Fear and Flight... History Repeats Itself
Scripture
Genesis 31-33
Observation
Jacob observes that his uncle Laban's attitude toward him has changed. It is amazing how often in the preceding stories jealousy comes into play. Here it happens again. Jacob has served Laban twenty years. Laban has taken advantage of him. Laban knows God is blessing him because of Jacob and naturally he does not want to let him go, so Jacob sneaks away, taking his family and all his possessions with him.
When Laban pursues Jacob, God warns him in a dream not to harm Jacob. Interestingly, Jacob is fleeing from a man he fears to a man he fears.
Very fascinating is the fact that Jacob, alone at night wrestles with a man and it says he (the man) could not overpower him, so he put his hip out of its socket, resulting in a permanent limp. Jacob, however, holds onto the man and refuses to let him go until he blesses him. Jacob is convinced he wrestled with God. It is always the greater that blesses the lesser.
Application
What aspect of our being is it that God wrestles with and cannot prevail against without physically handicapping us? How is it that we can hold onto God and demand a blessing?
Prayer
Lord, there are so many things I do not comprehend. I thank you for the beauty of revelation in your word.
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