I will not let You go unless You bless me!

Jacob was worried, his brother was coming to meet him and his entourage with four hundred, likely armed, men. Twenty years earlier Jacob had swindled his brother out of both his blessing, and his birthright. Esau had vowed to kill him, and Jacob had fled. In the twenty years Jacob had prospered, and was returning as God had instructed him to do. When Jacob had learned of his brother coming to meet him with four hundred men, he had prepared and elaborate amends sending lavish gifts ahead of him to meet his brother on the way. Yes, God had told him to return, nevertheless he was understandably nervous, and he wrestled all night with the angel of the Lord. At the break of day the Angel told Jacob to let Him go, and the title of this post, is Jacob's reply (Genesis 32:27, see also chapters 25 – 33).

In many ways Jacob's amends is a model for the amends envisaged in step eight of twelve-step programs. I am thinking in particular of the humility and the timing, nudged by God etc., etc. But my focus this morning is about how Jacob dealt with his anxiety. The description of the encounter is of Jacob struggling with God and man, and prevailing. The word translated here as struggle, means to persist, to exert oneself, to persevere, and this too is a model for us, a model to follow when we find ourselves wrestling in our spirit with something. Jacob's wrestling match is no passive fatalistic response to the difficulties of his life. It is an active and persistent interaction with God. Though it is not play, it is deadly serious, nevertheless, it is reminiscent of the way a loving father wrestles with his young male child, and it is part of what builds a healthy relationship.

Part of why this analogy is appropriate is that clearly the father is much stronger than the child and could easily overpower him. But the father will only use appropriate strength to match that of the child's. And in this way not only is the relationship strengthened, but also the muscles of the child. When we wrestle with God He does the same thing spiritually, and with the same purpose to strengthen us spiritually. In fact the Lord loves us to do this, and when we persist He will indeed bless us, give us the necessary peace and strength and hope to continue and to face whatever it is we need, with His help, to face! In the midst of our difficulties we might not come to God in entirety the right way. I picture myself at times pummelling Him with my fists, even as He holds me in His embrace.

Father, I thank You this morning of this picture of struggling with You and prevailing. Forgive us Lord for the times we have allowed ourselves to be offended. Teach us to wrestle appropriately with You. Thank You Lord that are big enough Lord to deal with our inappropriate responses, and that You would rather that we brought our offence to You in accusation, rather than our allowing the offense to isolate us from You. Bless us this morning Lord in Jesus Name Amen