June 25, 2024 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion; Read Genesis 32
Genesis 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
Jacob who’s name means supplanter or trickster, had tricked his brother Esau into giving him his birthright and had tricked his father Isaac into giving him the blessing of Esau as well. There was bad blood between these two brothers.
At one point East was going to kill Jacob for the things he had done.
In chapter 32 of Genesis we find Jacob alone after having sent his family away to protect them from Esau who was fast approaching with 400 men.
Alone and afraid Jacob met God. During the encounter with God, Jacob had a wrestling match. During the match, Jacob was changed in that the hollow of his thigh was left out of joint. He was humbled by God.
We know it was God who was with Jacob for the scriptures make it apparent. Genesis 35:1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
The encounter with God was what we call a Christophany. It is an old testament appearance of Christ. (Yes, Jesus is eternal and is God, no matter what the gnostics say.) Jacob wrestled with Jesus and it was Jesus who touched the hollow of Jacobs thigh leaving him humbled. Not only did God leave him humbled, God changed his name from Jacob the supplanter to Israel which means prince with God.
Genesis 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
Anyone who encounters God in and through the Lord Jesus Christ will be left a different person. Anyone who has ever encountered God in and through the Lord Jesus Christ will be humbled.
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
1Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Anyone who places their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ becomes a new person, the are changed.
2Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Are you a different person since you met Christ? Has there been a change in your life since you met Jesus?
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
