Good morning, dear family,
We all know the life story of Jacob and how he cheated on his brother to gain the blessing of his father. He was later cheated by his father in law, Laban. Further he also cheated on his father in law. Ultimately on his way home, he encountered God and wrestled with Him all night. This is a picture of a “Wrestling in Prayer that transforms”.
“Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.” “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.””
Genesis 32:26-28 NLT
Two things:
1. What’s there in a name? – If you read these passages, people in olden days named their children and places as per the blessings they received or when they encountered God’s grace. Names carry a reference to God’s grace. Many of us may have also been named by our parents not merely because they liked a name but because they experienced God’s grace when we were born. Let’s not say, what’s there in name? – Gods blessing and grace are there in a name.
2. What’s there in praying? – Jacob wrestled with God till the time He blessed him. In some impossible situations, we easily give up on prayer since in our human mind we think it’s impossible for things to turn around. Today’s encouragement is this – Prayers can alter the situations as they are reaching the ears of our powerful and Almighty God.
Immediately after God leaves Jacob, he offers a prayer of thanksgiving.
“Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.””
Genesis 32:30 NLT
Let’s turn to God. Let us seek His face in prayer. Remember, He is a life giving God. He not only changes the situation we are in, but He transforms us through it. We are starting a study with a theme – “El-Elohe-Israel”, which means, “God, God of Israel”.
“Then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place.”
2 Chronicles 7:12-15, NLT
Amen 🙏