WRESTLING WITH GOD

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JACOB'S BLESSING

Read Genesis 31–32

     Then Jacob prayed, "O God …“I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant.” Genesis 32:9a, 10a NIV

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     After years of hardship and deception by Laban, God miraculously increased Jacob’s wealth, and caused Laban to allow him to leave. Then, alone at night, after sending his family on ahead, God once again spoke to Jacob… A man approached him and they began to fight. Jacob wrestled all night long–evidently realizing this was a heavenly visitor. Jacob said to him, "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." … So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."(Genesis 32:26b–30) This strange encounter with the Lord left Jacob with an outward limp that would always remind him and his descendants that his blessings came from God.

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     Lord, I can see in this story of Jacob how much You value humility. If we are to be blessed, that blessing will come from You, not from our own struggles. You are Jehovah Jirah, our provider, and like Jacob I will say God has been gracious to me, and I have all I need. (33:11)

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     The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob's hip was touched near the tendon.    Genesis 32:31–32 NIV

PRIDE VS HUMILITY

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LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - James

Read James 4

     "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.    James 4:6b-8a NKJV

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     James continues to address the conflicts among Christians and the temptation to live in a materialistic worldly manner. He says, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (4:4)

     The source of the infighting according to James, was covetousness and arrogance. “Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”(4:2b-3)

     In regard to arrogance he says, “Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. ( 4:13-14)

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     Lord, this passage speaks to my heart. We spend so much mental energy just worrying about what tomorrow will bring. Help us to keep our eyes on You and not forget to ask for the provision of our needs - and for wisdom to use your gifts rightly.

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     ...Instead you ought to say,"If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.   James 4:15-17 NKJV

GENTLE PATIENT TEACHING

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LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - Timothy

Read 2 Timothy 1-2

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

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When Timothy took on the pastorate of the church at Ephesus there were already false teachers at work. Paul speaks of two men in particular “who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.” (2:18) But he encourages Timothy to stand fast to what he has been taught, in spite of the fact that some had followed these men. Paul continues, “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His...” (2:19)

Paul urges Timothy to join him in willingness to suffer for the cause of Christ and to “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2:22) Citing his own example he says, “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day."(1:12)

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Lord, it is such a comfort that You know those who are yours. Sometimes it is necessary to stand alone in regard to the truth of Scripture. Help me to be gentle in presenting the gospel and the truth of the resurrection.

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And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth. 2 Timothy 2:24-25 NKJV