Thanks for the Jacob-to-Israel comparison. I lived as a scheming and controlling Jacob for thirty some years, even as a pastor. Then I met God in the wrestling watch, and He gave me a limp. But I began to miss the control, the illusion of control. I didn't want to need Him that much, so desperately. But the Lord keeps bringing me back to this. He keeps lovingly pursuing me, He keeps fighting for me, "breaking my schemes of earthly joy" as John Newton wrote. As he does, my sense of the fear of the Lord is deepened. I am awed.
Mark, this is a beautiful restatement of what I was going for in the post this morning. For Jacob to become Israel, he had to wrestle with God mightily. I've often wondered out loud who won the wrestling match. And I think I have to call it a tie.
Thanks for the Jacob-to-Israel comparison. I lived as a scheming and controlling Jacob for thirty some years, even as a pastor. Then I met God in the wrestling watch, and He gave me a limp. But I began to miss the control, the illusion of control. I didn't want to need Him that much, so desperately. But the Lord keeps bringing me back to this. He keeps lovingly pursuing me, He keeps fighting for me, "breaking my schemes of earthly joy" as John Newton wrote. As he does, my sense of the fear of the Lord is deepened. I am awed.
Mark, this is a beautiful restatement of what I was going for in the post this morning. For Jacob to become Israel, he had to wrestle with God mightily. I've often wondered out loud who won the wrestling match. And I think I have to call it a tie.
Thank you for offering it here in the comments.
So thought provoking. You have really mined that Scripture. What an interesting and different way to share the Gospel with someone . Thank you.