Lessons We Can Learn From The Man Who Wrestled With God

Gen. 32:24-28 - So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.  When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."
 
But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." 
The man asked him, "What is your name?"
"Jacob," he answered. 
 
Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."  NIV
 
There are so many characteristics that can be identified with Jacob the wrestler. I will share with you a few in today's Pump Up. You may want to read this passage of scripture over numerous times and identify more characteristics and then teach them to others. 

• Wrestlers Are Not Afraid To Go It Alone 

"So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak."  Wrestlers are a part of a team, but they all know when it is your turn to walk out on the mat, you walk out their all alone. It is one on one.
 
There won't be any of your teammates coming to your rescue, nor would you want them to interfere. This is between you and your opponent. Jacob wrestled through the night until daybreak, alone.  

• Wrestlers Keep Going Even When They Are Hurt 

"When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man."
 
Who is this man that Jacob is wrestling? I have my thoughts about Him and will allow you to have yours, but I can tell you this much He was powerful enough to dislocate Jacob's hip with a touch.
 
In the 1972 Olympics, Dan Gable, was head butted. His trainer wrapped his head to temporarily stop the bleeding. He continues to wrestle, wins the match and then received seven stitches to close the gash.
 
In the 1999 Freestyle Wrestling Championships, Cary Kolat, dislocated his shoulder during one of his early matches. He continued to wrestle and won the match.
 
There are hundreds of wrestling stories like these. When you get hurt you keep on going. 

• Wrestlers Will Wrestle Against God If He Steps Out On The Mat 

Please know I am not trying to be sacrilegious. Jacob was wrestling with God as I see it. You and I must realize that sometimes we will have to wrestle with God also.
 
Jacob was wrestling with God. Notice what the verse says, Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God…"
 
He was struggling or wrestling with God. 

• All Christians Are Wrestlers 

Eph 6:12 - For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. NKJV
 
The apostle Paul informs Christians that we likewise are wrestlers and he even names our enemies that we will be wrestling against in this life.
 
These are vital lessons we can learn from wrestlers:
            Some times we may have to go it alone.
            Some times we may have to keep going even when hurt.
            Some times we may have to wrestle with God or His enemies.
 
One passage of scripture we never want to forget is 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 - "…but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord."  NASU
 
Think On These:
 
When God measures a man, He puts the tape around his heart not his head.
 
Who is more foolish: a child who is afraid of the dark or a man who is afraid of the light?

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word