The Pathway to Blessing

(#1235, Imperial, c1968)

Read Genesis 32:17-31.

This is not the story of Jacob's triumph over God or even the story of prevailing prayer as we have sometimes made it.  This is God's triumph over Jacob.

The Man Jacob.

w     Jacob's planning, v7-8.  Jacob is still self-reliant.  He is arranging for the presence of Esau.  Jacob was a man who felt himself able to help God, to manipulate events so as to bring about the Divine plan.

w     Jacob prays, v9-12.  Jacob arranged matters before asking God to help him.  His heart was more set on planning than on praying.

Jacob Meets God.

Jacob was so absorbed in meeting Esau that it never seemed to occur to him that his great need was to meet God.  This would prepare him to meet Esau.  Note the steps in which the human is met with, overcome, and blessed by God.

     1.  Jacob was left alone, v23-24.  The family was sent ahead,  The household was sent ahead.  He was now alone with God.  He had nothing left but God.

     2.  There wrestled a man with him, v24.  The wrestling was on God's part.  All through the night Jacob resisted, refusing to yield.  He held out in his own strength until...

     3.  He touched the hollow of his thigh.  We must be brought to the end of ourselves, our strength, our self-reliance.  Often, as with Jacob, God must deal a crippling blow before we will yield.

The Blessing of God.

w     A new character.  Jacob went from "Supplanter" to a "Prince", God's Prince, one worthy to lead, rule, and overcome.

w     A new power.  He now had power with men because he had met with God.  He was ready to meet Esau.

 

This crippling is not needed if we yield at the beginning.