Before I share what God has put on my heart, I want to thank you if you read my previous post, and encourage you to read it if you haven't. God is doing a big move in my heart, and I want to share some of the epiphanies He is giving me. Today's is in the old testament story of Jacob wrestling God (Genesis 32: 24-32) I am using the NASB translation, but I would encourage you to read in whatever version you comprehend the best.
So a little background on the story; Jacob had a older twin Esau, and to make a much longer story short, Jacob punked Esau out of his portion of the inheritance. This of course angered Esau and lead him to hunt down Jacob, we pick up the story the night before Jacob and Esau finally meet in person again after Jacob ran with their father's blessing. So in verse 24 Jacob is left all alone, he had sent all his wives, livestock, treasures, and servants over to Esau's camp. While Jacob is alone a man comes and wrestles with him until dawn. It often said that Jacob was literally wrestling with God during this time. Lots of people even speak about this principal of wrestling with God as a main speaking point in a message, but what does it really mean to wrestle with God? And God hasn't shown up to me in a body for me to wrestle with any time recently, so how do we actually wrestle with Him?
Well to wrestle with God is a way of bringing the depths of your soul before God. To fully understand the concept of "wrestling" with God you have to understand that while you aren't in a physical altercation with God, it holds the same power as a fight with a man. Wrestling on earth is violent, both people looking to dominate over the other. Wrestling hurts, you get bruised and banged up and sore muscles and even in some cases injured joints (Jacob's hip was dislocated during this fight). No one is happy wrestling with someone, its not friendly play fighting, it is a no holds barred, winner takes all, I'm gonna beat you brawl. It doesn't look pretty, and coming out of it usually looks like both people looking like a mess.Wrestling takes time, it feels like an eternity when you are fighting another person. If that's what it looks like to wrestle another person, and people are made in the likeness of God, then does wrestling with God look the same as wrestling with man? Yes, there are minor differences though. Obviously the first one is that this takes place with love, second you aren't going to "beat up" God you'll gain a better understanding of His plan, and you wont have physical injuries or pain but there will be a lot of emotional and spiritual pain in the process.
Now here is the most important part of wrestling with God: be brutally honest. God already knows why you came to Him, he doesn't need you to tell Him, but when you say EXACTLY what is on your mind and exactly why you are wrestling with Him it frees up space in your heart for Him to move. Jeremiah 1:5 God points out that He knew us before he made our body, he already had a relationship with you before you were even conceived. God knows you that well, He knows that once you say all the pent up aggression you have and you tell Him what's wrong and why you are mad, He can come in and show you what's right. All you have to do is Talk to Him and tell Him what is pissing you off, and wait to see where God moves in your life. Remember God gave us power, in all shapes and sizes, even our words have power. Isaiah 55:11 "So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." This shows the power our words hold, by speaking out with words what is hurting us, angering us, confusing us, or whatever is plaguing our heart it is gone and by the power God gave our words He is invited into that space. Again this will take time though, Jacob wrestled all night.
Why does it matter if we wrestle with God or not? To put it simply, NO PAIN NO GAIN! Jesus said it himself in John 16:33, ok so Jesus said it with bigger words, but the idea is the same. You will struggle, but bring it to God and it will get easier. What does the other side of this wrestling match with God look like? Well Jacob received a new name and the blessing of God in his life and Esau stopped trying to kill him. God wants that for you, to give you a new name, to give you his blessing, and to protect you from those who seek to harm you. All you have to do is wrestle with Him.
So a little background on the story; Jacob had a older twin Esau, and to make a much longer story short, Jacob punked Esau out of his portion of the inheritance. This of course angered Esau and lead him to hunt down Jacob, we pick up the story the night before Jacob and Esau finally meet in person again after Jacob ran with their father's blessing. So in verse 24 Jacob is left all alone, he had sent all his wives, livestock, treasures, and servants over to Esau's camp. While Jacob is alone a man comes and wrestles with him until dawn. It often said that Jacob was literally wrestling with God during this time. Lots of people even speak about this principal of wrestling with God as a main speaking point in a message, but what does it really mean to wrestle with God? And God hasn't shown up to me in a body for me to wrestle with any time recently, so how do we actually wrestle with Him?
Well to wrestle with God is a way of bringing the depths of your soul before God. To fully understand the concept of "wrestling" with God you have to understand that while you aren't in a physical altercation with God, it holds the same power as a fight with a man. Wrestling on earth is violent, both people looking to dominate over the other. Wrestling hurts, you get bruised and banged up and sore muscles and even in some cases injured joints (Jacob's hip was dislocated during this fight). No one is happy wrestling with someone, its not friendly play fighting, it is a no holds barred, winner takes all, I'm gonna beat you brawl. It doesn't look pretty, and coming out of it usually looks like both people looking like a mess.Wrestling takes time, it feels like an eternity when you are fighting another person. If that's what it looks like to wrestle another person, and people are made in the likeness of God, then does wrestling with God look the same as wrestling with man? Yes, there are minor differences though. Obviously the first one is that this takes place with love, second you aren't going to "beat up" God you'll gain a better understanding of His plan, and you wont have physical injuries or pain but there will be a lot of emotional and spiritual pain in the process.
Now here is the most important part of wrestling with God: be brutally honest. God already knows why you came to Him, he doesn't need you to tell Him, but when you say EXACTLY what is on your mind and exactly why you are wrestling with Him it frees up space in your heart for Him to move. Jeremiah 1:5 God points out that He knew us before he made our body, he already had a relationship with you before you were even conceived. God knows you that well, He knows that once you say all the pent up aggression you have and you tell Him what's wrong and why you are mad, He can come in and show you what's right. All you have to do is Talk to Him and tell Him what is pissing you off, and wait to see where God moves in your life. Remember God gave us power, in all shapes and sizes, even our words have power. Isaiah 55:11 "So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." This shows the power our words hold, by speaking out with words what is hurting us, angering us, confusing us, or whatever is plaguing our heart it is gone and by the power God gave our words He is invited into that space. Again this will take time though, Jacob wrestled all night.
Why does it matter if we wrestle with God or not? To put it simply, NO PAIN NO GAIN! Jesus said it himself in John 16:33, ok so Jesus said it with bigger words, but the idea is the same. You will struggle, but bring it to God and it will get easier. What does the other side of this wrestling match with God look like? Well Jacob received a new name and the blessing of God in his life and Esau stopped trying to kill him. God wants that for you, to give you a new name, to give you his blessing, and to protect you from those who seek to harm you. All you have to do is wrestle with Him.
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