Go Get Your Blessing

Genesis 32:24-28 – “This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. 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.’”

 

This story is so crazy to me because it goes against everything I’ve been taught about God or what I understand. Jacob was like “nah, I’m not going anywhere until you bless me.” God touched the socket of his hip like “leave me alone alright?!” I bet that hurt so bad! It wasn’t like a loving touch like when God gently nudges you away from chocolate it was a “boy if you don’t get!” And Jacob said “no! Bless me!”

 

Persistence

 

I’m going to use nothing but possessive pronouns because maybe it’s just me. How often do I walk away when God tells me no? I don’t press the issue. I assume that God is saying no for a reason. But what if it’s not a no but God’s way of seeing how much I really want it? What am I willing to sacrifice? Am I willing to stay up all night demanding my blessing?

 

See I wasn’t taught to demand anything from God. I was taught to ask and if God says yes then it’s yes. If God says no then it’s no. You don’t fight with God or question God. But Jacob fought and got what he wanted. God blessed him. If God is the same God that blessed Jacob, why shouldn’t I be like Jacob, demanding blessings?

 

We Have Not Because We Ask Not

 

I’m passive and I know this. I pray about it often but through my passiveness I’m not always upfront or direct. I tend to take what life gives me and call it a blessing. Don’t get me wrong I am blessed beyond measure but what if God has more in store but I have not because I ask not? What if God is trying to take me to a higher level but I have not because I ask not? How do I know if I’m settling?

 

Jacob knew he wanted to be blessed and God did just that. I was once told that God doesn’t mind when I question Him. The problems come when I doubt Him. So it’s okay for me to go to God inquisitively. He wants to answer my questions and show me who He is. But sometimes, I do hold back in my prayers like God doesn’t already know or even sometimes assuming God knows. And God does know everything but my words have power. It’s my responsibility to bring everything to God in prayer. But I have not simply because I have not.

 

All Night Long

 

What are you willing to stay up all night and toil over? Even Jesus stayed up all night and prayed. What makes me exempt? Even with his hip hurt, Jacob kept fighting. He wanted to be blessed. How bad do I want to be blessed? I know blessings keep falling Chance’s lap but what if there’s a higher level we still need to press into? Another level that has yet to be touched simply because we haven’t put in the time with God to get there? And we probably don’t have to wrestle (lol) but simply sat still and heard a word or two?

 

As always, take what you need and leave the rest.