Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Genesis 32:24-31 (NIV)
24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” 29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” 31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.
This story is filled with mystery and wonder. Is this really God that Jacob wrestles? Jacob seems to think so. Jacob’s wrestling match is much like our own. We live each day striving to get God to do things our way. We want God to bless us and the things that we are doing or the plans we have made. But instead of overpowering us God let’s us win. God loses. God dies on a cross. God is placed in a tomb and a stone is rolled over the opening. God blesses us with love, grace, forgiveness and mercy that belongs to Jesus! And Jesus loses. Because of Jesus you are loved. Nothing can take that away! May God bless you!