The Wagley GroupJune, 2023 – Faithful Living ~
Do you know of anyone who has wrestled with God and won?
Many of us have figuratively had our bouts with the Creator…we have stepped in the ring with our words or have striven with Him in the spiritual, mental or physical realm in the course of our lives.
Maybe you are battling cancer somewhere in your body right now and you wonder why me; maybe your PET scan has revealed that the cancer has returned for the second or even the third time. Maybe you thought you had a handle on your sadness, but suddenly it rears its ugly head again, and your depression feels deeper. Maybe you haven’t spoken to a close family member for months or even years and you wonder if the relationship will ever be mended; you continue to pray that God will intervene and restore what used to be…but the separation continues, and you just ache. Maybe you really walk with a limp because your knee surgery didn’t heal the way you had hoped. Maybe you have pleaded and argued for something to change until you have no strength or tears left. Why does God give us difficulties in this world that we don’t understand? Life certainly isn’t for the faint of heart.
There was an Old Testament guy who was a control freak and loved to take advantage of any situation he could. He was mama’s boy to be sure and he learned to be a manipulative deceiver. Instead of trusting God with his whole heart, he took matters into his own hands and ended up treating everyone badly, especially his brother.
Two scenarios stand out in the Bible. First, this fellow steals the birthright from his older twin— literally, for some tasty red stew. And if that wasn’t low enough, he later hood-winked his father in receiving the blessing reserved for the elder from the patriarch, near the end of his life.
When the second shoe dropped, he had to run for his life and away from familiarity and privilege, and traveled to the country of his mother’s clan. God was with him though, and he became very successful in Haran of Mesopotamia. This was his training ground and after years passed, God told him it was time to go back home.
When Esau heard that Jacob was returning after 20 years, he mounted up with 400 chosen men to meet him. Jacob became afraid that he might destroy his family and flocks and raid his earthly possessions, because of his double deception. How could you blame the older sibling that was in hot pursuit?
Jacob divided his family and flocks in groups and sent them ahead in droves, hoping to appease Esau. When everyone and everything departed, he was left alone. As the sun was setting, he wrapped himself in his outer garment and became startled when he noticed a man’s shadow cast from the firelight.
The Bible says during the evening, he wrestled with God. The tussle was long and brutal, lasting for most of the night…each fighting for control.
The grapple was orchestrated by God himself. He knew he needed to challenge this man like no one had done before. God wanted to see if Jacob was really ready to have God prevail in his life.
When the Man knew that he could not get the upper hand, He touched the right hip of Jacob, permanently dislocated it from the socket. In the midst of excruciating pain, Jacob held Him even tighter. The Man uttered, “Do not detain me any longer for the day is fast approaching.” In his frustration, Jacob demanded that God finally offer the blessing promised to him well before his birth. Jacob cried out, “I will not release you until you bless me!” “What is your name,” the Man asked. “My name is Jacob,” he said defiantly.
What came next shook Jacob to his core. The Man said, “I have come to give you a new name.” “From this time forward, your name is no longer Jacob but Israel.” “You will become a great nation and bless many people.”
When he approached Esau the day after the clash, he was limping and had to walk thereafter with a staff. To the amazement of the younger, Esau runs to greet him and falls on his neck weeping as they embrace. The years provided time to forgive.
When we do battle in this life, God might give us the gift of a limp. If you are carrying burdens that are difficult to bear today, they are placed there by God Himself to prepare you for what lies ahead. If you are limp-less now, don’t think you are immune to the touch of the Master either. Your limp might be just around the corner.
May we all persevere in our limping! Trust Him. Give the glory to God.
Our Lord will use our limps to bring people closer to Himself or bring us closer to Him.