Wrestling With God

Wrestling With God, Genesis 32:22-30. 22 The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24 Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." 27 So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." 28 Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed." 29 Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved." 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the thigh muscle that is on the hip socket, because he struck Jacob on the hip socket at the thigh muscle. NRSV

         [And there wrestled a man with him] This was doubtless the Lord Jesus Christ, who, among the patriarchs, assumed that human form, which in the fullness of time he really took of a woman, and in which he dwelt thirty-three years among men. He is here styled an "angel," because he was ‎megalees ‎‎boulees ‎‎Angelos ‎(see the Septuagint, Isa 9:7 ), the Messenger of the great counsel or design to redeem fallen man from death, and bring him to eternal glory; see Gen 16:7.(from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
There are key points in the scripture we should note.
1. He made an opportunity to be alone with God.
2. God’s (Man) came and wrestled with Him. This was an old fashion knock down fight for his life.
3. Jacob did not give up and as a result He was honored with a new name. Israel, God Preserves, or God Rules.
4. He also received a reminder (His hip socket was out of place) that he had been in a fight and that even though he did not give up during God’s test, God was the one with the power and authority.

Today ask yourself how hard you are willing to battle to get all that God has for you.