Genesis 32:25 & 29
Jacob was left there alone. Then a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. Then the man said, "You shall no longer be named Jacob, but Israel, because you have contended with divine and human beings and have prevailed."
To give some context here, Jacob is the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham. He is a twin to Esau and a manipulator. He deceived Isaac and cheated Esau out of an inheritance. BUT like many other people we read about in the Bible, God did not turn his back on him. After much time, Jacob goes to make amends with Esau and offer gifts to get back in his good favor.
But before he does he has a dream where he has this strange wrestling match with God. I went to Brandon High School, where wrestling was huge. We had the longest winning streak of any high school sport in the country. It was serious business. One thing that is true for wrestling or any sport really, is that you have to face your opponent. You can't close your eyes. And Jacob had to wrestle and face God. He even named the place where he had the dream, "Peniel" which means, "face of God." He says, "I've seen the face of God and yet my life is preserved." He was in awe of God's power and mercy.
Then that awe was solidified (and so was his conversion) when he finally saw his brother. Instead of being angry, Esau runs to him and embraces him. This story is a great reminder that if we have been forgiven by someone, we have seen the face of God - what a gift! And remember to thank the people who have wrestled with you through difficult moments, even if it was uncomfortable. They helped you build something good out of a mess and were a vessel for God's amazing grace.
