Daily Devotion for April 30, 2024

 

Devotion:

For an audio version of this devotion, click here.

Read Genesis 32:22-31.

What is the significance of Jacob wrestling with an angel? Everyone understands it is significant. For instance, even modern day Jews avoid eating the interior cord and nerve of the hind quarter of animals because this angel touched the hip of Jacob. No law against eating this part of the animal is mentioned anywhere in the Old Testament, but the Jewish Talmud regarded it as sacred law, all because of this event.

But the true significance of this event is not found in dietary habits. What’s truly significant is that Jacob, who spent his whole life fighting for himself and deceiving others, and is even willing to wrestle with God’s messenger, finally comes to a point where he willingly submits to God’s authority.

When God changes Jacob’s name from Jacob (“heel catcher’ or ‘deceiver’) to Israel (‘God’s fighter’ or ‘may God strive [for him]’), Jacob submits to God’s authority over him—not only in the change of his name, but in the new identity that he will forever live out. Jacob is done trying to deceive people to earn his own victory; he will now allow God to fight for him.

Let Jacob serve as an example for you today. God didn’t condemn Jacob for wrestling with His angel. Indeed, God calls for our active engagement with Him. Sometimes this means we will fight and struggle with Him, but God honors us even in the struggle… as long as we don’t let go.

God wants you to come to Him with all of your doubts, with all of your worries and concerns. God wants you to come to Him with all of your questions and disbeliefs. And He wants to go back and forth with you, patiently, lovingly, until you are finally willing to submit to Him—until you are willing to limp away from your wrestling match with God like Jacob did: forever changed for the better.

Personal Worship Option:

Dear God, many of us struggle with so many things in life, we wrestle, and we fight even with you. Help us to always bring those struggles to you and let you use them to make us into the person you have always intended us to be. Amen.