Daily Devotions
Genesis
"What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord." Psalm 116:12-13
Text: Genesis 32:1-32
THE IMAGERY OF “WRESTLING”
As we ponder over the word “wrestling” (Genesis 32:24), we cannot help but look at how the Apostle Paul wrote about the same subject in his letter to the Ephesians.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts
of wickedness in the heavenly places…”
EPHESIANS 6:12
Of course, Paul’s context was spiritual battle against powerful spiritual forces! Nevertheless, the imagery was that of “wrestling”. What are some of the ideas that may be found in the imagery of “wrestling”?
1. The idea of a Struggle
There is a struggle between two people. Both are engaged and interlocked in “battle”.
2. Many aspects involved in a spiritual Struggle
This is the point! Paul had in mind a struggle that involved the following areas:-
a) The battle in the mind
There could be doubts that must be defeated. Dark doubts may attempt to cloud the mind.
b) The battle with the emotions
The emotions can be deeply involved! The emotions can lift up a person or they can hurt a person badly. Emotions must be fought. Guilt, shame, fear – these are powerful emotions. Jacob was plagued with some of these powerful feelings!
c) The question of faith
On the one hand, there was the Lord’s promise of protection. On the other hand, there was Esau, and his four hundred armed men. Could God protect him? Could God still bless him even as he struggled with many conflicting emotions?
SEEKING THE BLESSING OF GOD
What mattered most was God’s blessing! If the Lord were to bless, then he would not fear anything, or anyone – not even Esau! With all his might, Jacob struggled and finally held on to this one thought.
“I will not let You go unless You bless me.”
GENESIS 32:26
Of course, Jacob could not forcibly retain the Man who wrestled with him. But he had made his point! He would do his utmost to plead for a special blessing. Once before, he had stolen a blessing. Now he would plead with everything he had for a blessing.