“Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.” (Genesis 35:10 ESV)
Surrender
Jacob was a tough hombre. During most of his life he fought against those stronger than him, wealthier than him, and more powerful than him. But, even when he fled some of those fights, he did not really give up. He struggled and strove and contested every problem he had.
Until finally, unbelievably, he found himself actually fighting an angel! God’s messenger! In a sense, a symbol of God Himself!
And Jacob finally lost. Jacob finally gave up. Jacob finally surrendered.
And at that moment, Jacob reached peace with the God who loved Him.
Before we can respond to God’s love, we surrender to Him.
God changed Jacob’s name to “Israel,” which meant basically, “he fought with God,” to remind him of that for the rest of Jacob’s life.
God allowed Jacob to fight with Him because God loved Jacob. God knew that losing THAT wrestling match would enable Jacob to surrender. And to therefore know God’s love. And then to be able to finally love God, too.
As hard as it is for us to comprehend or accept, God does the same thing with us.
When we object to God’s plans, God’s actions, God’s intentions, and God’s will… we, too, contend with God.
And we lose, like Jacob.
And when the dust settles, when we are able to see that we lost, we notice His love.
Tomorrow, maybe I can surrender before the fight, because God’s love is worth surrendering for.