“PLEASE TELL ME YOUR NAME!”

 Genesis 32:22-32                 (ESV)

Jacob Wrestles with GOD

“[22] The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. [23] He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. [24] And Jacob WAS LEFT ALONE. And a MAN wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. [25] When THE MAN saw that HE DID NOT prevail against Jacob, HE TOUCHED HIS HIP SOCKET, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. [26] Then HE said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” [27] And HE said to him, “WHAT IS YOUR NAME?” And he said, “Jacob.” [28] Then HE said, “Your name shall NO LONGER be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with GOD and with men, and have prevailed.” [29] Then Jacob asked HIM, “PLEASE TELL ME YOUR NAME.” But HE said, “Why is it that you ask MY NAME ?” And there HE blessed him. [30] So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen GOD FACE TO FACE, and yet my life has been delivered.” [31] The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. [32] Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip on the sinew of the thigh.”

Some (MANY) years ago my grandmother carried me to her chiropractor for  a “back problem” that I was experiencing.  A few years later my mother carried me to an orthopedic surgeon who took several x-rays and determined that I had one leg shorter than the other, a condition that was common for someone with GIGANTISM.  Although being over six and one half feet tall was something that I DID NOT CHOOSE, it was something that I would have to deal with for the remainder of my life!  

Living with an “uneven foundation” might not be a “curse”, but it is something that has to be dealt with, or the consequences could be severe, even catastrophic.  Regular “adjustments” from a health care professional can certainly limit your pain and discomfort.  However, if you fail to seek proper treatment you will inevitably suffer from “misalignments” that will necessitate proper alignment measures!  

During his struggle with GOD, Jacob was PERMANENTLY changed, but he was not made PERFECT!  Even though he exhibited “a permanent limp” from his encounter with THE ALMIGHTY, Jacob carried a remnant that gave evidence that GOD HAD CHANGED his life!  GOD was CERTAINLY CAPABLE of defeating one human being?  In 2 Kings 19:35 “And that night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.”  So GOD was displaying HIS BENEVOLENCE when HE PERMITTED Jacob to wrestle with HIM that night!  

How would I have come out in a one on ONE with OUR CREATOR?  For seventeen days in 2007 it was a “touch and go” (drug-induced coma) situation, but GOD was ALLOWING me to SEE that “For I have SEEN GOD FACE TO FACE, and YET MY LIFE HAS BEEN DELIVERED.”  I can’t say that I “literally” have SEEN GOD FACE TO FACE, but what I experienced was definitely something that was bey human instinct or abilities! 

Once again, I DID NOT CHOOSE to be 6’6” tall with one leg shorter than the other.  I DID NOT CHOOSE to experience a “massive brain hemorrhage” with an almost 24 month hiatus from work.  However, GOD’S CHOICE was for me to be SLOWED DOWN and HE didn’t even let me “negotiate” the outcome I would be left with!  Through the years (going in 19!) my EYES have been OPENED to SEE that I am NOT in control of anything!  Rather discovering that “PLEASE TELL ME YOUR NAME” isn’t an affront to my CREATOR, it is an ADMISSION of WHO HE IS…….and who I am NOT!!!