Jacob wrestle with God- Do you cling to God?
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Laban, after all his searches, failed to find his gods, and was baffled in his enquiry by a trick; but our God will not only be found of those who seek him, but they shall find him their bountiful rewarder.” Matthew Henry, from his commentary on Genesis 31:33–35
God’s word to the serpent in Genesis 3:14–15 ensures that the seed of the woman—Christ and His people from all generations—will have final victory over the Devil and his minions even though, because of our sin, there will be setbacks along the way. Jacob’s life proved these words to be true. Despite his sin (27:1–29), the Lord’s grace remained on Jacob, sustaining and disciplining him while in service to Laban (29:1–30:24). No matter how hard he tried, Jacob’s father-in-law, part of the serpent’s seed, was unable to bring his son-in-law to ruin (vv. 25–43).
Jacob’s life demonstrates this principle once again in his final confrontation with Laban. Our Father shields and prospers Jacob yet again in chapter 31, because His grace has transformed the patriarch from one who was wholly self-reliant into one consciously aware of God’s protective hand (vv. 4–7). Laban, on the other hand, remains lost in spiritual darkness, foolishly grasping for idols in ignorance of the one, true Lord of all (vv. 33–35). Jacob, who has sought the Father, is granted final victory over Laban when he is able to leave Paddan-aram in peace (vv. 43–55).
Genesis 32, the famous account of Jacob’s wrestling with God, is perhaps the clearest indication of the patriarch’s willingness to look for and cling to the Lord. We will also look at this important chapter this month and seek to understand what it means to hold fast to our Creator much like Job (Job 1:21) and our Savior did (Luke 22:39–46).
Many interactions between Jacob and others have been characterized by anger.
(2007). Tabletalk Magazine, April 2007: Grief.
God’s word to the serpent in Genesis 3:14–15 ensures that the seed of the woman—Christ and His people from all generations—will have final victory over the Devil and his minions even though, because of our sin, there will be setbacks along the way. Jacob’s life proved these words to be true. Despite his sin (27:1–29), the Lord’s grace remained on Jacob, sustaining and disciplining him while in service to Laban (29:1–30:24). No matter how hard he tried, Jacob’s father-in-law, part of the serpent’s seed, was unable to bring his son-in-law to ruin (vv. 25–43).
Jacob’s life demonstrates this principle once again in his final confrontation with Laban. Our Father shields and prospers Jacob yet again in chapter 31, because His grace has transformed the patriarch from one who was wholly self-reliant into one consciously aware of God’s protective hand (vv. 4–7). Laban, on the other hand, remains lost in spiritual darkness, foolishly grasping for idols in ignorance of the one, true Lord of all (vv. 33–35). Jacob, who has sought the Father, is granted final victory over Laban when he is able to leave Paddan-aram in peace (vv. 43–55).
Genesis 32, the famous account of Jacob’s wrestling with God, is perhaps the clearest indication of the patriarch’s willingness to look for and cling to the Lord. We will also look at this important chapter this month and seek to understand what it means to hold fast to our Creator much like Job (Job 1:21) and our Savior did (Luke 22:39–46).
Many interactions between Jacob and others have been characterized by anger.
(2007). Tabletalk Magazine, April 2007: Grief.
