January 18, 2013 Wrestling into New Life

Wrestling into New Life

Read Genesis 32-33

Gen 32:28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.”

 
“BORN AGAIN” is a phrase in today’s Christian language for a person who has asked God to forgive his or her sins, and he or she has welcomed Jesus as the Lord of their lives. “Born again” is new life released from sin’s condemnation into salvation’s promise.

      Jacob’s wrestling match with God is a physical picture of the spiritual battle between our sin nature and God’s holiness. Jacob’s story to this point is one of sin and deceit against Esau, his wives and Laban. God has world-changing plans for Jacob’s family, and he comes to re-create Jacob into a man who will turn his trust completely to God.

      Through the wrestling match, God gives Jacob a new name and a new life with his family. “Born again” Jacob repents of his past and goes to seek forgiveness from his brother Esau. No longer can he live in the shadow of guilt.

      Yes, wrestling with God sounds really weird, but we, too, wrestle with God, don’t we? We hear and read his Word. Yet we say, “Who me? I’ll do that later, God.” Or we say, “I’m all for following you, Jesus, but this sacrificial living is too much for me.” Our sin nature wrestles with his will to a point. But as God has chosen you, one day he will come “touch your hip”, to weaken your will so that you will stop wrestling with God and start embracing his strength.

      Are you wrestling with God? Pray for his Spirit to touch you and weaken you that he will give to you a new life of trust in Him.

LIFE Connection: Wrestling ends with a loving embrace.