24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.25 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. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel,[a]because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” 29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel,[b] saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” 31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel,[c] and he was limping because of his hip. Genesis 32:22-32
Keep Him
For Jacob, the battle was long and silent and lasted through the night. But, the length of the battle is not the issue. The issue is how we come out on the other side. In order to understand it we have to investigate deeper some issues:
- What was the meaning of this struggle? Couldn’t have God appeared to him and told him that everything will be alright? Was God showing him a glimpse of his life how he struggled all his life to work and live? It was God showing him that all his disappointments, his successes, and all the swift changes of life, were attempts to lead him to yield himself up, and bow his will to God’s will.
Fact One: The struggle was the story of Jacob’s life and Jacob had to see and face the way he was living it. See we have to see our lives in front of us to realize we need to change.While Jacob was fighting in utter silence he began to realize that the way he lives has to change. No word was spoken from both parties. Please note that:
Fact two: WHAT A CHANGE IN ATTITUDE. Through the process of fighting he changed. the first stage of the fight was Jacob defending himself and fighting back. The second stage, after realizing that he has to change, he was holding onto God and not letting go.
BUT….
- If the man was God or an Angel and if by His simple touch he dislocated Jacob hip then why then did He ask to let Him go so he can leave? Wasn’t God capable of leaving? Why could not this stranger, who had lamed his opponent, loose himself from his grip?
Of course God could have done that. Listen God so gentle and does not force himself on anyone. Remember when Jesus was walking with the two disciples at Emmaus. The Scriptures tell us He did the same. ‘He made as though He would have gone further.’ He wanted to go. In the same manner, when He came to the disciples in the boat on the lake. He appeared as though He ‘would have passed them by.’ In all three cases the principle is the same. For the change to happen
God desires to go, if we do not desire Him to stay and make the necessary change.
He will go, unless we keep Him.
