City Life Starter

Written by Aisha Darwesh

The Word

²² The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. ²³ He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. ²⁴ And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. ²⁵ When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his 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 has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” ²⁷ And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” ²⁸ Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, 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 name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” ³¹ The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. ³² Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip on the sinew of the thigh.

–Genesis 32:22-32 ESV

^1-2 So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.

^3-4 Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.

–Colossians 3:1-4 MSG

Aisha’s Analysis

In today’s portion of Genesis, Jacob sends his family and possessions ahead and finds himself alone for the night. All of a sudden he’s wrestling with a man the entire night. I wonder at what point Jacob discovered he was wrestling with God–probably when the man dislocated his hip simply by touching it. 

It is clear Jacob knows who he is dealing with when he tenaciously held on to the man in order to receive a blessing. Interestingly, the man first asks Jacob his name. Upon answering, the man gives him a new name, Israel, saying that he had striven with God and with men and prevailed.  

According to Strong’s Concordance, the name Israel means “God prevails.” This should give us all great hope. Jacob is no stranger to striving. He was striving his entire life to be blessed by God on his own terms and conditions. 

However, this time Jacob’s striving resulted in a new identity and transformation in his life. No longer would he be called Jacob, which means “supplanter” or “heel holder” (Strong’s). Additionally, he would forever walk with a limp, hopefully to remind him of his dependence on God.  

Jacob was personally blessed by God exactly as he was–not dressed up in goat’s skins pretending to be someone else, not utilizing his business acumen–just wrestling it out with God face-to-face. 

Jacob thought he was putting everything on the line when he decided to return home and face his brother Esau. However, little did he know that he was never more at risk than when he was face-to-face, duking it out, with God. God could have easily taken Jacob’s life in a heartbeat. But He didn’t. Instead, He took on the form of a human, limited His strength, and came to Jacob on a level Jacob could understand. 

God does the same with us. He came to us humbly as a child, lived a perfect life that none of us could have lived, and died the sinner’s death we all deserve. Christ was victorious over sin and death–which none of us could have ever conquered in our own strength. As we accept the finished work of Christ, we are all transformed and divinely marked with the same message God gave Jacob: “God prevails.”

Application

In what areas are you personally striving that you need to surrender to God? In today’s verses, Jacob got to a place where he was all alone and that’s where God confronted him. 

Today or at some point this week when your schedule allows, get alone with God. Turn off your phone, music, or streaming devices. Get away from all the distractions. Allow God to meet you there and wrestle things out with Him. Let Him define who you are and how you walk. Commit in your heart to trust and obey Him even if it may feel uncomfortable. 

Prayer

Father God, thank You for making a way for me to be at peace with You. By Your Grace, I am no longer Your enemy. The finished work of Christ has given me right standing with You. Although I might wrestle with You at times, I don’t want to resist what You are trying to accomplish in me. I pray that You continue to mold and shape me into who You are calling me to be. Lord, I surrender. In Jesus’ name, Amen.