Wrestling with God

Have you ever had to face your past and the things you did or how you reacted to things in your past?  I know I have.  I had to face some things and change the way I was.

I was thinking this morning of a situation in which I really hurt some key people in my life because I didn't know how to keep my mouth shut.  I not only hurt the person who was talked about, but I hurt the people who told me how they felt about that person in confidence by telling that other person.  I had to learn that it did not help me or the other people involved.

I thought I was doing the right thing, but turned out it wasn't such a good thing to do.

Jacob understood about what it took to make a change in his life.

And Jacob was left alone, and a Man wrestled with him until daybreak.

You cannot wrestle with someone at a distance.  It is a close encounter sport.  When we begin to draw near to God, the wrestling match begins.

Sometimes we have to to get alone and away from all the blessings God has given to us to fight and wrestle with God.  Sometimes God's blessings can be a distraction especially when we are facing our past.

  And when[the Man] saw that He did not prevail against [Jacob], He touched the hollow of his thigh; and Jacob's thigh was put out of joint as he wrestled with Him.

It wasn't that God couldn't prevail, it was that God was dealing with Jacob's strengths showing him no matter what strengths Jacob had it was still weak when God touches it.

When God touches us it helps us to realize that God can change our lives and helps us to be more dependent on Him. 

 Then He said, Let Me go, for day is breaking. But [Jacob] said, I will not let You go unless You declare a blessing upon me. 

When wrestling with God, insist on a blessing from Him, but be ready for the Revelation of who you are.

[The Man] asked him, What is your name? And [in shock of realization, whispering] he said, Jacob [supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler]! 

God will help you to realize who you are and it will shock and amaze you.  Perhaps even embarrass you.

And He said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob [supplanter], but Israel [contender with God]; for you have contended and have power with God and with men and have prevailed. [Hos. 12:3-4.] 

God changes your identity when you finally give in to His power and strength.

Then Jacob asked Him, Tell me, I pray You, what [in contrast] is Your name? But He said, Why is it that you ask My name? 

Jacob really didn't need to ask for the angels name, he already knew that it wasn't just an angel, he was fighting with God.

And [the Angel of God declared] a blessing on [Jacob] there. 
Jacob called the name of the place Peniel [the face of God], saying, For I have seen God face to face, and my life is spared and not snatched away. 

The blessing God gives you will cause you to rename the place where you met God.  This is so you never forget that place where God met you and changed you.

And as he passed Penuel [Peniel], the sun rose upon him, and he was limping because of his thigh.
Genesis 32:24‭-‬31 AMPC

When you come into contact with God, you will always walk away differently.  This is why the priests in the temple always walked in one door and out a different door.

So, the next time you are facing your past, just get away alone with God and be prepared for change and a blessing.

Thank you Lord for making me a new person after dealing with my past.  If there is something else in my past I need to deal with, help me to get alone with you and let's have a wrestling match.  Help me to walk away from our wrestling match different than I was when we began.