Genesis 32:22-31

After Jacob ran away from his brother’s plan of vengeance, and after he had been given a wife to help him continue to populate the world with God’s promised people, as he headed back home, Jacob had a strange nighttime encounter.

The night is often when the hard decisions confront us. Ancient Christian writers called these hours of our deepest prayerful conversations “The Dark Night of the Soul.”

After telling the story called “Jacob Wrestles”, the editor of the Spark Story Bible suggests this way to empathize with faithful Jacob:

“Ask someone to try wrestling with you. Ask an adult to watch. How long can you go before you get tired?”

Jacob’s time of wrestling with God through the night ended with him being blessed. Are there any blessings awaiting us as we submit to such an encounter?

Prayer

Lord, speak to me at a time when I will truly wrestle with the message. Give me the strength to meet You face to face, and the stamina to see the encounter through to the end. Amen.