Hey God, Can We Talk? I’m at a Fork in the RoadНамуна

Day Three: Jacob at Peniel and Mahanaim Part 2

Yesterday we looked at the circumstances which led Jacob to this second fork in the road at Penial. It is here that Jacob experienced an all-night wrestling match with God. This interaction he had is very significant for us today. Sometimes it seems like we are in a wrestling match with God trying to figure out what is happening, where we are going, or why we are in this situation. Maybe we are trying to make sense of what has happened in the past or where God has been participating in our lives. Sometimes like Jacob, we wrestle with God.

During this conversation God told Jacob to let go of Him; and even though Jacob’s hip had been dislocated during the wrestling match, he told God that he would not let go unless God blessed him. God answered by asking Jacob’s name. When Jacob replied, God changed Jacob’s name (which means deceiver) to Israel (which means one who wrestles with God). After this renaming, Jacob asked for God’s name. God asked why Jacob wanted to know His name, and then He blessed Jacob. 

This conversation is interesting for lots of reasons. To begin with, let’s appreciate that a conversation and wres­tling match with God can change the way we walk, the way we do life, and how we move through the rest of our lives. Perhaps the limp that Jacob sustained from wrestling with God served to remind him for the rest of his life that God is sovereign. Let us always remember that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than our ways and thoughts (see Isaiah 55:8-9).

Furthermore, our conversations with God have the potential to reframe our identity, similar to the way that God changed Jacob’s name to Israel. We see this principle throughout the Bible. God changed the names of Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, and Simon to Peter. These shifts in name reflect a shift in identity. When we have an ongoing dialogue with God, we would be wise to let God change our identity to more closely align with how He has designed us and who He has made us to be. 

Finally, let’s place a platinum priority on walking with God and keeping Him in our life no matter what. In this conver­sation and wrestling match, Jacob wouldn’t let go of God, no matter how tired he was, no matter the time of night, no matter his physical pain or weakness, and no matter what God said or did. Jacob did not let go of God. We also know that God never leaves or forsakes us. “…the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). Let’s be entirely committed that we will not leave Him.

Reflection:

· Is there an identity you currently have that you would like for God to reframe?

· Are you currently “wrestling” with God over a circumstance you’re in or a decision you’re trying to make?

· In what way might God bless you as you hold on to Him during this time?