In Genesis 32:24-32 a divine spiritual encounter took place between an ‘angelic stranger’ and Jacob. The tea that was spilled in these passages of text is mind blowing when you consider Jacob’s character and modus operandi.
For those of you who don’t know, Jacob was a determined man and some would even consider him to be ruthless. He was a con-artist, a liar, and a manipulator. In fact, the name Jacob not only means “deceiver,” but more literally it means “grabber.”
The night the angelic stranger visited Jacob they wrestled throughout the night until daybreak, at which point the angelic stranger crippled Jacob with a blow to his hip that disabled him with a limp for the rest of his life. It was then that Jacob realized what had happened: “I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared” (Genesis 32:30). In the process, Jacob the ‘deceiver’ received a new name, ‘Israel’, which likely means: “He struggles with God.” However, what is most important occurred at the conclusion of that struggle. We read that God “blessed him there” (Genesis 32:29).
I don’t know who I am preaching to today, but God has a blessing waiting for you! You may have to hold on to Him longer than you expected but don’t let go because even if you walk away from that spiritual encounter a little different, you too will be able to say like Jacob, “God blessed me!”
My beloved brothers and sisters, let me remind you that God shows no partiality (Acts 10:34-43) and what He does for one, He will also do the same for others! God is ready to bless you and all you have to do is faithfully hold on to His unchanging hands, trust, and believe that He who promised you an abundant life is equally faithful to physically manifest that promise in your life today (Hebrews 10:23 & John 10:10).
4GIVEN 