#DailyDevotion Don’t Let Go Of The LORD Until He Blesses You
Genesis 32:22–32 22That night he got up, and taking his two wives, his two maids and his 11 sons, he sent them across the ford of the Jabbok. 23He took them and sent them and all he had across the stream. 24When Jacob was left behind alone, Someone wrestled with him till the dawn came; 25and when He saw He wasn’t winning against Jacob, He struck the joint of Jacob’s hip, so that it was dislocated as He wrestled with him. 26“Let Me go,” He said; “the dawn has come.” “I will not let you go,” Jacob answered, “unless You bless me.” 27“What is your name?” He asked him.28“Your name will no longer be Jacob but Israel,” He said, “because you have struggled with God and with men and have won.”
Now this account in the life of Jacob follows him leaving the house of his father-in-law Laban. You might remember that was a bit of a mess between those two in both business and family life. Now he is headed back home (remember he and his mother had cheated Esau from both his birthright and inheritance). Now just before these verses Jacob had sent his people and belongings ahead of him in seperate droves. Some of it was a present for his brother Esau in hopes of appeasing him and making peace. While it is not said, sending them apart in different droves also allowed for those following to retreat in case Esau and his people attacked the first or succeeding droves. Now he also sends his wives, their maids and his sons ahead of him and now he is by himself.
It is at this point someone appeared and started wrestling with Jacob. Jacob was winning when his opponent struck the joint of Jacob’s hip and dislocated it but Jacob would not let the person go. Now it doesn’t say Jacob knew he was struggling with the LORD here. Yet Jacob sought his blessing. He must have know something was up with this person if he sought his blessing. Now I guess Jacob could not really see the person well he was struggling with. The person wanted to be let go before the sun came up and Jacob could see him. Perhaps this gave a clue to the person’s identity.
We the person gives in to blessing Jacob by asking Jacob name. The name means, heel holder and by derivation supplanter. Wrestlers would grab the heel to throw a person supposedly. Jacob certainly lived this out in his life, supplanting Esau and then his uncle Laban. The person blesses Jacob with a name change. He would now be Israel “because you struggled with God and man and won.” The LORD had prophesied good things for Jacob. He would rule his brother. It seemed though Jacob had been going about in the wrong way his whole life. His struggles with his brother and his uncle were just manifestations of his struggle with God his whole life. Now confronted with God he would not let go till God blessed him. How does one beat God? Apparently by not letting go of him.
What have you been struggling with? Has everything been going wrong? Have you been trying to get what you want in underhanded ways? Perhaps it’s time to struggle with God in a good way, with faith. Don’t let go of God until he blesses you. Don’t be one of those people who give up on God. In Jesus we know God wants our good. Hold on to him.
Heavenly Father, give us the courage and faith to hold on to you no matter what is going on in our lives until you leave with us your blessing. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.