Sermon Snippet

Continuing a series of sermons about men who had their names changed by God:

I love the story about Jacob wrestling with God… but the part I love the most about that story is when Jacob demands that God bless him. Not only that, but Jacob refused to let go of God until He received a blessing.

I know I’m jumping to conclusions here that are not necessarily spelled out in the text… but I think that made God smile.

Think about it: The last time Jacob tried to get a blessing… he snuck in like a coward… pretended to be someone that he wasn’t… in order to get a blessing that wasn’t really his.

This time… Jacob is Jacob. He’s not pretending to be anyone else. He’s not hiding or running or tricking like a coward… he is struggling… face to face with his opponent. And even in the midst of physical exhaustion and anguish… he hangs on and in boldness demands a blessing. And the blessing that God gave him was rightfully his...

What a change in how Jacob goes about getting blessed! And I really gotta believe that it pleased God. Jacob held on… he didn’t give up… and God blessed him for it.

There are bound to be some reading this who really feel that life is more of a struggle right now than anything else. Perhaps you are battling physical ailments; financial difficulties, relational stress; emotional drain; or even spiritual oppression.

I would encourage you to hang on. Don’t quit. Don’t give up. Persevere. Keep moving forward. Keep trying to do the right things. Don’t give up. Don’t. Give. Up. Keep on clinging to the Lord. After all, the story of Jacob teaches us that God is willing to bless those who are willing to persevere on His behalf in the midst of pain, loneliness, confusion and stress...