Lessons from the battle on the banks of the Jabbock River.
To fully understand the significance of the battle that took place on the banks of the Jabbock River, Genesis 32:24-29, we must first look at the human participant, Jacob.
Jacob, the second born son of Issac and Rebekah, was the twin brother of Esau and was born holding onto the heel of his older brother Esau. Thus, the youngest twin is named Jacob, which means “supplanter.” Supplanter is one who takes over someone’s property and Jacob lives up to his name and steals his brother Esau’s very birthright.
The theft of a birthright is not a small thing. Jacob takes for himself wealth, position, honor, title, an entire way of life. After such treachery, Jacob had to leave the country because Esau had threatened to kill Jacob.
Jacob is forced to go and live with his mother’s brother, Laban, in Haran in Mesopotamia. Treachery and deceit appear to run in the family and Laban is a skilled manipulator. Jacob was in love with Rachel and worked seven years to marry his sweetheart, but is tricked into marrying Leah. Jacob works seven more years and marries Rachel (14 years of false labor). After 20 years in Haran, Jacob is ready to return to his home.
When Jacob gets almost home, he is overwhelmed with the fear that his brother Esau is going to take revenge on him. Jacob is thinking about all the gifts, and his apologies will not soothe Esau.
He sends his four wives, servants and children in strategically different directions and Jacob is left alone at the River Jabbock. This is when he has a battle with the angel. By all accounts this is no ordinary angel, and this epic battle has something to teach us about walking with God.
1. God hears us, sees us, and desires an intimate relationship with us. Psalm 8:3-5 says, “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon, and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?” Though we are small in comparison to the universe, God has designed us to have a relationship with him. Just to illustrate the vastness of the handy work of God compared to the universe, scientist tell us that this universe is so huge that traveling at light speed it would take 40 billion years to reach the edge of the universe. But no matter how small we are, God responds to us. On the banks of Jabbock Jacob had already prayed a model prayer to God. Jacob honored God for who he was to those before him (Abraham and Isaac) and remind God of his promises to him (come home and I will make thy seed as those of the sands of the sea). These are the same promises made to his grandfather Abraham and his father Issac.
God has promises for you as well:
God will always be with you (Isaiah 43:1-2) – There are no promises of a life without challenges and heartbreak, but the promise is that God will never leave your side.
God will provide for you (Matthew 6:25-33) – The heavenly father is there to meet your every needs. There is provision but you must be open to how God answers the need. The package may not look like what you have envisioned, but God wants the best for you.
God loves you (Romans 8:39) – God loves you!
God will fix all things (Revelation 2:4) God will set everything right. He will take away all pain and suffering.
Jacob admitted that he was in trouble and needed a blessing from the Lord. Jacob had to put in the time and the wrestling match continued. Sometimes we must put in the time so that the situation in which we find ourselves will create the pressure that will cause the godly part of us to separate from the dirt. Only God can bring it out!
2. The only one that can make you miss your blessing is you! Again, we look back at the story of Jacob from the beginning. God told Rebekah that the older brother would serve the younger brother and Rebekah and Jacob tried to fulfill God’s Word in the flesh by making it so. All Jacob had to do was wait on God. All that scheming and lying, and hurting people could have been avoided. God had a blessing with Jacob’s name on it! Jacob did not just get to keep the spoils of his theft. God blessed Jacob on the banks of Jabbock!
3. God Blesses Perseverance when Seeking His Face – Jacob was a trickster, a liar, a thief, and a not-so-great husband or father, but as he wrestles with the angel he did not give up. When we pray, we must pray according to the will of God and the will of God was to bless Jacob.
As we learn to pray the will of God, we must start with a forgiving heart, Mark 11:25 “And when you stand praying, If ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Another important element is to remember you have the Holy Spirit working with you – Romans 8:26-27; 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Rest if you must, but never give up because the battle, though it will challenge you, will create the best in you.
St James AME Church is located at 360 Dorothy Street in Charleston and worship service is held on the first and third Sundays of each month at 11 am. You may also join us on Zoom – pastorv.com.
