When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed." (Genesis 32:25-28 NRSV Bible)
Jacob was the son of Isaac who had two sons Esau and Jacob. Jacob is famous for clinching his brother Esau's heel at birth. Jacob also stole Esau's birthright which was very important part of the family structure in those days. Jacob went on to become known as the Father of Israel. In verse 28, God said to Jacob, "You shall not longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed."

Jacob had just sent some gifts to his brother Esau, so that he won't avenge Jacob for stealing his birthright. Jacob sends the caravan to Esau while he stays back by the river. This is where Jacob has a wrestling encounter with God.

Have you wrestled with God lately? In our scripture reading today, it says in verse 25, "Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak." In the next verse, we are given the indication that the man Jacob was wrestling with was God. For he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." It was a common belief that no one could see God face to face and still live, so the wrestling could not continue after daybreak or Jacob would die.

Now, I was a wrestler for six years when I was a kid in Jr. High and High School. Wrestling is a very physical sport. It takes a lot of energy and focus. Our relationship with God also takes a lot of energy and focus. We need to wrestle with God from time to time. We need to work at building our connection to the one who gives us life. It is so easy to go through life and lose our focus of serving God. When we wrestle with the big issues of life, when we wrestle with ourselves, and when we wrestle with God, we learn a lot and are blessed. Jacob was blessed for not giving up. Jacob said in verse 26, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." And verse 29 says that God blessed Jacob.

Loving God, as I wrestle in my relationship with you, please bless me in your service. Amen.

Ron Newhouse

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