the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
And he rose up that night, and Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Genesis 32:22-26.
The man who "wrestled" with Jacob was the Son of God, which Jacob later acknowledged when he received His blessing (Genesis 32:29-30). It was a fierce struggle which you can not understand unless you have experienced it yourself. God often mightily opposes His heroes of faith. He wants them to overcome Him with might and main. This is certainly done for no other reason than to exercise us in faith in order that we may prize and carefully preserve that which we have gained. Without such a battle you will not get much from God. Nor must you overlook how Jacob prepared himself. He arose in the night when one can pray and commune undisturbed with God. He let his wives and children pass over the brook that he might be alone with God. To wrestle with God is a great act for which we should put everything else aside. Jacob did not discontinue the wrestling until God said to him, "Let me go, for the day breaketh," until God put the hollow of his thigh out of joint, until God blessed him, until Jacob had obtained that which he desired. Learn from this to pray and to wrestle in prayer, if you are in earnest about your salvation. The Savior more than once let others wrestle with Him (Matthew 15:22). He Himself wrestled with death (Luke 22:44). St. Paul wrestled through many afflictions in prayer by His power who wrought "mightily" in him (2 Timothy 4:7; Colossians 1:29). He relates that Epaphras "labors fervently" in prayer for the Colossians (Colossians 4:12). He exhorts and beseeches the brethren that they, for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ, "strive together" with Him in prayer to God for him (Romans 15:30). Prayer, therefore, is not a mumbling with the mouth, not a gift of eloquence, but a mighty battle with God in the spirit. Lord, teach us to pray and to wrestle with Thee as Thy friends have wrestled with Thee. Strengthen me, that I never let Thee go until Thou hast blessed me.
Strong in the Lord of hosts.
And in His might and power:
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts
Is more than conqueror.
