Prevailing with God and Men
Jacob was extremely scared the night before he met his brother, Esau, whom he had not seen for 20 years. The last thing he had heard from him was that Esau had vowed to kill Jacob. However, since then Jacob had put his trust in God, and God had promised to bring him home in peace. However, that did not do away with all of the fear. Jacob prepared to spend the night alone, after sending his family across the river, but a Man showed up in Jacob's camp. I believe this was a pre-incarnation visit of Jesus. Jacob wrestled with Jesus all night long. We need to consider what happened there that night.
I am sure Jacob prayed, but he did much more than pray since the Lord Jesus was right there with him. He clung to Him, asking for His blessing. He was so tenacious that Jesus could not get away, even to the breaking of day. Finally, Jesus blessed Jacob, changed his name to Israel, and gave him a high commendation. Jacob's hip came out of the socket in the wrestling match, but once he received this blessing, and peace filled his heart, the pain was not a factor. The Lord had declared him to be Israel, "the prince of God," and He had pronounced that he had prevailed with God and men. I am sure he had some apprehension when he approached his brother, but since he had wrestled with God and prevailed, he knew that the Lord would take care of it.
How many times have you wrestled with God until He blessed you? I am not talking about selfishly wanting to get your way or demanding that God do a specific thing for you. I am talking about praying fervently for the Lord to work our your fears and problems, until He blesses you with the assurance that He has heard your prayers. Sadly, we do not do this enough. Instead of prevailing, we give up with God and with people. The person who gives up never gets blessed and commended like Jacob did. It is only by persistent, faithful prayer which reaches out to touch the God of the universe that we receive this kind of blessing. I pray that we will practice it, so we can prevail with God and others.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 35-37
I am sure Jacob prayed, but he did much more than pray since the Lord Jesus was right there with him. He clung to Him, asking for His blessing. He was so tenacious that Jesus could not get away, even to the breaking of day. Finally, Jesus blessed Jacob, changed his name to Israel, and gave him a high commendation. Jacob's hip came out of the socket in the wrestling match, but once he received this blessing, and peace filled his heart, the pain was not a factor. The Lord had declared him to be Israel, "the prince of God," and He had pronounced that he had prevailed with God and men. I am sure he had some apprehension when he approached his brother, but since he had wrestled with God and prevailed, he knew that the Lord would take care of it.
How many times have you wrestled with God until He blessed you? I am not talking about selfishly wanting to get your way or demanding that God do a specific thing for you. I am talking about praying fervently for the Lord to work our your fears and problems, until He blesses you with the assurance that He has heard your prayers. Sadly, we do not do this enough. Instead of prevailing, we give up with God and with people. The person who gives up never gets blessed and commended like Jacob did. It is only by persistent, faithful prayer which reaches out to touch the God of the universe that we receive this kind of blessing. I pray that we will practice it, so we can prevail with God and others.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 35-37