Designed for Greatness: A 10-Day Bible Plan for MenSample

Wrestling With God

And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 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.” GENESIS 32:27-28 ESV

The book of Genesis retells the details of an hours-long epic wrestling match. All night, Jacob wrestled with a man, and Jacob wouldn’t let go—even when the man “touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint” (Genesis 32:25). Jacob continued to hold on and asked for a blessing. The man proceeded to give Jacob a new name, because he had “striven with God and . . . prevailed.” It turned out that the “man” was God Himself!

It seems unimaginable to us that Jacob wouldn’t quit wrestling with a stranger even after suffering an injury. How often do we feel like quitting when things don’t go our way or when we are hurt physically, mentally, or emotionally? We just can’t keep going. The end seems nowhere in sight, and we wonder if God notices or even cares.

How surprised we would be if God pulled back the curtain of our fears and doubts and showed us Himself. He has been wrestling with us in our confusion and doubt. He has never for a moment abandoned us, but rather is growing our faith through life’s pain and uncertainty.

One thing is always true about wrestling: When the match begins, there’s no question about who the opponent is. In this wrestling match in Genesis, Jacob didn’t know the identity of his opponent until the match was over. Jacob called the place where the match occurred “Penial,” which means “the face of God.” He had seen God and lived to talk about it.

Our faith doesn’t tend to grow when life is easy, predictable, and controllable. It grows in the midst of a struggle. And if we hold on to God—even if we can’t see Him like Jacob did—the fight is always worth it.

PRAYER:

Father, thank You for sticking with me in the fight. Please help me to persevere and not quit. Thank You for reminding me that in the uncertainty, doubt, and fears, You are an ever-present Friend and Savior. In Jesus’ name, amen.