And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had. Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. (Genesis 32:22-23)
Jacob wrestled with God, just as he had been wrestling with every person and situation life had ever presented to him. He was a “born fighter,” even struggling with his brother Esau in the womb of his mother (striving to be born first). Then, He wrestled with Esau for the family birthright and Isaac’s blessing. He wrestled with Laban for Rachel and a living for 21 years. In this passage, he was anticipating yet another struggle with Esau. Fighting is all Jacob had ever done, but he did not realize he was only fighting himself. It would be quite a few more years before he would learn to fight the Lord's battles, not his.
Many saints today are just like Jacob, fighting battle after battle, controversy after controversy, all the while falling short of entering into the rest of God. Jacob plotted and lied for the things God would have given him if he waited and walked by faith. The same is so with many Christians today with their belligerent words and actions -- claiming to stand for God, but simply warring and walking in the flesh and accomplishing nothing eternal. We, like Jacob, must learn to fight the good fight of faith, where the only cause is Christ and the only enemy is sin. That is where we learn to wrestle before God, not with Him. Help us, Father!
Let's Pray - Lord, teach me to agree with you at every turn. I must learn to wrestle before You, not against You or men. Forgive me for being slow to recognize Your will. In Jesus, Amen.
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