Genesis 32:22-32
“That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.” Genesis 32:22-32 (NIV)
Everyone is familiar with this story of Jacob wrestling with God. Jacob is far calmer than I. Not only asking for a blessing but knowing he struggled with God - “It is because I saw God” - and then simply going on his way. I’m pretty sure I’d still be in a puddle questioning my mental state!
Who hasn’t struggled? Maybe not obviously with God but definitely with humans. But how often do you - after the struggle - ask for a blessing from the person you struggled with?
Imagine being in court after an acrimonious divorce and asking your soon to be ex spouse to bless you? Or being sued for a car accident and losing but then asking for a blessing from the person who sued you.
Or getting into a spat at the store about pricing or at the restaurant about added charges? Then after the spat - where you may or may not have lost your composure- asking them to bless you.
The bigger conundrum might be what you would do if they asked you to bless them! Think of each of those examples and now imagine how difficult it would be to bless someone who you felt “did you wrong.”
But isn’t that the beauty of God? God wants to be in a relationship with us. God wants us to struggle with our belief, our faith and yes, with God themself.
Whatever our struggles - human or otherwise - God offers us blessings without number. God blesses us without keeping score.Thanks be to God!
Questions for Reflection:
- How can I bless others?
- Who can I ask to bless me?
Prayer:
Loving and caring God, thank you for blessing me, please help me be a blessing to others. Amen.
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