Facing God

   
    Ever feel like you are in a wrestling match with the Lord? 

    If so, hang on til He blesses you!  Do you remember when Jacob tenaciously and boldly wrestled with the Lord in Genesis 32?  For twenty years Jacob had served his father-in-law Laban. 

    After being prompted by the Lord to return to the land of his own kin, Jacob gathered his belongings and his people to leave.

    This tells me that if we want a blessing, we need to obey God despite any obstacles, such as breaking away from that which is most familiar. 

   

---

   
    Jacob knew that he must meet up with his brother Esau (obstacle number two).  In verse 7, Jacob is described as feeling "greatly afraid and distressed."  Later he entreats God, “Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, that he will come and attack me and the mothers with the children" (v. 11).

    Though walking in obedience, Jacob was not at peace.  To me he seems desperately passionate for a confirmation from the Lord. 

    This tells me that if we want a blessing, we might have to admit our fears. 
 

---

   
    In verse 24 we read: "And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day."

    And boy did Jacob get dusty (pounded into powder it seems)! 

    This tells me that obtaining a blessing may require a beating of sorts, and if we truly want a blessing from the Lord, we might just have to get dirty and made a bit smaller in the process.

---

   
    My favorite part of this story comes in verse 30 (after Jacob was blessed by his name change to Israel :  "And Jacob called the name of the place [where he wrestled] Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved" 

    Peniel means "facing God."  Think about that for a moment. 

    This tells me that if we want a blessing, we must not only be walking in obedience and humility, but we must also be prepared to face God.  When we face God, the blessing will surely come. 

---

*Jacob was said to have wrestled God near the Jabbok River (close to the Jordan).

Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal,
coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, down the middle of the great street of the city.
On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit,
yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city,
and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Revelation 22:1-4

http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Gen&c=32&t=KJV#s=t_conc_32031