4/29/2021 0 Comments Genesis 32 30 Kjv
Jacob wasnt laying hold of God to gain something from Him; God was laying hold of Jacob to gain something from him, namely, to bring Jacob to the end of his selfdependence.Even if youve never paid much attention to God before, a severe crisis has a way of turning you to Him.You realize that unless God comes through, you are not going to make it.
It may be a health problem; unless God intervenes, theres no hope. Perhaps its a serious marital or family problem, a financial problem or a desperate need for work. It may be a personal problem, such as loneliness, guilt, anger, bitterness, or anxiety. It could be some life-dominating sin, such as alcohol, drugs, pornography, or gambling. But whatever the problem, you know that you need God, and youre calling to Him for help. He was returning to Canaan in obedience to God, but that meant he would have to face his brother, Esau, whom he had cheated 20 years before. When Jacobs messengers came back and said that Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men, Jacob froze with fear. Esau could easily wipe out everything that was of value to Jacob, including Jacob And so he prayed, Oh, God, deliver me from Esau (32:912). What we have in mind is that God would somehow remove our problem or make our enemy go away. God answered Jacobs prayer for protection from Esau by wrestling with Jacob until He left him limping as he approached his brother. ![]() But now he couldnt run from Esau if he tried He was totally dependent on the Lord. Our problem, like Jacobs, is that all too often we want to use God and His blessings to further our own ends. All his life Jacob had been using God and people to get what he wanted for himself. But now God brings Jacob to see that you dont use God you submit to Him. Before God can use a man greatly, He must break him, because we all have a builtin propensity to trust in ourselves. Thus. Jacobs opponent was the angel of the Lord, Jesus Christ in a preincarnate form. It was a physical fight with physical injury inflicted on Jacob, and yet there were obvious spiritual lessons impressed on him through this unforgettable experience. But he couldnt sleep, so he woke up his family and moved them across the ford of the Jabbok. Then Jacob went back alone for a final check, to make sure nothing had been left behind. Jacob must have just about had a heart attack Who was this A bandit, trying to rob him An assassin, sent by Esau Instinctively, Jacob began to wrestle with this mysterious assailant, struggling for his very life. Some preachers develop this text as a fine example of wrestling all night in prayer with God.
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