Tues.’s Devo - Jacob Wrestles with God

Read: Genesis 32:13-34:31; Matthew 11:7-30; Psalm 14:1-7; Proverbs 3:19-20 Jacob hand-picked 550 of his cattle to send as a present to Esau ahead of himself. He hoped that the gift would pacify his anger toward him. Then he sent his family ahead of him and spent the night by himself. That night he wrestled with an angel until the break of day. When the angel realized he could not win, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip and moved it out of joint. But, Jacob wound’t let the angle go until he blessed him. *** The angel asked him his name and said that he would no longer be called Jacob, but Israel because he had struggled with God and with men and had prevailed. Jacob asked the angel his name but he didn’t tell him. Jacob named the place where he was Peniel which means “the face of God” because he had seen the face of God and lived. From that day, Jacob limped when he walked because of his hip. To this day, the Israelites don’t eat the muscle which is on the hip socket. *** The next morning, Jacob saw Esau and his company coming toward him. He divided his family and sent the maidservants and their children first, then Leah and her children, and last, Rachel and her son. He bowed to the ground seven times as he came near to Esau. But, Esau ran to meet him and hugged and kissed Jacob and wept. *** Jacob introduced his family to Esau and told him that all the cattle he had sent ahead were a gift. He had to urge Esau to take it. Esau offered to travel with them but Jacob refused all of Esau’s offers and they parted. Esau went to Seir and Jacob to Succoth where he built booths for his livestock. *** Jacob continued till he came to Pandan Aram in the land of Canaan. He bought a piece of land from the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father. There he erected an altar and called it El Elohe Israel which means “God, the God of Israel”. *** Leah’s daughter Dinah went out to meet the other women in Shechem. Hamor’s son, Shechem saw her and violated her. He loved her and wanted to marry her so he told his father to arrange their marriage. Jacob and his sons had heard what Shechem did to Dinah and they were very upset. They told Hamor that they would agree to let Dinah marry Shechem if they circumcised all their men. Then their men could intermarry with their women and vice versa. They would dwell as one people. The people of Shechem agreed and all the men were circumcised. On the third day when the men were very sore, Levi and Simeon, Dinah’s brothers came to the city and killed all the males. They killed Hamor and Shechem with the sword and took Dinah from his house. Then the other sons plundered the city. They took all the sheep and animals and their wealth. Their women and children were taken captive. *** Jacob was upset because Levi and Simeon had put him in a bad light with all the other Canaanites and Perizzites. He was afraid they would retaliate. Levi and Simeon responded, “Should he treat our sister like a harlot?” This act by Levi and Simeon would cost them their father’s blessing in 49:5-7. *** In Matthew, Jesus explained that with John the Baptist’s arrival on the scene, the status quo of religion was disturbed. He didn’t follow the tune of the religious scribes and Pharisees. Jesus and John brought truth which caused war in the heavens. Now, judgment was coming to the house of God. Jesus began with cursing Chorazin and Bethsaida because of the miracles he had done there yet they refused to repent. Then he spoke judgement over Capernaum. It would not stand. *** Jesus prayed for the ones who did come to him and repent. He promised them rest. *** Lord, I thank you that we are seeing this same disturbance in the heavens. Judgement is coming to the house of the church but you are giving your peace to those who walk uprightly with you.