Do you remember the story in the Bible about Jacob wrestling with God?
Jacob
Jacob was destined for a great inheritance, even though he was the second-born son in the birth order. God told his mother Rebekah that Jacob would receive the special blessing.
Genesis 25:23 New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Rebekah knew that God favored Jacob over his brother Esau. Though they were twins, Esau would have the right to the blessing because he was the first-born son.
As the boys grew older, Esau, who was a hunter, came home famished and begged his brother Jacob for lentil stew. He sold his birthright to his brother for a bowl of stew! Jacob, along with his mother managed the entire scenario in order for Jacob to receive the blessing from his father Isaac. (Gen 27) As the narrative of the brothers continued, Jacob, because of his brother’s murderous intentions, had to flee.
Jacob’s New Name
Many years and several chapters of Genesis have passed, so I pick up the story in Genesis 32:22-32. Before he meets his brother Esau, Jacob has a heavenly encounter. He wrestles with God but this match lasted throughout the night. Even with a dislocated hip socket Jacob did not give up: he wanted his blessing. God granted his blessing and changed his name to Israel. The blessing took place right before Jacob and Esau met. It was a reconciliation between the two brothers that could only take place with God in the midst.
Why did God give Jacob a new name? He received his new name Israel because he never gave up the struggle. Israel’s meaning is “the one who struggled with God.”
Our Sin
We are all sinners, and share some of the characteristics of both Jacob and Esau. (John 1:8-9) The correlation between these struggles is that we are always going to be wrestling with God because of our sin. But in our case, God will always win. Sin is a constant reminder that we need courage to remain in the fight. We will always get wounded, but the wounds are a stepping stone closer to God. It takes years of training to attain spiritual growth. Jacob had to wait 14 years before he could marry Rachel.
Moses
In every instance in the Bible there was always a mountain that our great patriarchs had to ascend to reach God. For Moses it started with the angel of the Lord appearing to him at “the mountain of God Horeb.” Moses was alone when he received his commission from God. That’s how it works; we must separate ourselves from the world in order to truly hear from God. Moses did not want the responsibility of saving his people. He questioned and wrestled with the idea of God’s will for his mission. In the most authoritative manner, God spoke to Moses:
Exodus 3:14 New American Bible (Revised Edition)
The Ten Commandments
Mount Sinai was the next mountain for Moses to climb. There he received the Ten Commandments from God.
Exodus 19:18-19 New American Bible (Revised Edition)
18 Now Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the Lord had come down upon it in fire. The smoke rose from it as though from a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled violently. 19 The blast of the shofar grew louder and louder, while Moses was speaking and God was answering him with thunder.