“And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his 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 has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”” (Genesis 32:24–26, ESV)
In the story above, Jacob wrestled with a man “until the breaking of the day” (Genesis 32:24). While Jacob struggled, he was injured. His hip was “put out of joint” (Genesis 32:25). Still, he fought on. Jacob knew this man was special. Upon reading the whole story, some say the man was God. Most say it was an angel. Later in Genesis, Jacob mentioned that he had that night “seen God face to face”. For Jacob, it was a holy moment. He had wrestled with God. He desired a blessing. It was Jacob’s ultimate goal… the blessing of God.
Throughout the night, as Jacob wrestled with the man, he would not let go. He would not give up. In the end, Jacob did receive his blessing. His efforts were rewarded by God. His tenacity in holding on during the arduous fight were noticed. God noticed and blessed his spiritual ardor.
There are times when you will only receive the blessing of God when you hold on tight. When things get difficult, shallow Christians often abandon their faith. They seek refuge in things or people. Jacob fought all night, holding on for dear life. He would not let go of his prize. How well do you hold on tightly to God during difficult times? When struggles come along, do you hold more firmly to your faith or do your own thing? When push comes to shove, will you abandon your morals? When put in an uncomfortable position, will you throw your faith under the bus? When someone really needs you, will you stick around?
Many years ago, I met a middle-aged woman at a nursing home. I was surprised to see someone so young at the home. She had been there for about five years. She had a degenerative disease that damaged her motor skills. It was hard for her to get around. Most days, she was bed-bound, unable to feed herself. Her family took care of her for a long time. Though only in her late forties, her time on this earth was growing short. Her neurological systems were failing. It would not be long before her body would give out.
During this very difficult time in her life, I visited her every few days. She used to be a member of my church. She used to be very active. Her family no longer attended. Her kids were grown up and lived several hours away. They visited once a month, when they could get away for a weekend. For the most part, she was alone every single day. I often caught her looking out the window, almost wishing she could take a walk outside again. Many times, she teared up as we prayed. She was a very beautiful woman. I was shocked nobody was there to visit her day after day. One day, I got up the courage to ask her why she had so few visits. She responded that her husband left her after she got too weak to walk. Most of their friends no longer came around. He remarried. He had a new family. Her relatives lived in another state. She was pretty much alone. I told her she still had me and God. I visited her until the day she died.
It was heartbreaking to see this woman so very alone as she faced terrible days. She loved poetry. She loved watching the birds outside her window. She smiled. She had a generous heart and kind soul. Yet, despite her sweet faith and warm demeanor, she was abandoned by those she loved. They didn’t stick around. They moved on.
So much of modern life is temporary and fleeting. Some friends won’t stick around when the going gets tough. A spouse may or may not be by your side when things go wrong. Children can move far away and lose touch. I’ve met people in nursing homes who haven’t seen a member of their church for a decade. There are home-bound older people who seldom have a visitor. Life for some in society can be so lonely. Those who have made past mistakes may find themselves isolated or unfriended. Despite all the ways that people can abandon you, God will not. The only way for you to go through life without God is if you abandon HIM. Otherwise, “You’ll never walk alone”.
Some Christians do not receive God’s blessing because they don’t hold tightly to God or godly ways when things go sour. In the first century church of Smyrna, they experienced difficult times. Persecution of Christians was not uncommon in those days. An apostle, John of Patmos, mentioned to that church how God was watching over them throughout all their trials. Through John, God gave the Christians in Smyrna these words: “Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). God was going to bless them. However, they had to be faithful to the end to receive their blessing.
How well do you stick tight to God when things go bad? When the winds of change blow hard against your plans, do you stray from God? Jacob found God’s blessing by not giving up during his struggles. I hope the same can be said about you.
Throughout the night, as Jacob wrestled with the man, he would not let go. He would not give up. In the end, Jacob did receive his blessing. His efforts were rewarded by God. His tenacity in holding on during the arduous fight were noticed. God noticed and blessed his spiritual ardor.
There are times when you will only receive the blessing of God when you hold on tight. When things get difficult, shallow Christians often abandon their faith. They seek refuge in things or people. Jacob fought all night, holding on for dear life. He would not let go of his prize. How well do you hold on tightly to God during difficult times? When struggles come along, do you hold more firmly to your faith or do your own thing? When push comes to shove, will you abandon your morals? When put in an uncomfortable position, will you throw your faith under the bus? When someone really needs you, will you stick around?
Many years ago, I met a middle-aged woman at a nursing home. I was surprised to see someone so young at the home. She had been there for about five years. She had a degenerative disease that damaged her motor skills. It was hard for her to get around. Most days, she was bed-bound, unable to feed herself. Her family took care of her for a long time. Though only in her late forties, her time on this earth was growing short. Her neurological systems were failing. It would not be long before her body would give out.
During this very difficult time in her life, I visited her every few days. She used to be a member of my church. She used to be very active. Her family no longer attended. Her kids were grown up and lived several hours away. They visited once a month, when they could get away for a weekend. For the most part, she was alone every single day. I often caught her looking out the window, almost wishing she could take a walk outside again. Many times, she teared up as we prayed. She was a very beautiful woman. I was shocked nobody was there to visit her day after day. One day, I got up the courage to ask her why she had so few visits. She responded that her husband left her after she got too weak to walk. Most of their friends no longer came around. He remarried. He had a new family. Her relatives lived in another state. She was pretty much alone. I told her she still had me and God. I visited her until the day she died.
It was heartbreaking to see this woman so very alone as she faced terrible days. She loved poetry. She loved watching the birds outside her window. She smiled. She had a generous heart and kind soul. Yet, despite her sweet faith and warm demeanor, she was abandoned by those she loved. They didn’t stick around. They moved on.
So much of modern life is temporary and fleeting. Some friends won’t stick around when the going gets tough. A spouse may or may not be by your side when things go wrong. Children can move far away and lose touch. I’ve met people in nursing homes who haven’t seen a member of their church for a decade. There are home-bound older people who seldom have a visitor. Life for some in society can be so lonely. Those who have made past mistakes may find themselves isolated or unfriended. Despite all the ways that people can abandon you, God will not. The only way for you to go through life without God is if you abandon HIM. Otherwise, “You’ll never walk alone”.
Some Christians do not receive God’s blessing because they don’t hold tightly to God or godly ways when things go sour. In the first century church of Smyrna, they experienced difficult times. Persecution of Christians was not uncommon in those days. An apostle, John of Patmos, mentioned to that church how God was watching over them throughout all their trials. Through John, God gave the Christians in Smyrna these words: “Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). God was going to bless them. However, they had to be faithful to the end to receive their blessing.
How well do you stick tight to God when things go bad? When the winds of change blow hard against your plans, do you stray from God? Jacob found God’s blessing by not giving up during his struggles. I hope the same can be said about you.