Wrestling with God

"So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak."

Genesis 32:24 (New International Version)

Jacob was quite a character.  Even while still in the womb he caused problems.  Jacob had a twin borther named Easu and while their mother was giving birth, Jacob had ahold of Easu's heel.  That's why he was named Jacob.

But let's go back before the conception of these two boys.  Their father was Isaac.  He was the promised child to Abraham and Sarah.  It was through Isaac that Abraham's descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.

Jacob and Easu were your typical siblings.  And even though they were twins, they wre nothing alike.  Esau like the outdoors and Jacob was...how shall I put it...well, he was a momma's boy.  So Rebecca (Jacob and Esau's mom) favored Jacob and Issac enjoyed the wild game that Easu brought home.

One time Easu had been out and came home famished.  He thought he was going to starve to death.  You know how dramatic kids can be when they are hungry.  Well Jacob was making a pot of stew.  Easu demanded Jacob to give him some of the stew.  Jacob made a deal with Easu that if Easu would give Jacob his birthright, then Jacob would give him some stew.  Now Esau was the firstborn, therefore making him the older twin.  The firstborn son always received this.  Easu is so hungry he can't think straight and asks what good will the birthright be if he starves to death.

Not only did the firstborn receive the birthright, but they also received a special blessing from the father.  One day Issac sends Easu out to get some wild game and then Issac would give Easu the blessing.  Well, Rebecca over hears this and devises a plan with Jacob.

Not only did Jacob and Easu have different interests, they were different physically.  Jacob was smooth-skinned while Easu was hairy.  Rebecca's plan was for Jacob to pretend to be Easu to get the blessing.  So he questions his mother's plan.  She tells him to go outside and kill two young goats and she is going to prepare them just as Issac likes them.  Then to make Jacob hairy like Easu, she put the goatskins on his hands and neck...just in case Issac would touch him.  Jacob also wore some of Easu's clothes to have the scent of Easu.

So Rebecca fixes the goats and bakes some bread, gives it to Jacob, and he takes it to Issac.  Jacob goes in and greets his father.  Issac is a little suspicious.  He asks how "Easu" (who is Jacob) returned so quickly.   Jacob lies and says that God gave it to him.  Issac then tells Jacob to come close so he could touch him.  Issac is still suspicious.  Issac states that the voice is that of Jacob but he is hairy like Easu.  Still being suspicious, Issac asks Jacob if he was really Easu.  Again Jacob lies and and answers "I am".  Issac ate and told Jacob to give him a kiss.  He smelled Easu's clothes and blessed Jacob.

Now the real Easu returns.  He fixes the food, brings it to his father and tells Issac to sit up and eat so he could receive the blessing.  Issac asks Easu who he was.  Easu answers, "your firstborn, Easu."  Issac tells Easu that he has already given a blessing.  Easu bursts out with a loud and bitter cry.

Issac dies and the period of mourning is observed.  Easu starts to plan to kill his brother Jacob after the period of mourning is finished.  Rebecca finds out and sends Jacob to stay with his Uncle Laban.

Now Uncle Laban has two daughters and Jacob is smitten with the younger one.  Her name is Rachel.  Jacob offers to work for Laban seven years in order to be able to marry Rachel.   Time just flew by because of the love Jacob had for Rachel.  But when it came time for the wedding, it was Leah instead.  The trickster had been tricked.  To make a long story short, he did get to marry Rachel. 

After a few years and several children, Jacob is told by God to return home.  Jacob gathers his family, servants and animals and sets out to return home.  Jacob sends messengers ahead to Easu asking to find favor.  The messengers return stating that Easu is on his way with four hundred men.  This scares Jacob to death.  He divides everyone with him into two groups.  This way if one group is attacked by Easu, maybe the other group can escape.  Jacob also selects goats, sheep, camels, cows and donkeys as gifts for Easu.  Jacob sends all this on ahead and he stays the night by himself at the camp.

During the night, Jacob was involved in a wrestling match until daybreak.  Jacob was strong and a good wrestler for being in the tent all the time.  The man could not overpower Jacob so he touched Jacob's hip socket and wrenched it.  The man begged to be let go since it was daybreak.  Jacob told the man not until the man blessed him.  The man asked Jacob what his name was.  Jacob told him.  The man told him that his new name would be Israel because he struggled with God and man and overcame.

Have you ever been in a wrestling match with God.  Maybe over something you know you are suppose to do or should do and don't.  People on diets wrestle all the time with what they should eat and what they want to eat.  People with dietary restrictions, such as diabetes, are the same way.  Maybe an addiction, you know it's not good for you but it is so difficult to stop.

I have wrestled with God.  I have wrestled with what His Word, the Bible, says.  There are two verses that I have wrestled with.  One I wrestled years with.  That verse is found in Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16; Matthew 15:6; Matthew 19:19; Mark 7:10; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; and Ephesians 6:2.  These verses deal with honoring your father and your mother.

Now this is the first installment of a four-part series honoring the Month of the Child which is April and remembering those who are victims/survivors of child abuse.  April is also Child Abuse Awareness month.  So you will have to read my next blog "You Want Me To Do What!?" to see why I wrestled with this Scripture.

Overcomer through Christ,
Jeff