10 things I find amazing about the Bible: God Wrestles

I know a lot of grown men who love to watch wrestling on TV.  I must admit that I once enjoyed watching wrestling as well, but I must have outgrown it in 6th grade.  But what would you think if I told you God also is a wrestler?  Now that's a scripture the pastor needs to preach on, but until he does you'll have to be satisfied with me  Let's take a look at Genesis 32:22-31.

Before I read this tonight I began by jotting down a couple of questions I would have if I had never read or heard this story before.  I wanted to have a fresh look and investigation of these verses when I dove in and here is what I came up with.

1. Why did God wrestle with a man?
2. How did Jacob tie God in a wrestling match?
3. What can I learn from this story?

I'll just dive right into the first question, and to be honest I have no idea why God would come to earth and wrestle a man.  As I was reading and thinking about this question my mind starting going several different directions.  Notice what was happening.  Jacob was about to come face to face with his past and he was scared.  Before he met his brother Jacob sent his family and everything he owned across the river (Gen 32:23) and Jacob was alone (v24).  Jacob was by himself and about to begin the struggle with God.  Did he know the struggle was coming, or was he preparing his mind to meet his brother?  Regardless of why Jacob chose to be alone, the decision would change his life as well as his family's.

2. How did Jacob, a man, tie God in a wrestling match?

This one is mind boggling.  "How?" or maybe "Why?" is the better question to ask here, because obviously if God tied somebody it would be because God wanted to tie, or allowed the tie.(v25-27)  But why would God do this?   I realize there are several question there, but allow for one more.  Was God trying to defeat Jacob?  We have to agree that if God wanted to defeat or kill Jacob He could have done it with a spoken word.  Did God come there to fight Jacob? Perhaps God came there to offer Jacob a better life.  A life filled with Him.  And Jacob, like so many of us, fought turning over control of our life to God.  Or, maybe Jacob realized how much he needed God in his life and didn't want Him to leave.  Both of these offer us a truth about God.  We do need him and we should learn to fight Him less.

What can we learn from Jacob in this story?

Not only is Jacob's life changed after this event, but so are the lives of his children, grandchildren and on down the line.  From this point on Jacob would have another name, Israel.  Israel means "He who strives with God."  Jacob fought with God that night and so would his family from that time on.  But don't miss the truth, even in the head on struggle with God, God still chose to bless Jacob and his family.  Forgiveness.  God not only forgives us when we battle him, but he chooses to bless us, and that is something I find amazing about the Bible. ​