Struggle

The time has come for Jacob to face his brother, Esau, and Jacob fears for his life. In Genesis 32, Jacob wisely sends word to his brother letting Esau know that Jacob is coming in peace. Word comes back to Jacob that Esau is coming to meet him and bringing 400 with him. Yikes! Jacob divides his party in two in hopes that, if Esau attacks one, the other will get away. He also sends gifts to Esau in the form of several herds of animals, telling the servant responsible for each herd to tell Esau that Jacob is coming behind them.

After making every effort to show Esau that he is a changed, humble, man aware of his former wrong-doing, Jacob sleeps. However, Jacob does not rest. Verse 24 says "a man wrestled with him until daybreak". The man asks to be let go

"But Jacob replied, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.'"(Gen. 32:26b)

The man asks Jacob his name, and verse 28 says,

"28 Then the man said, 'Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.'”(Gen. 32:28)

Jacob asks for the man's name, but the man does not give it. The man instead gives Jacob the blessing he asked for - as well as a limp that he did not ask for.

We don't know if Jacob's struggle with God pertains to his past, his future, or his fear. Maybe all of those.

We often wish we could hit an Easy Button to escape life's difficulties, including the consequences of our own actions. We may not come away from our circumstances and challenges physically injured, but we are changed, refined, and polished in the process of becoming the reflections of God that we were created to be.

"15 As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;

when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness."(Psalm 17:15)

No struggle, no strength; Know struggle, know strength