Tag: GENESIS 32

STAY IN THE FIGHT

Who and what are you leaning into? That is the question.

26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” – Genesis 32:26

Maybe at times we have wrestled with God about a certain situation. We think of all the why’s. Why hasn’t He fulfilled that promise in my life, why hasn’t He performed this miracle that He said He would do? Our mind could go in a thousand directions off of just one why. But we are told to not lean on our own understanding. So who and what are you leaning on?

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When we experience the pain from those “why’s” we have two options.

  • Lean into God
  • Lean on self

It took me years, I mean years to learn not to lean, to listen to others, to figure out my understanding of the issue. But to “Be Still and know that I am God” resting in Him will divert your own solution to the issue.

Questions to ask yourself:

  • Are you leaning on His guidance? The direction of the Holy Spirit?
  • Or are we leaning on ourselves to figure the why’s of life out?

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” – James 1:2-4

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  • There’s value in struggles
  • There’s value in trials 
  • There’s value in temptations 

Jacob didn’t understand in that moment but he still leaned into Him…

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (Struggle, trial, sickness, temptation,) In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”- Proverbs 3:5

…And whenever God is ready there will be a blessing in the release. 

James 1:12 blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life.


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STAY IN THE FIGHT

Life itself is not a problem to figure it out, it is a gift. And at times that priceless gift that we have received from God is going to come with a fight, a fight for your faith.

“In all these things we are more than conquerors through Christ, who loved us.” – Romans 8:37

At times we question of why something is happening, but we need no reasoning but to wait on Him by submitting to Him. But most importantly we must remain steadfast in the struggle/trial.

Genesis 32 tells a story about Jacob who ‘wrestled with God’.

Gen 32:22-28

22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. And Jacob was left alone. 

And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 

WHY WAS JACOB LEFT ALONE? HE WAS AFRAID TO MEET HIS BROTHER ESAU AFTER MANY YEARS OF SEPARATION. HE SENT A PRESENT TO ESAU AHEAD OF HIM HOPING TO APPEASE HIM. ESAU WITH FOUR HUNDRED SOLDIERS, AND JACOB BEING BY HIMSELF. 

JACOB WAS NEEDING BREAKTHROUGH TO END THIS FAMILY AFFAIR, HE WAS TIRED OF THE SILENCE, THE BROKEN RELATIONSHIP THAT STARTED FROM A YOUNG AGE. AND GOD SEEN THAT AND MET HIM WHERE HE WAS.

When we pray for breakthrough, sometimes we don’t expect it to happen the way we think it should. 

Jacob was not expecting for his hip to be out of place, 

God will cause us to limp to increase our faith.

but that pain drove him to stay in the fight, to not give up. 

It did not shake his faith, or silence his prayer.

OUR WRESTLE WITH GOD BEGINS IN PRAYER,

EPHESIANS 6:12 “ FOR WE DO NOT WRESTLE AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST THE RULERS, AGAINST THE AUTHORITIES, AGAINST THE COSMIC POWERS OVER THIS PRESENT DARKNESS.

However tried or discouraged, we shall prevail; and prevailing with Him in prayer, we shall prevail against all enemies that strive with us. Nothing requires more vigour and unceasing exertion than wrestling.

We are to come boldly before the Throne Room

HEBREWS 4:16 “ LET US THEN WITH CONFIDENCE DRAW NEAR TO THE THRONE OF GRACE, THAT WE MAY RECEIVE MERCY AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED.”