Jacob: Learning On The Lord

“Jacob… bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.” — Hebrews 11:21 NLT   

There is an old saying that goes like this: “Never trust a leader who doesn’t walk with a limp.” The implication is that the only safe people to follow are people who have come become acquainted with their own weaknesses, and acknowledged who they truly are in light of who God is. One of the most important journeys you can take is the journey away from self-reliance and toward reliance on God. Jacob was a sketchy, manipulative, self-serving, slightly narcissistic individual, right up to the moment he got in a wrestling match with God and got his hip relocated. He got an attitude adjustment that changed his whole life.

That may seem intense, but with it came the biggest blessing Jacob ever experienced. He found his identity changed after wrestling with God. Jacob got what your parents might have called “an attitude adjustment.”

He got a revelation that what he was doing wasn’t working, and what would be best for him would be for God to call the shots and be the boss in his life. So how did God change his identity? He told Jacob that his name would now be “Israel,” which can be translated as “Prince with God,” or “Ruler with God.” In martial arts, the way to subdue somebody and gain the upper hand is commonly by executing what is called a “submission hold.” That sounds exactly like what happened to Jacob. During the wrestling match, the will of Jacob was submitted to God’s will. As soon as that happened, it was as if God said, “Now I have something to work with.” So God gave Jacob a new identity with a new agenda — to do the will of God. He would no longer be the boss of his own life — he would “rule with God,” and be governed by God. It is easy to tell if a person has wrestled with God or if they are still self-willed and running wild on their own will. Where are you on that journey? It may be a new day of surrender for you.

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This blog is an excerpt from Robert Presson’s devotional book, “People Of His Presence,” available on Amazon: Click here to purchase on Amazon.  Alternatively, the book is available for free when you give a donation of any amount to City Revival Ministries at cityrevivalnola.com/give. Please indicate that you would like the book when you give.