I was reading Genesis today, in chapter 32 verses 22-32 (NASB)
In this passage it describes a man named jacob he is with his wives and servants and they are travelling. He sends them away. And while he is commuting he comes across a man and they wrestle, Jacob is some kind of wrestling fanatic because he doesn’t relent and fights this man so tough that the man actually dislocates Jacob hip.
“he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was dislocated while he wrestled with him.
Can you imagine that? I know how painful a break/fracture and a dislocation can be, I have suffered from several in my life so far. Actually now that I am speaking about this I am not even entirely sure the difference between all these conditions. All I know is that it is extremely painful. So for Jacob to continue wrestling while having this occur spontaneously speaks a lot about the man.
But what is most interesting about this passage, is that Jacob would not relent until the man would bless him. And throughout this ordeal we find out that Jacob is now referred as Israel and the person he was wrestling is “peniel” (face or vision of God; that sees God)
Penuel (or Pniel, Pnuel; Hebrew: פְּנוּאֵל Pənūʾēl)
I think its easy to parallel this to our own lives and our relationship with God. We are very stubborn and hard headed, we refuse to give up the alcohol, or the cigarettes or the 1 night stands etc.
Some times it gets so out of hand that God needs to intervene, while it may not be a hip dislocation, it could be a shoulder dislocation like in my case. Or it could be a torn distal bicep, or even a broken arm! or maybe your wife and kids leave you completely in isolation. Could be time in jail or prison. Or even a divine encounter with God Himself!
I’ve never been a big bible reader, I always found myself bored through bible studies and teachings. But now I do indeed see it as MANA (food). We need the nourishment of the bible and time with God daily.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2032%3A22-32&version=NASB
