The Wrestling Match
I’ve never been a fan of professional wrestling. I am talking about Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, and Steve Austin-type wrestling. If you like this stuff, that’s fine. I am not opposed to it; I am just not a fan of it. It is entertainment and that’s alright. I also know that for real fans it is not wrestling it is rassalin.
Did you know that there was a wrestling match recorded in the Bible? I will even give the contestants these modern-sounding names. The card was between The Great Grabber and the Omnipotent Limp Giver. The story is told in Genesis Chapter 32. It is the story of Jacob coming to grips with God and in this match he could not “tap out”.
Jacob was a man who would grab whatever he wanted. From his brother, he grabbed the birthright and their father’s blessing. From his father-in-law, he grabbed, two wives, two concubines, thirteen children, and many animals. Now he is between a brother who promised to kill him and a father-in-law who told him not to come back. This is when he finds himself in a ditch wrestling with God.
If you read the complete story of Jacob. You will find that before this night he always referred to God as the God of Abraham and Isaac. But Jacob never acknowledged Him as his own. Now, with his family in danger and no deals to be made, he came face to face with God. They wrestled all night. When the morning came, he limped out of that gully with a new name, a new life. From this day forward he spoke of God as, “my Lord and my God”.
When asked about their relationship with Jesus a lot of people will talk about baptism or their church membership. Some people even say that they are Christian because their parents were. But that has nothing to do with salvation. The real question is, have you come face to face with God?
If Jesus is not your Savior, I challenge you to kneel before God and beg Him to save you.
Wrestle with God in prayer; don’t stop until He blesses you. Like Jacob you will receive a new name, new life and yes, maybe a limp. But I would rather limp into Heaven than dance into hell.
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“And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had.
Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, 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 said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?”
And He blessed him there. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip.
Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank.”
Genesis 32:22-32 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.32.22-32.NKJV
Douglas & Deborah Huff
Email-pavementendsministry@gmail.com
I invite you to visit and subscribe to my daughter’s website at; kateoliviahuff.com
