Genesis 32:22-29
22 During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two servant wives, and his eleven sons and crossed the Jabbok River with them. 23 After taking them to the other side, he sent over all his possessions.
24 This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. 25 When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!”
But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 “What is your name?” the man asked.
He replied, “Jacob.”
28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel,[a] because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”
29 “Please tell me your name,” Jacob said.
“Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.
This is one of the most interesting and compelling stories in the bible, and I want to just break it down and look at it in a more literal context today.
Jacob wrestled for a blessing, even when he was in pain he would not let go until he received what he was fighting for. Jacob’s hip was out of socket, his hip! I’m not sure if you’ve ever hurt your hip but it HURTS. It’s hard to stand and even harder to walk. If you’ve ever broken a bone or dislocated anything you know the kind of pain it is. It’s hurts so much. Let’s think about this for a second, this man's hips was out of socket and even then he would not let go because he did not want to miss his blessing. He kept fighting with a dislocated hip, he had to push his limits physically to receive what he was fighting for. Even a dislocated hip could not make him let go of the angel because the angel had something he needed and wanted. Not only did he fight with a dislocated hip but he had already been fighting all night long. I can imagine that he was tired and exhausted, and the pain really didn’t help that. This was so impressive to the man he was fighting that he had to know his name. He had to know who this man was.
When we think of this in context we have to realize that Jacob fought for what he wanted. Jacob refused to let go even when he was in pain. I can’t imagine how much pain he was in, but what he was fighting was so much more important that he could deal with the pain another time. What I’m saying here is, we have to fight for what we want. We have to hold on to the things we think are worth fighting for, even if it means we have to deal with the pain of holding on. We sometimes think that the things that bring us pain are not for us. We think that because we have to endure the pain to get to where we are going that it’s not for us. Pain isn’t always an indication of something going wrong, pain can be good at times. We can have growing pains, healing pains, enduring pain. We cannot let the pain stop is from fighting on make us let go of the things we are holding on to. Because most times the things we want are beyond the pain, we have to deal with it to get what we want. Sometimes we have to fight even when we are sweating and tired, exhausted and in pain. The harder it get the more valuable the fight and the reward becomes to us.
What I want you to take from this is, there are things worth fighting for and things that we must let go of. Find those things that are worth fighting for and fight. Fight with everything you have and when you want to stop fighting keep fighting. When people tell you stop fighting, keep fighting. Fights aren’t easy, they aren’t going to be soft. No, fighting hurts, you have to take hits and keep going, if you get knocked down you get up.
There are too many people that give up too easily. We are so easily influenced and swayed by our circumstances. I know that life can hurt, and I know that when we are reaching for something it seems like every battle comes up against us. But please I beg you don’t allow your pain to make you stop fighting. If anything let it fuel you. Let that pain be worth it, let it mean something.
All this to say, if you’ve found something worth holding on to, fight for it. Don’t let go, even if it hurts. If you know that this is for you, if you are holding on to God’s promises, and you know that HE has something for you, you fight for it. SOmetimes we even have to fight for the things God wants us to have.
Reflection
- Can you relate to what we discussed today?
- What are some things in your life worth fighting for?
- What are some things you have to let go of?
- What are the things you have to let go of in order to continue to fight for what you want?
Prayer Time
Allow the answers to the above questions guide your prayer. Talk to God about what we discussed today. Whatever is on your heart at this moment reveal it to God.
I love you so much and I hope you have an amazing day or evening! Be sure to share this with someone and come back tomorrow for Day 348!
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