ARTICLE – 11 September 2016
One of the more interesting sub- themes which arose from the biblical story of God wrestling with the patriarch Jacob is the one about “Let go and Let God” – a total surrender to God. Despite the pronouncement of the blessing that he will gain over his brother Esau even before he was born, Jacob acquired the birthright from his earthly father through trickery and deceit. He did it his way. Jacob’s favourite song would probably end with the lyrics of Frank Sinatra’s hit song: “I did it my way”. This had incurred the anger of his brother Esau. Jacob’s heart was filled with uncertainty and fear, considering he had information that Esau had amass 400 men to meet him. He made a wonderful prayer to God, openly acknowledging his fear but typical of Jacob, there is no indication that he expected God to answer his prayer. He made his own arrangements to appease Esau, to overcome his animosity and deliver him from his anger and for the safety of his family. In some ways we are like Jacob. In spite of our fervent prayers to God, we sometimes struggle with circumstances in the world and get distracted as we try to win battles by our own efforts. Plan Bs and taking extra insurance are common features in our daily work demands.
Alone and out of desperation, he prayed and God appeared as a man to wrestle with him. The climax came as Jacob’s hip socket was crippled, leaving him to walk with a limp for the rest of his life. In total hopelessness and weakness, he realized he was wrestling with God. With his faith unshaken, he refused to let go until he obtained God’s blessing. God is attempting to improve Jacob’s prayer life and teach him to be humble and yield himself totally in full surrender. God seeks to bring him both to a point of physical and spiritual submission.
God’s unusual questioning of Jacob’s name (of course God knows ) is to show that he has changed from Jacob (meaning an usurper or someone who seeks to take over somebody else’s place) to receive a new name – Israel (meaning God’s fighter or striver). The name change indicated transformation of his heart. God works differently from our human ingenuity. This is what is broken in the life of Jacob. Sometimes, He uses hurts in our lives so that we cling to Him in our weakness. Apostle Paul taught us in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “for my power is made perfect in weakness” and allow Him to shine through. Someone wrote, “God will always win the wrestling match; if we were smart, then the sooner we submit, the better.” Do we have to suffer a permanent physical damage in our wrestling with God before we “Let go and Let God”?
