LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Jacob's Struggle
"And a man wrestled with him until the break of day" (Gen. 33:24).
Our foolish flesh likes texts like this that exalt our ability and strength before God. And especially when we are motivated by the teachings of those who say that our prayer can overcome God. If we keep an all-night vigil, they say, we can get him to do what we want. If we walk in this way, we show that we do not know the Sovereign God.
"Remember this, and be ashamed; turn within yourselves, ye transgressors. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is no God, and there is none like me, that declare the things that are to come from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done; that say, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure" (Isa. 46:8-10).
The text of the passage of Jacob in the valley of Jabbok is the time that God comes to us to accomplish that which he desires, regardless of our will. God always spoke to Jacob, but Jacob was always slow to hear and always fought against God's will. So it is also with us.
He always wanted to make his cheating will prevail -for that is what "Jacob" means- whether in stealing the birthright blessing, or in acquiring his wife through work, or in escaping his brother's wrath. Jacob's whole life was a struggle to make his will prevail. Jacob is our figure as a sinner who resists the Sovereignty, Grace, Goodness, Mercy, and calling of God.
Until that moment in the passage of the valley of Jabbok -which means "struggle"- he always resisted God's will. In the valley of Jabbok the time came for Jacob to know the One who had chosen him from his mother's womb (Rom. 9:11-13). God had to fight with Jacob so that he would stop fighting on his own behalf. So much so, that even while God Himself was wrestling with him, Jacob still prevailed.
"And when the man saw that he could not prevail with him, he touched the place of the socket of his thigh, and Jacob's thigh was out of joint while he wrestled with him" (Gen. 32:25). That was the time for Jacob to stop wrestling and receive the grace of the Son of Man, Jesus, who fought for us and won. We struggle all our lives and we do not know that our struggle is against God. Our struggle will only end if God himself comes and takes away all our strength; otherwise we will continue to resist (See Acts 9:4-6).
Jacob was changed in Israel after that. He was blessed by God, who made him a new creature. He was no longer a cheater, but one who walked with God and knew God. We need to stop struggling and humble ourselves under his mighty hand. Our need is not to struggle, but to know God and Jesus Christ who is our eternal life (John 17:3).