"A Midnight Wrestling Match"

“During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two servant wives, and his eleven sons and crossed the Jabbok River with them. After taking them to the other side, he sent over all his possessions. This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!”

But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

“What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob”.

“Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.” “Please tell me your name,” Jacob said. “Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.

Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared”. The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping because of the injury to his hip.” (Genesis 32:22-31 NLT)

Jacob was just coming off the heels of being pursued by Laban whom he deceived, and he found himself facing the fear of confronting his brother Esau whose birthright he stolen years earlier. What was unknown to Jacob is that inspite of his past recklessness, destiny was directly before him. However there were yet a few more stops on the way.

Perhaps this is your story also…Yes, I’m speaking to those of you who are about to give birth to great ministry, but haven’t yet realized that you’ve been impregnated. I speak to you who’ve felt the urging of the Holy Spirit, but you’re reluctant to answer the call. Last but not least, I speak to those who know your destiny, but are afraid to take-hold of it because of your past and what others might think or feel about you.

I say to you that you are on a collision course that will lead to your Jabbok…Crossing your Jabbok refers to your being emptied…the cart that you’re pulling has been weighted-down with doubt and fear; and since those are not qualities which come from God, nor should they be found in the man/woman of God, it is imperative that they be released (emptied) from your spirit. You must also empty yourself from the issues of other people. Although we are called to help bear one-another’s burdens, we are not required to carry them into our purpose. It’s difficult to wrestle against principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness …when your hands are filled with the cares of this world.

I’ve been where you are, in fact we are cruising together in the same boat; in the past we’ve been both deceivers and deceived liars and lied upon, cheaters and cheated on; but God in his infinite wisdom has called us to the greatness of becoming sheep before the slaughter. I sense you’re struggling with the very thought of being chosen…right now you’re wrestling with the call. But I urge you not to let go, you must hold on and not give up on it; “destiny awaits you”. The enemy wants you to mis-carry or give birth prematurely; but I say to you keep wrestling until you experience the limp… (having your walk changed)…this says that you have exchanged your will for Gods’ will, and know that from this day forward; God is fighting for you as you face the armies of darkness, he’s even fighting for you as you seek his face.

It’s midnight, a wrestling match has been made…will you accept the challenge?

Remember; you can do all things through Christ, whose calling you into the ring.

Footnotes:

1. Genesis 32:1 Verses 32:1-32 are numbered 32:2-33 in Hebrew text.
2. Genesis 32:22 Jabbok Hebrew word for emptying
3. Genesis 32:28 Jacob sounds like the Hebrew words for “heel” and “deceiver.” Israel means “God fights.”
4. Genesis 32:31 Hebrew Penuel, a variant spelling of Peniel.