Encouragement
Who hasn’t been through a scuffle at least once? I can recall a few playground conflicts. Yours may not have been a push-shove situation. Perhaps it was a serious tongue lashing in front of your peers or some other heinous incident best forgotten. Like it or not though, we learned something from that unpleasant event. With knowledge, hindsight came along for the journey ahead. In the Bible we read of a conflict that lasted all night between Jacob and the Angel of the Lord.
Much like facing the school bully to gain acceptance Jacob wrestled for a blessing. My playground conflicts never went beyond the bell. So, there’s really no comparison except knowing what it’s like to go a few rounds to gain something. I can’t relate to the perils of military duty or those persecuted for their faith. I just know what it feels like to fight for something you want or sincerely believe.
Did I emerge with battle scars? Of course, I did. No, I didn’t walk home with a shiner but I had a bucket of hurt feelings and a few bruises – even though I won the fight. Why? I wasn’t fighting to win a “tough girl” contest but for acceptance. At the very least, I fought to instill fear in those that picked on me without mercy.
When we look at Jacob’s life he’s not a shining example when we consider other patriarchs. He was not masculine. He deceived Esau, his brother, and stole his birthright. He deceived Isaac and caused him to bless the wrong son. His deceptions created a rift between their descendants that haunts us yet today. Then, Jacob received his due. He worked seven years for Laban to gain Rachel’s hand. Laban deceived Jacob and gave him Leah instead on his wedding night. Jacob had to work another seven years to gain Rachel.
When Jacob mistreated Leah and favored Rachel God favored Leah and closed Rachel’s womb. Leah bore Jacob ten sons while Rachel only bore two. Every time Jacob sinned he paid. Based on his track record, is this the kind of man that deserves a blessing? No, not really. Jacob’s saving grace was his birthright.
What did Jacob gain by picking a fight with the Angel of the Lord? Jacob became Israel but what’s in a name? In Jacob’s case it meant a great deal. That name change transformed him from an ordinary man to a nation. His twelve sons became the twelve tribes of Israel. Through the tribe of Judah, came our Messiah.
Now, that’s something worth fighting for if you ask me. Jacob fought for God’s acceptance, his blessing. That wrestling match secured his birthright – he would be a great and mighty nation. The Lord promised Abraham his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. The same was promised to Isaac then Jacob. You may ask why Jacob had to wrestle for something he’d already been chosen to receive.
Look at his life. From the womb, he wrestled with his brother. He has a long history of scheming, cheating and lying. Jacob never fell in line or did anything God’s way. He stepped ahead every time and did things his own way. His brother swore he would kill him, his wives are jealous and quarrelsome, his children acted likewise. Laban is now an enemy and he’s probably not welcome by any other family members. Many scholars believe the Angel of the Lord, Peniel, here is God pre-incarnate not an angel of light. No one had the authority to change Jacob’s name, bless him and present him with his birthright but Jehovah. So, Jacob was wrestling with God.
How desperate was Jacob that he took on Jehovah that night? I don’t think any of us could meet his level of desperation that night. He took extreme measures and won his name, his blessing and birthright. Jacob walked away a different man but he had a battle scar. The Angel of the Lord touched his hip causing Jacob to limp the rest of his life. Jacob wanted left alone just like the kid on the playground taking a punch to prove he’s tough. Jacob wanted the madness to end in his life. It was worth some scars.
Why do you think God left his mark on Jacob? To prove nothing is free. Jacob tried to do things his way. God proved to Jacob payday always comes. Jacob paid a great price for that blessing. Every step he took from that day forward was as a constant reminder. The Messiah would come through his genealogical line. Hence, the price for atonement is evidenced in the lives instrumental in and touched by this glorious event.
What is at stake in your life? Is it worth fighting for? Throughout life, people are told to pick their battles. Today, you must discern what is worth a battle scar to achieve. Arm yourself with the tools God has given you and go for it. Jacob was not the best candidate for the station he achieved in life. However, he paid for his mistakes and triumphed in the end. He learned the hard way anything worth having is worth some scars.
Copyright © 2007 Tina Diane Mitchell
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