Welcome. The depth of Jacob’s longing to gain blessings from God makes his story one of the most fascinating and important interactions in the Bible.
Let’s explore the details of Jacob’s wrestling with God for a blessing can be a blessing to us too.
» Friday, 10th March 2023 | I Stand In The Gap Daily Devotional | Wrestling with God for a Blessing
Yesterday, we had a look at “Unholy Temptation: The Adulterous Woman“, and today’s is “Wrestling with God for a Blessing”.
Anchor verse of the day
And He said, ‘Let Me go, for the day breaks.’ But he said, ‘I will not let You go unless You bless me!
Genesis 32:26 NKJV
Jacob’s experience of wrestling with God reminds us of the importance of seeking God’s blessings in our own lives, and the struggle and determination that it often requires.
Themes in Genesis 32:16
- Persistence: Jacob holds onto God in this passage and won’t let go until he obtains a blessing. His tenacity in the face of opposition serves as an example of the value of persistence in our own lives. Jacob’s unwavering dedication to pursuing God’s blessing serves as a potent lesson for us about how persistent we must also be in seeking God and His purpose for our lives.
- Humility: Even though Jacob is adamant about getting blessed, he understands that he needs help. He is willing to humble himself in order to receive the benefit because he recognizes his need for God. Our connection with God depends on our capacity for humility, which enables us to surrender to His will and accept His grace.
- Faith: Jacob’s decision to cling to God despite his difficulties demonstrates his belief in God’s might and goodness. He is willing to wait until God fulfills His promise because he has faith that God can prosper him. This topic serves as a reminder of the value of faith in our own lives, particularly during difficult and uncertain times.
- Blessing: In the end, a blessing is this verse’s main topic. The significance of seeking God’s blessings in our life is demonstrated through Jacob’s experience with God. Also, it demonstrates God’s might and benevolence in providing for His people. This subject serves as a helpful reminder of the value of living in anticipation of the blessings that God wishes to deliver upon us.
Background to Genesis 32:26
The account of Jacob’s contact with God, which took place at a crucial point in his life, is found in Genesis 32:26. At this point in the biblical story, Jacob had lived with his uncle Laban for years while also raising a sizable family of his own. He was compelled to leave with his family and possessions, though, because he had lost Laban’s favor.
Jacob learned that his estranged brother Esau was sending an army of 400 warriors to greet him as he and his family returned to their native land. Jacob gave Esau gifts in advance in an effort to calm him down because he was worried about his safety and the protection of his family.
Jacob was left on his own by the Jabbok River the night before he met Esau. He met God in the form of a man during this night and wrested with Him till daybreak. It is here that he told God that until he receives a blessing, he won’t let Him go.
The biblical story of Jacob’s encounter with God is significant because it represents a pivotal moment in Jacob’s life. Following their meeting, Jacob and Esau made amends, and God gave him a new name, Israel, which means “one who strives with God.” The challenges and eventual reliance on God throughout Israel’s history are also hinted at in this interaction.
Similar Bible verses to Genesis 32:26
As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
Psalm 42:1-2 (NKJV)
This line reflects a great yearning for God and a desire to be in His presence, just like in Genesis 32:26. The Psalmist compares the intense need for God to the panting of a deer in search of water. The intensity of Jacob’s desire for a blessing is also evident in his determination to hang onto God throughout their wrestling encounter.
Both verses exhort us to put our complete trust in God to grant our greatest aspirations and to seek Him with all of our hearts.
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Matthew 7:7 (NKJV)
Jesus quoted this line in the Sermon on the Mount as an encouragement to keep pursuing God’s benefits.
We are commanded to ask, seek, and knock until we obtain what we are seeking from God, just as Jacob clung to God until he received a blessing.
In our relationship with God, this verse also underscores the value of persistence and confidence. It serves as a reminder that if we come to God in an honest and humble manner, He is able and willing to provide all of our wants and desires.
How is the Believer to live his life?
The call of the believer is to live a life of perseverance, humility, faith, and expectation of God’s blessings.
- First, the believer is urged to pursue God and His will for their lives with tenacity. Believers must cling to their faith and trust in God’s plan for their lives despite hardship, just as Jacob wouldn’t let go of God until he received a blessing.
- Second, the believer is urged to live modestly, admitting their need for God’s love and benefits as well as their dependency on Him. Believers must humble themselves before God and rely on His goodness and strength to provide for their needs, just as Jacob acknowledged his limits and prayed to God for assistance.
- Thirdly, the believer is obligated to act in accordance with their faith, relying on God to fulfill His promises and to bless them abundantly beyond their wildest expectations. Believers must have faith that God can meet their every need and desire, just as Jacob had faith that God could bless him.
- Finally, the believer is also commanded to live in expectation of God’s rewards. Believers must live with a sense of expectation and hope for the blessings that God wishes to pour upon them, just as Jacob had a constant longing for God’s blessing.
My reflection on wrestling with God for a Blessing
Through my relationship with God, I am reminded of the value of perseverance, humility, faith, and a sense of expectancy.
Like Jacob, I am obligated to steadfastly pursue God and His purposes for my life despite difficulties or setbacks. I must maintain my trust in God’s plan and faith that He will provide for me and bless me abundantly beyond my greatest expectations.
I am also urged to live modestly, appreciating my own limits and my need for God’s mercy and benefits. I must recognize my reliance on God and put my faith in His goodness and ability to provide for my needs.
I am reminded that maintaining a connection with God takes work and tenacity. In order to find God’s plan and blessing for my life, I must be willing to struggle with Him in prayer. I need to approach God with hope and expectation, believing that He wants to bless me and provide for me in ways that are above my comprehension.
Let us pray
Dear Heavenly Father,
I acknowledge my need for your grace and blessings as I come before you today. Although I am appreciative of all the favors you have previously shown me, I am aware that I still need your help in several aspects of my life.
Like Jacob, I am ready to struggle with you in order to get a blessing, Lord. I am eager to seek you out relentlessly since I know that you will meet all of my needs. I’m ready to approach you in a humble manner, admitting my own limitations and my reliance on you.
I beg you, Father, to grant me the stamina and bravery to never give up on pursuing your will and blessings for my life. Please enable me to maintain my faith in the face of difficulties or impediments. Encourage me to put my faith in your goodness and ability to meet my needs.
Lord, I believe that you desire to bless me and provide for me in ways that are beyond my comprehension, therefore I come to you with a sense of expectation and eagerness. I pray that you will grant me my heart’s desires in accordance with your will and my life’s purpose.
Thank you, Lord, for your love, grace, and blessings in my life. I pray that you continue to guide and direct me, as I seek after you and your will for my life.
In the name of Jesus, we pray.
Amen.
