This is a guy thing . . . and raising four daughters, I needed a lot of guy things.
Growing up in Florida, we had a tradition in our family every Saturday evening. We would have dinner, sit around the TV and watch NWA Championship Wrestling with Gordon Solie. I remember Jack and Jerry Brisco, The Funk Brothers, Harley Race, Bob Backlund . . . and of course, the American Dream . . . Dusty Rhodes. The body blocks, the pile drivers, all of the jumping of f of the top rope . . . it was great entertainment.
Wrestling was never a “strong” activity for me. I could never get the moves and counter moves down. I would usually try to find a good hold and just hang on. Sometimes that would be good enough for me to win . . . it wasn’t skill . . . it was just raw determination.
Recently, I have been wrestling with God on some issues. Some would say that when you wrestle with God, it easier to submit . . . you know . . . tap out. I’m not sure that’s the best strategy.
From my limited experience in wrestling, the longer you stay in the match, the better your chances . . not so much for winning . . . but for learning the strengths and strategy of your opponent.
I love the biblical account of wrestling in Genesis 32 . . . Jacob wrestling with God.
Jacob had been a deceiver and liar his entire life. That’s something to which we all can relate. Sad to say, we all are guilty of lying . . . to others (hopefully not in most cases), to ourselves (this happens more often that we would like to admit), and to God (this happens all the time).
He was getting ready to meet . . . face to face . . . with a result of his deception . . . his brother, Esau. You remember the story, as younger men, Jacob deceived Esau outof his blessing and birthright. Now, after both had reached manhood and had achieved a sense of wealth and notoriety, they were getting ready to meet.
Jacob was concerned . . . no . . . he was scared. But, he had worked out a strategy . . . all by himself. He sent servants bearing gifts that would reach Esau before the meeting. (Gen 32:18=22).
During the night, Jacob sent also sent his family ahead. This left him alone . . . with his fears, his anxieties, his concerns . . . and with His God. Even in all of God’s promises to Jacob, he was still uncertain of what his future may hold.
Alone in the camp, Jacob encountered a “man” and began wrestling with Him until the dawn hours. (Gen 32:24)
According to the scripture account, neither gained the advantage. When dawn approached, Jacob’s opponent touched him in such a way as to permanently cause damage to his hip . . . he would have a lifelong reminder of this wrestling match. It wasn’t until Jacob asked for a blessing, did his opponent bless him, changed his name, and declared that He had “fought with God and with man, and had prevailed”.
Have you ever noticed that when you wrestle with God, you both win?
Here are some insights from Jacob’s wrestling match . . .
1. You Wrestle Alone. Jacob’s encounter only occurred when he sent everyone away . . . and it was just him and God. To often as men, we afraid to be “alone with God”. It is only at those times that God has our complete and full attention to do what only He can do. Moses stood before God alone at the burning bush. Samson was alone with God at the mighty pillars. David wrote of his times alone with God. Daniel was alone in the lion’s den. And, Jesus “rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, departed and went out to a desolate place, and there prayed.” (Mark 1:35) Isolation with God breeds intimacy with God.
2. You don’t quit. Jacob wrestled until the dawn. He would not let go until his opponent blessed him. The writer of Hebrews encourages us with the same thought. He writes, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Do Not Grow Weary. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. Persistence yields the promise.
3. You pay the price. Jacob was touched in his hip and earned a limp for the rest of his life. Paul had a thorn in the flesh that mandated he celebrate the sufficient grace of God. Christ bears the scars of the cross. What is your “battle-wound”? Glory in the cross of Christ. Without great sacrifice, there can not be a great reward.
4. You will be blessed. Jacob was blessed . . . and blessed, again. His name was changed from “deceiver” to Israel – “Fought with God”. Hosea 12:4 says that Jacob “met God face to face”. When Moses met God, his face shone with the “shekinah glory”. When you meet God . . . and wrestle with Him . . . encountering Him face to face . . . He blesses. Encountering God is evidenced by change.
How about it? Need to a wrestling match with God. Do you need to be reminded that He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords . . . the Eternal Champion of the Universe!
Remember, when you wrestle with God, you both win.
