Today's Scripture
Facing God- GENESIS 32:22-32
Today’s Reading Schedule: Genesis 32-34(CEB)- Click to read
22 Jacob got up during the night, took his two wives, his two women servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed the Jabbok River’s shallow water. 23 He took them and everything that belonged to him, and he helped them cross the river. 24 But Jacob stayed apart by himself, and a man wrestled with him until dawn broke.25 When the man saw that he couldn’t defeat Jacob, he grabbed Jacob’s thigh and tore a muscle in Jacob’s thigh as he wrestled with him. 26 The man said, “Let me go because the dawn is breaking.”
But Jacob said, “I won’t let you go until you bless me.”
27 He said to Jacob, “What’s your name?” and he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name won’t be Jacob any longer, but Israel,[c] because you struggled with God and with men and won.”
29 Jacob also asked and said, “Tell me your name.”
But he said, “Why do you ask for my name?” and he blessed Jacob there.30 Jacob named the place Peniel, “because I’ve seen God face-to-face, and my life has been saved.” 31 The sun rose as Jacob passed Penuel, limping because of his thigh. 32 Therefore, Israelites don’t eat the tendon attached to the thigh muscle to this day, because he grabbed Jacob’s thigh muscle at the tendon.
RJ's Devotion
What Does the passage Mean to Me/US?
After leaving Laban’s house, Jacob had to face a mortifying reality.
He was led to go back to his hometown to meet his brother, who he snatched the birthright.
We see how Jacob was consumed by his fear, finding ways to run away from reality. That is when God, in a form of a man, wrestled Jacob.
Why did God come and wrestle him? God could have appeared in a vision or a dream. Or like Abraham, come down as a burning fire.
We don’t know exactly why, but we know the result of the wrestling match.
Through facing God, Jacob was able to face the reality with courage.
Through the wrestling match, Jacob conquered his fear.
Not only did he gain confidence to face his brother, but he also received God’s blessing and a new identity.
The face of God was all he needed to face the reality.
The story gives us a direction in our prayers when we are encountered by difficulties.
Instead of asking God to solve the problem, what if we ask and wrestle to see God’s face?
Facing God will give us the courage to believe God is with us. Also the courage to conquer all difficulties.
Prayer
Lord, help us to seek you in every moment. Let us see the blessings that come from your presence. In Christ Name, we pray, AMEN
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