What keeps you awake at night? Some people can’t sleep because of something they said or did that hurt a family member. Others are robbed of needed rest by relentless pain in body or mind.
One of the most interesting Old Testament stories is about the night Jacob found sleeping impossible. When we experience a sleepless night, we can usually identify the reason rather quickly. Maybe it was that spicy food we ate or something eating at us, like anger or worry. What kept Jacob awake all night?
You will find the answer in Genesis 32: 22-32, one of the most fascinating stories in the Old Testament! If you think about all the rotten things Jacob did to Esau you could conclude it was just a matter of time before he would have to settle this issue with God.
The fact that Esau and 400 hundred men are coming to meet him has evoked “great fear and distress” in Jacob’s heart. As we saw in the last post (Genesis 32:9-12) he petitions God for help. He is a desperate man and God will help him. But God’s answer comes in a way he does not expect. We need to remember when we sincerely ask God to help us we do not get to tell Him how to do it. God has His way of dealing with each of us.
How did God choose to answer Jacob? Beginning in Genesis 32: 22-23 we see that Jacob sent his wives, servants, eleven sons, and all his possessions across the Jabbok river and decided to stay alone for the night. Why did he do this? I believe his burden, his conviction was so intense that he had to settle this with God. He could not go another day with this overwhelming soul-wrenching agony. He must wrestle with, resolve, and find relief from his guilt. Yes, Esau was on the way but he must first wrestle with God face to face.
“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. And when he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him.” Genesis 32: 24-25
Jacob was a determined opponent, refusing to let the man go. “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking. But he (Jacob) said, ‘ I will not let you go unless you bless me.’ ” Genesis 32:26. Jacob realized his struggle was with someone with supernatural powers, one who could “bless” him.
Don’t miss what happens next. Do you remember what the name Jacob means? Grasper, clutching at the heel. Believe me, he knew Jacob’s name. He came there to help Jacob realize how he had lived up to his name. So he asks Jacob, “What is your name?” Jacob confesses and the battle is over, ” And he said ‘My name is Jacob.'” Genesis 32:27.
Does Jacob get the blessing he asked for? He gets a new name to go with the new man he is becoming, ” Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” Genesis 32:28.
Jacob has learned some things about God that are important to each of us! What are the lessons we can take from his experience of wrestling with God? How can we learn to prevail, to “win” with God?
First, God loves us and wants us to come to Him with our sins and problems. God showed up that night when Jacob was scared and desperate. God is always available to us, especially when we are in trouble. He wants us to wrestle with Him with our problem until it is settled.
Second, God wants us to overcome sin, dysfunction, and the habit that is troubling us. That’s right, God desires our victory over what keeps us from being who He created us to be. Look carefully at what the “man” said to Jacob about the wrestling match, ” You have striven with God and with man and have prevailed.” The preposition describing the interaction with God is not “against” but “with.” Jacob and God were with each other, not against each other. God wanted Jacob to win, to prevail. Think about that, God wanted him to win over his problem.
God is a good, loving Father. Some of my fondest memories of my Dad were of times I would push him to the bed and jump on top of him to wrestle. He allowed me to do this and to win every match. Why? Was I stronger? Of course not, he knew I needed this time and experience with him. I think he also enjoyed having his son seek this special attention from him.
How can we prevail with God concerning our sins, destructive habits, and problems? Here are some biblical ideas to consider:
- We win by losing, giving up our pride, and our tendency to play God.
- God blesses us in special ways when our will is aligned with His.
- God wants us to “wrestle” with Him about our problems and questions.
- God knows us by name, knows our character, and wants us to know ourselves, confess our sins, receive forgiveness, and move on.