DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PERSISTENCE WITH GOD

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – PERSISTENCE WITH GOD

"Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He [the heavenly Man] saw that He did not prevail against him [Jacob], He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And he [the heavenly Man] said, 'Let Me go, for the day breaks.' But he [Jacob] said, 'I will not let You go unless You bless me!' So He [the heavenly Man] said to him, 'What is your name?' He said, 'Jacob.' And He (the heavenly Man) said, 'Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.' " (Genesis 32:28)

The messenger from God spoke the truth when he said that Jacob had struggled with men. Jacob's life was not an easy life. He had his conflicts with Esau, Laban, with his sons and his wives, and later with the Shechem and his son. And now he was facing Esau again. But he also struggled with God. He would not let God go during this time of crisis.

God revealed Himself to Jacob in times of crisis. The first time was when he was running from Esau, and God met him at Bethel and showed him a ladder reaching to heaven (chapter 28). This must have been a very encouraging thing for Jacob, to know that God cared about him in his struggle. The second time was in a dream 20 years later when God told him to leave Padan Aram and Laban, and return to Canaan because the relationship with Laban had become untenable (chapter 31). Now, here he was again, running away from Laban and going back to face his brother Esau. He did not know what he would encounter with Esau. The last time he had had contact with Esau, Esau wanted to kill him, so this was very fearful and stressful time. But this time, he did not run away from the conflict. So God met with Jacob again at the river Jabbok. There, God changed Jacob's name from "deceiver" to Israel, which means – one who prevails with God. This speaks of perseverance. Jacob could have given up in his struggles with men, but he did not. He kept in there. And he did not give up during his struggles with God.

How many people in their life-struggles give up on God. They lose faith. Jacob didn't quit just because it was a struggle. He kept his faith in God. Times of crisis in our lives are when we need to not give up the

struggle, but with perseverence, trust God.

Love, Dad