Jacob selected an extravagant gift of more than 200 goats, 200 sheep, 30 camels, along with additional cattle and donkeys for his brother Esau and sent them ahead of his family. Then he sent his family across the Jabbak River, a tributary of the Jordan River, while he stayed behind. That evening he wrestled with an angel---thought to be the pre-incarnate Christ. God allowed Jacob to “win”—but He crippled Jacob’s hip. Jacob asked for a blessing---and in that blessing God changed his name to “Israel”. He said that he saw God face to face, yet his life was preserved. It wasn’t a dream---and his limp proved that. To this day sons of Israel do not eat the sinew of the hip socked because God touched the socket of Jacob’s hip.
No meal---no feast---but Jacob saw the face of God---and wrestled with Him. Before He let Jacob go He changed his name to “Israel.” Israel means “he fights or persists with God”. Jacob not only was in God’s presence---he fought with God through the night. Do you ever feel like you’ve spent the night, not sleeping but wrestling with God?
Heavenly Father, please give us your blessing tonight---and help us to sleep well.
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