Let's Get Ready to Rumble - Part 2

So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. Scripture Reference: Genesis 32:24

The match between the two was relentless. Each of the wrestlers determined not to give in. Hours pass and the "Man" and Jacob continue kicking up dust as they secure their footing. As the dust rises up to the face of the 'Man', He is reminded of the moment He formed man and breathed into him. When He grabs at Jacob's arms and shoulders, He touches the skin, his flesh, and sees that the carnality of man is strong and must be tamed. So the 'Man', who is God, shows His sovereignty and strength and touches Jacob's hip. "If Jacob is to walk out the promise I professed to him", God reflects, "then I must wrest this old paradigm, this old mode of operation he is used to doing." God notices that Jacob's wrestling becomes more zealous-it is different from the beginning. "It is almost daybreak, let me go", God asks of him. He wonders if Jacob understood what He asked him "Jacob, my son, do you want to attain this promise legitimately? Understand that no flesh can glory in My Presence." Jacob responds, "I will not let you go unless you bless me".

God smiles because He heard the response He has desired from His wrestling partner "Yes Lord, I want to do this your way! No more self-reliant, self-preserved, self-sufficient supplanter. Have your way, Lord." God notices Jacob's hard-earned sweat was mixed with a steady flow of tears as Jacob spoke. Now, God pins him and looks Jacob dead in the eyes and inquires, "What is your name?" Jacob tells God what he understood about himself. God's Spirit spoke into Jacob's spirit, "My child, my child--how do people know you? Let me tell you who you are as I know you. You are the one who wrestled with the One who created you.You are the one who wrestled against your past deception and past scheming, and you overcame! You are no longer Jacob, but Israel!!" Then the one who was called the "Deceiver" exits the match as the "Overcomer".

Dear one, the intention behind God wrestling Jacob is the same reason He desires to do the same with you. God longs to bless you. He is determined for you to have life and have it more abundantly in Him. Are you ready to relinquish it all to Him? Are you ready to accept the new and surrender the old? Are you ready to answer to a new name, your true name? If your answer is yes, then all that can be said can be summed up in five words: Let's get ready to rumble.

Show me Father that I need to trust You completely, and relinquish everything, so that You can be more abundant in my life. Amen

Tammy Miller