Bible Study Lesson; Genesis 32:22-32
The wrestling match lasts all night and when it’s finished, Jacob becomes Israel, father of the nation we know today. Let’s read as Jacob wrestles with God. A strange passage but with a good ending.
The lesson from this chapter of Genesis is about being persistent. Are we tenacious enough to keep asking God for needs and changes we need to make in our lives?
Let’s see what Jacob does …
Jacob Wrestles with God – The Birth of a New Nation Israel
Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him.
Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.”
He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.”
Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?”
And he blessed him there.
So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” – Genesis 32:24-30 NASB
Wrestling with God
Jacob wanted to be blessed by God so was persistent and kept going until God agreed.
God wants us to be persistent in areas of our lives; especially in the spiritual realm.
For instance, if you are praying for a need in your life, don’t just pray once and give up. Pray every day, or many times a day.
Chanting?
No, I’m not talking about chanting as some cultures do – this is repeating the same words over and over like a song.
The persistence mentioned here is about asking as the child discussed below.
Keep Asking
Be more like the child who keeps asking for a certain item while riding in a shopping cart.
He doesn’t stop at one, two, or even three attempts.
He keeps on asking until you either give in or leave the store.
Chances are the child will come out of the store holding that red ball, won’t he? 🙂
Will God Automatically Give In?
Ask God to answer your prayers and be persistent!
He may not always answer in the way you like but at least He will know you are serious.
But remember, God will work on His time, not ours. He is seldom in a hurry.
[easyazon_image align=”left” height=”160″ identifier=”1414359810″ locale=”US” src=”https://makingchristknown.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/41r4WCbUeL.SL160-1.jpg” tag=”bobpardphot-20″ width=”105″]If our prayer fits within God’s will, He will grant what we ask for.
In another lesson we talked about asking for snakes so God is not going to give us something that is harmful to our spiritual being.
Prayer is only one of the areas for persistence. Where do you need to be more persistent in your spiritual life?
Love in Christ
– Bob
If you would like to accept the love and life-changing experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to go here and take the first steps.