WRESTLING! ...With God???
Genesis 32
My Thoughts
Wrestling can be kinda fun, can't it? The shows, the WWE, maybe school type wrestling. Personally, I never really cared for WWE much. Or school wrestling. I just liked wrestling with a friend, where we both try to hold the other and each try to get out of the other's grip, then switch places and so on. It's fun! I haven't done that in a few years, unfortunately.
Jacob was about to meet his brother Esau. The same brother who hated him so much that he wanted Jacob dead. And he was coming with 400 men! How do you think Jacob must've felt? Scared? Perhaps a stronger term than just "scared?" He was likely terrified. Esau was coming to meet Jacob with 400 men and Jacob was scared for his life. Little did he know that Esau had already forgiven him and was just so happy to see him again. The 400 men were not for war or to attack Jacob, but likely to protect Esau and Jacob.
After hearing about the large amount of men coming with Esau to meet him, Jacob sent everyone ahead of him in waves. He was left alone at night. The Bible then says that a man came and wrestled with him all night. That sounds odd doesn't it? Who was the man? Well, we know that it was, in fact, God. But why? How? What for? Was this a physical wrestling match the same way I would wrestle my friends or you with your friends?
I'm sure you've heard the phrase "wrestle(ing) with God" before. When this happens; when we wrestle with God, it is figurative. It means that we are struggling in our faith or that we are struggling with something in our faith. It does not mean that you are any kind of weak. It is a normal thing and it is something that can bring us closer to God and make us stronger in our faith.
The Bible mentions that Jacob was physically touched on his hip socket so that it was dislocated. Maybe that in itself has some kind of spiritual or figurative meaning to it. Either was, I believe that Jacob wrestled with God about Esau. When we wrestle with God, it usually involves a lot of prayer or otherwise talking with God.
We all go through our struggles or our hard times in our faith. God never promises that our lives will not have those times. It is okay when you are struggling with something and you should talk as much as you can to God about it. If you can and/or you feel you want to, reach out to someone who can at least be praying for you while you go through whatever you go through.
Jacob was about to meet his brother Esau. The same brother who hated him so much that he wanted Jacob dead. And he was coming with 400 men! How do you think Jacob must've felt? Scared? Perhaps a stronger term than just "scared?" He was likely terrified. Esau was coming to meet Jacob with 400 men and Jacob was scared for his life. Little did he know that Esau had already forgiven him and was just so happy to see him again. The 400 men were not for war or to attack Jacob, but likely to protect Esau and Jacob.
After hearing about the large amount of men coming with Esau to meet him, Jacob sent everyone ahead of him in waves. He was left alone at night. The Bible then says that a man came and wrestled with him all night. That sounds odd doesn't it? Who was the man? Well, we know that it was, in fact, God. But why? How? What for? Was this a physical wrestling match the same way I would wrestle my friends or you with your friends?
I'm sure you've heard the phrase "wrestle(ing) with God" before. When this happens; when we wrestle with God, it is figurative. It means that we are struggling in our faith or that we are struggling with something in our faith. It does not mean that you are any kind of weak. It is a normal thing and it is something that can bring us closer to God and make us stronger in our faith.
The Bible mentions that Jacob was physically touched on his hip socket so that it was dislocated. Maybe that in itself has some kind of spiritual or figurative meaning to it. Either was, I believe that Jacob wrestled with God about Esau. When we wrestle with God, it usually involves a lot of prayer or otherwise talking with God.
We all go through our struggles or our hard times in our faith. God never promises that our lives will not have those times. It is okay when you are struggling with something and you should talk as much as you can to God about it. If you can and/or you feel you want to, reach out to someone who can at least be praying for you while you go through whatever you go through.
Prayer Time
Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.
Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!
It is awesome to talk with God! Especially when you are struggling with something. He can bring clarity to you if you want & listen. Can't He! He is amazing!
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