Jacob Wrestling with God

[Jamie]

Read Genesis 32:22-32 – In the midst of Jacob wrestling with God, God asked Jacob what His name was? It was in this moment that Jacob came face to face with God regarding his greatest weakness – He was a deceiver. Why is it so important for us as people to be willing to have God point out our weaknesses? What can we learn about God through this story?

[Anonymous]

I think it is very important for God to point us our weaknesses because other wise we will never know them and think everything we are doing is perfect. That everything we do is under our control, which is NOT! we can’t do anything without the power and control of God. Like the article that i read said that God could of done anything he wanted at the time when wrestling with Jacob why did he have to wait until daybreak? he wanted for Jacob to come clean, he knew Jacob, he knew his heart, he just wanted for Jacob to really surrender and speak with truth. I love the part where the man says let me go and Jacob replies that no he doesn’t want to let go and wants his blessing. IS like saying, no Lord no Don’t go , I need you, please don’t leave me, i really need you and he gave his life to GOD, the one who can only save him from his problems he was facing. And that is why God changed his name, he became a new person, God renewed his mind ( romans 12 :2) his soul but because he submitted himself to the LORD.

[Jamie]

Great thoughts Alex! So follow-up question – How does God do this? How does God show us our weaknesses?

[Anonymous]

I always seem to try and avoid admitting my failures in my Christian walk but God is always there trying to renind me not that I am failing but I think He wants me to admit my wrong doings so that I see them more clearly. Satan is the one that accuses us of things and makes us feel guilty but God shows us our weeknesses so we can learn from our mistakes.

[bstadle1]

I believe we all share one realy big weakness, we desire control over everything around us. When Scripture tells us through the life of Job that God gives and takes away, I believe this is how He most often reveals this weakness in us. In my life, it is only when all seems lost or my plans have faded into insignificance, that I am most able to return to the truth. The truth being that God is able to do anything and nothing with my plans, but He desires to make known to me His plans that my Spirit and His can be united in purpose and pursuit.

Like a Father who gives consequences to their son/daughter for disobedience, God takes away from us so that we an regain our focus and joy in what matters most in life. I see this often in my role in Jeremiah’s life (my son). Jeremiah often will complain or wine about a direction I have put him on, he desires to be in control of his own life and decision (even at the age of 4). Sometimes, only by taking away what he holds to be the most dear to him (toys, tv, etc.)can i begin to show him what REALLY has value and is worth pursuing.

There are some things in life that are taken from us that we may never fully understand why, like Job. What a great display of faith when we are still able to pursue and love God with questions and in deep grief, trusting that God is worthy of praise in any and all circumstances.

[Anonymous]

We must not only be willing to have God point out our weaknesses, but we must be willing to admit that we even have them, and then to ask God for help in changing them. Admitting our weaknesses is the first step, by showing God that we also recognize them in our life. Next, we must be willing to change them, and must be open to better ways to do so. Asking God for help is the start, but we must also be willing to ask others close to us for their insights and thoughts, too. God wants us to rely on Him in this process, and not be so self-sufficient that we won’t be willing to have Him and others help us.

[Anonymous]

My posts are kinda late this week. :/ Work-wise and family-wise it has been a busy weekend! Anyway, I think it is important to let God point out our weaknesses because sanctification is a process. Christ has saved us from sin to new life, and the out-working of that new life (sanctification) in our lives takes time. If we do not let God point out our weaknesses, that out-working will never happen. And, perhaps even more importantly, if we refuse to let God point out areas in our lives that need work, perhaps that is indicative of a hear that has not truly repented of sin. I certainly do not want that.
Through this story of Jacob wrestling with God I think we learn that God wants to show us our weaknesses and help us overcome them. He wants us to live rightly and see the new life he has given us fully worked out in our lives. I think God takes joy in helping us overcome sin and bestowing upon us the great good of new life and fellowship with him. If I’ve learned anything through struggling with my weaknesses, though, it’s that this certainly is a process.

[Jamie]

Great thoughts everyone! So how does God point our weaknesses? Be specific pretty please?

[bstadle1]

He gives us humble hearts that can listen when others give insight and wisdom into areas we need growth. Basically, He blesses us with community 🙂

[Anonymous]

“satan is the one that accuses us of things and makes us feel guilty but God shows us our weakness so we can learn from our mistakes” i love that, that is so true. the lord doesn’t cause us to stumble but he opens our eyes to the blinded situations that we might be going trough. God doesn’t temp us, because he knows what it is to being tempted. i don’t know but i think we become so weak when we start doing all the things by ourselves and distancing ourselves from the Lord i know i do. I start doing things that i feel terrible the next morning sometimes when i wake up and i think to myself why did i do that?. But i think that once we know the mistakes we made and we don’t do them is cause we are being led by spirit of god, we are leading him guide us and he changes the ones who want to be changed. he transforms us into something new. Because we are different and our minds have been changed, we have been changed we don’t live that life anymore we live according to what the spirit drives us to do and live.

[Anonymous]

when we struggle? when we fall into all of our temptations, and then what? whats left? how do I get out of it, who can i find to comfort me, help me? God wants me to turn to him for all that.

[Anonymous]

I think for me I see Him pointing out my weaknesses with discipline. I don’t always recognize the weekness right away but I usually always see what God is trying to point out at some point. One of my weeknesses is not trusting God with my money so about a year ago some things happened and I lost almost all my money. Through this I have seen my weekness in that area and even though I have less than I did before, I feel more content knowing that God is in control.

[Anonymous]

For some reason this was posted here and not under Jacob and God. Sorry don’t know how that happened

[Anonymous]

Nevermind

[Anonymous]

I think one way God points out our weaknesses is by bringing us to a place where we can’t ignore them. I often find it easy to overlook my faults, but God consistently finds a way to bring me to a place where I can’t overlook them and I have to choose to bring them to his feet or do nothing about them. Often times this happens for me through relationships. My experience has been that when you get to know someone, they are usually pretty good at seeing and pointing out your weaknesses. I think that relationships in this way are kinda like mirrors – mirrors that God uses to point out our weaknesses to us.

[Author]

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