So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. (Genesis 32:24-31)
At first Jacob may have thought that he was being attacked by one of Esau’s men. How often in the darkness of a challenge do we fail to recognize God at work in our lives? We blame the devil, we blame other people, we blame fate; ignoring the fact that God is in control even when bad things happen. But as the light of dawn began to reveal the truth Jacob realized that he was wrestling with God. (Many Bible scholars believe that Jacob was actually wrestling with Jesus.)
God saw that Jacob was determined with his whole heart and all of his strength to hold on to God. Then God injured him. Why? So that He could bless him. God humbled Jacob into total dependence upon God. Why, because God gives His grace to the humble. Humility is the revelation of our own weaknesses and our desperate need for God. It is when we are humble that God can trust us with His strength, and with His blessing.
With a hip out of socket Jacob was easy prey without God’s help. Now Jacob was ready to receive the blessing, now Jacob was ready to fully trust in God to fight his battles. God gave Jacob favor with Esau and their meeting went well. But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. (Genesis 33:4)
When facing problems, temptations, and sufferings it is far better to focus our strength on clinging to God rather than trying to overcome by our own strength. In order for us to fail and give in to problems, temptations, and sufferings we must first loosen our grip on God and even turn away from Him. In order for us to have success God’s way we must cling to Him with all of our strength and perseverance until He commands His blessing upon us.
Trials in life try to distract our attention away from God. When our attention is turned away from God we are then also pulled away from God. But the real purpose for the trials that we go through are to perfect perseverance in us, which is the ability to cling to God in every circumstance without letting go. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4) Patience means cheerful endurance.
There you have it; Men Struggling with God! Our home, rightly named ‘Penial’; gives these men time to focus on the important issues that keep them from recieving the blessings of recovery and a life filled with the love of the Lord!
*****Faith In Motion Church of Christ volunteers to minister to those who would accept the blessings that a clean and sober life filled with the spirit has to offer!!*****
