God engaged Jacob in a wrestling match.  

 

God showed up right at the time where Jacob was desperate to expiate his offenses (old nature, sin and past) and challenged him to a wrestling match.  The Angel could have vanished in thin air when Jacob contended with him, yet he did not, because God was preparing to change his destiny.

 

Jacob was accustomed to figuring out his own solutions in life by deceiving people or acting like something that he was not. From birth, he was known as one who was willing to grab the heel of someone else to get ahead in life.

 

Twenty years had passed since he received a promise of provision and had the vision of angels ascending and descending in a remote, inhabitable place. Now he has run out of solutions.  He is desperate for God's intervention and direction.

 

He wrestles with the Angel and says, "I will not let you go until you bless me."  Yet Jacob was a millionaire.  In Genesis 31:1, it said that Jacob had acquired all the wealth and honor that belonged to his father in law.

 

So what kind of blessing was Jacob desperate for? 

 

He was desperate for a name change; the blessing of turning away from his old nature so God could bless him with freedom from all fears (that man could ever take it away.)

 

Jacob was tired of running. 

 

Are you? 

 

He deceived his brother from the birthright and ran.  He outwitted his father in law in that he did not tell him that he [intended] to flee and ran.  Now he was hiding again.

 

So he says to the Angel, "I can't live my life like this anymore.  Take the deceiver out of me. Take the manipulator and liar out of me.  I can't change my past, so change my nature, so I can realize my destiny."  And he wrestles with the Angel to the breaking of day.

 

When was the last time you wrestled in prayer with God to change anything in your life?

 

Jacob wrestled with God so, that the Angel had to take his hip out of socket; Symbolic of something finally being broken off his life.  Jacob would no longer walk according to his own willpower and strength.  He would live the rest of his life walking and leaning on a "rod" (the Word of God.) 

 

What do you do when you are afraid of repeating the same mistakes and feeling the shame of defeated thoughts and feelings?  YOU REMIND GOD OF WHAT HE SAID.

 

Gen 32:6-12 records how Jacob responded during this pivotal time in his life: 

 

"And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, we came to your brother Esau; and now he is [on the way] to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.  Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two groups, thinking, If Esau comes to the one group and smites it, then the other group which is left will escape.  Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord WHO SAID TO ME Return to your country and to your people and I will do you good, I am not worthy of the least of all the mercy and loving-kindness and all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant, for with [only] my staff I passed over this Jordan [long ago], and now I have become two companies.  Deliver me, I pray You, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and smite [us all], the mothers with the children.  AND YOU SAID, I will surely do you good and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude."

 

When fear of what man can do to you grips your heart, what has God said to you?

 

When we have divine instruction to do something, regardless of past or current opposition, God will always DO US GOOD.  The promises of God comfort us with what GOD HAS ALREADY SAID during times of fear and uncertainty.

 

When all hell is breaking loose against you, you need to wage war with what God has already said (or promised) until you hear further instructions.

 

Most leaders in the Bible, like Nehemiah, Solomon, Jeremiah and Jesus when facing opposition, prayerfully reminded God of what he had promised.

 

Likewise, Jacob reminded God of WHAT HE HAD SAID. 

 

He was man with a promise that God would not leave him until he had done all He promised when he crossed Jordan with just a staff; and now had become two companies.

 

He was still a swindler, supplanter and trickster.  But God was preparing to align his character with His destiny (promise and potential.)  

 

So He changed his name to Israel (one who contends, prevails and has power with God.)

 

Interestingly, God knew Jacob was a deceiver long before He chose him.  Hosea 12:3-6 writes this about Jacob: 

 

"He took his brother by the heel in [their mother's] womb, and in the strength [of his manhood] he contended and had power with God.  Yes, he had power over the *Angel [of the Lord] and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor. He met Him in Bethel, and there [God] spoke with [him and through him with] us - Even the Lord the God of hosts, the name of Him [Who spoke with Jacob] is the Lord.  Therefore return to your God! Hold fast to love and mercy, to righteousness and justice, and wait [expectantly] for your God continually!"