guide me along the Way. I too need reminders that I can not rely upon my own powers, but only through Your workings in me can I be Your servant true. Great is Your faithfulness.
Teach me, O Lord, Thy way of truth,
And from it I will not depart;
That I may steadfastly obey,
Give me an understanding heart.
In Thy commandments make me walk,
For in the law my joy shall be;
Give me a heart that loves Thy will,
From discontent and envy free.