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Unless You Bless Me                                                                    January 8, 2003

 

“Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.”  Genesis 33:28       

 

There are many struggles in life but there is none that have such far-reaching affects as the struggle we have with God.  Jacob wrestled with God and men and overcame.  God blessed Jacob with a new identity.   Jacob means “trickster,” or “supplanter,” but Israel means, “he fights or persists with God.” 

We know that our inheritance in God, through Christ is a sure thing and yet many times we try to bring about blessings through means that are anything but trust and faith in Him alone. We wrestle with our ideals, we wrestle with our faith, and we wrestle with God. 

Jacob knew that God had promised blessings and yet he, like us, was still trying to ensure acceptance and pacify those that may oppose him by his own means.  Therein lies the battle.  The war that rages in our own soul should have long died down but for our unbelief.

God has given all of us a new identity; we need only believe and rest in that.  What He has promised, He will do.  If you are wrestling with God, do not give up; remember that Jacob overcame both God and man.

LJG

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