Day #23 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible. Click here to learn more. You are most welcome to join along at any time.
Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Genesis 32-34.
The last section of Genesis 32 is a place where we must park ourselves to meditate long and hard.
If I understand this correctly, this is one of the rare theophanies (visible manifestations) of God, and we learn elsewhere that God manifests himself in Jesus Christ.
So, here we have Messiah wrestling with Jacob! This certainly seems worthy of our attention. Wouldn't you agree?
As we consider this scene, let's first remember that Jacob was born grabbing the firstborn Easu's heel. And further, let's remember that the name Jacob means cheater, supplanter, deceiver, grabbing for something that isn't his.
Then, as we observe Jacob's life we find him taking Easu's birthright, lying to steal Esau's blessing, sneaking away from Laban, and here we find Jacob scared to death of what his brother Esau might do to him.
As I think about appearances of heavenly persons throughout the Bible, a great deal of the time there is tremendous fear on the part of the human involved. I think of the three disciples, on the Mount of Transfiguration, knowing that this is Messiah, but scared to near death of what they were seeing.
Might this inner fear of Jacob's, that has dogged his whole life, be present? Might it be that all this deception, manipulation, and inner turmoil has finally comes to a head, when he is "face to face" with God, and likely near death with fear?
This night-long wrestling match certainly brought Jacob to the end of himself, until finally he cried, "I will not let you go until you bless me".
Jacob knew who this was. Jacob knew his sin. Jacob knew that he was helpless. And Jacob knew that he could not live another day without God's blessing, help, guidance, love, and direction in his life.
Phew! What a scene. And isn't this the way of God in our lives? Only when we are helpless do we realize that we then can, through God, be strong.
I was greatly helped by A.W. Pink's "gleanings" from this scene. Take some time to read A.W. Pink's explanation of this scene, and please, I beg you, do not leave this scene until you grasp its full meaning, and perhaps find yourself in the same helpless position.
I have recently come from my own wrestling match with God, and I am holding on to his ankles with all my strength, and pleading that he will never again let me stray.
Oh my soul, hold tight the ankles of Messiah, and daily seek his direction.
