Wrestling into New
Life
Genesis 32
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 has been one of
sin and deceit against Esau, his wives and Laban. God had world-changing plans
for Jacob’s family, and he came to re-create Jacob into a man who would turn
his trust completely to God.
Through
the wrestling match, God gave to Jacob a new name and a new life with his
family. “Born again” Jacob repented of his past and began to seek forgiveness
from his brother Esau. No longer could 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 if God has
chosen you to be born again, one day he will come to “touch your hip”. He will turn
your resolve against him into humility and worship before him. His will is what
will be done in you. 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 strong life of trust in Jesus.
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