MONDAY
Today we are beginning our first of two conference weeks in the devotionals. For these two weeks, I figured we would look at some stories of people’s encounters with the presence of God to give us some perspective on the various ways we can experience the presence of God. This week we will look at some biblical characters. Next week we will explore the stories of some believer’s encounters with God in the history of the church. In the campaign we saw Moses experience God in various ways: daily in the tabernacle, his glory on Mt. Sinai, the 10 plagues, etc. These experiences will add to that list.
Genesis 32:24–30 (NIV)
24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”
“Jacob,” he answered.
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”
But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
In this encounter with who is likely the pre-incarnate Christ, Jacob’s name is changed to Israel. Jacob means “grabs the heal” and carries the connotation of deception. His name is changed to “God fights” and in the context implies a wrestling, fighting with God. From Jacob’s story, we know that Jacob lived up to his name as a deceiver. He spent his years getting what he wanted by whatever means necessary, and he was pretty successful at it.
What Jacob didn’t realize is that his success was due to the blessing of the Lord. Now he is returning to the brother he has stolen from and his fate is no longer in his hands. If his brother wants to destroy him in vengeance, he certainly can. While he journeys to meet his brother, this is how God meets him—he wrestles with him in the night.
This is certainly a strange encounter with God. But when we consider Jacob’s story, it makes sense why God would meet with him like this. God knows his people and relates to them as individuals. Jacob needs to realize that he cannot outwit God. He cannot control God. In this encounter, Jacob (although he doesn’t realize it is God yet) demands that God bless him and give him his name. And he is willing to wrestle all night to get it his blessing and his name. This speaks to Jacob’s determination and stubbornness. In the end, it isn’t much of a fight as God miraculously wrenches his hip and wins easily.
God interacts with his people in unique ways. These are ways he knows we need to encounter him in order for us to trust him.
The main point that I want us to see this week is that we encounter God in unique ways. We should not put God into a box and define the ways in which God must encounter us or only look for certain ways in which we may encounter God. God has a personality, as we do, and he can encounter us in unique ways and even in different ways at different times depending on our life situations.
Reflection
Are you resisting or wrestling with God in any way? Are you resisting his call on your life? Are you resisting surrendering something to him? Are you lying, cheating, manipulating to get what you want? Are you exhausting yourself trying to control all outcomes?
In an act of God’s grace, perhaps he has brought you to a situation in which the outcome is out of your control. Instead of fighting against God, surrender to him and allow him to fight for you.