Confidence or Doubt

Lessons from Genesis – 16

“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.” Genesis 32:24

Have you ever or are you now facing a profound crisis? First, be not ashamed at having a profound crisis as if God has abandoned you. Jesus said, “In this world you shall have tribulation.” It is common to all men and not one from which Christians are immune. All who preach that believers are supposed to be successful and prosperous are preaching a false doctrine. But now that you are in crisis, what do you do? This was Jacob’s problem. He had stolen his brother’s blessing and his brother has sworn revenge. Now his brother was coming to meet him and he had an army of 400 men with him. That was a crisis.

After sending everyone else away Jacob stayed alone by the brook Jabok. There he was met by a Man. They wrestled all night. That is a long time to be engaged in mortal combat. All night was not a “Now I lay me down to sleep prayer”. All night was the “effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man.” Does a crisis bring us to effectual fervent prayer or to ineffectual belly-aching? Does it bring us to seek God’s blessing or convince us that God doesn’t care? When morning came the Man said to Jacob, “Your name shall be called Israel, for you have struggled with God and prevailed.” With that the Man blessed him and sent him on his way. Beloved, do we wrestle with God or complain to God? Do we believe He will hear an effectual fervent prayer, or do we doubt His care? Jacob wrestled and was blessed.

Dear Father, You have given us such great promises through prayer that we often ignore. Please renew our prayer life that we might find ourselves greatly renewed in You. Amen. 

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