Wrestling or Resting by Donna Avant

Have you ever chosen to wrestle with God over something instead of choosing to rest in Him?

I have.  For the last few months, I have been wrestling with Him over my upcoming knee replacement surgery.

“God, why would you allow this in my life?  I really do not have time for this.  There is so much ministry that needs to be done.  I do not understand why You are allowing this. This surgery wasn’t in my plan.”

Unfortunately, I tend to be a control freak and after this surgery there will be a lot of things I will not be able to control.    Being a control freak may be a consequence of growing up in a home that was out of control.  By the time I was sixteen, I was in charge of my own life.  There was little parental guidance or involvement in my life.   At times I felt as if I had to fight for everything good in my life.  

There is someone in the Bible that was a control freak and literally wrestled with God:  Jacob.

From the moment of his birth, Jacob struggled to be in control of his life.  He was a twin but was not the first born.  In his culture, being the first born was everything.  As he grew he learned the promise made by God to his grandfather, Abraham, and to his father, Isaac. (Genesis 17) He believed that the promise would only include him if he received the blessing of the first born from his father.  So Jacob deceived and manipulated his way through much of his life and in turn others also deceived and manipulated him.

Then one night when he was returning home after twenty years to face his brother, Esau, whom he had betrayed, he met a man that he could not control or deceive.  He wrestled with God himself.

At some point during this wrestling match, Jacob came to the realization that he was not wrestling with a man, but God himself.  He cried out to God for a blessing of his own.  Not a blessing out of deception, manipulation, or control but his own blessing from Almighty God.

God did give Him a blessing.  But He also left Jacob with two other things: a new name, Israel, and a physical reminder for the rest of his life that God alone was in control.  God touched Jacob’s hip and for the rest of Jacob’s days he limped as he walked.  Every step Jacob took for the rest of his life he was reminded that God was Sovereign and He was in control.  No amount of deceit or manipulation would control His plans.

I believe as Jacob walked toward Esau whom he had deceived, he was fearful for his life and

his family’s life.  Yet, as he limped toward Esau, he knew God was now the One in control of his future.

In Psalm 135:4-6, the psalmist declares, “For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself. Israel as his treasured possession.  For I know that the Lord is great and that our Lord is above all gods.  Whatever the Lord pleases, he does in heaven and on earth.”

When I read this passage, I wept.  The Lord chose Jacob, the deceiver, who became Israel, the one who strives with God, to be His treasured possession.  

When God’s people heard this, they knew what a treasured possession was.  It was the Hebrew word “segullah”.  It was what a king treasured most of all in his treasure room.

Precious friend, when we realize who we are to our King, His treasured possession, we can rest in Him, knowing He is in control.  He knows the plan He has for us.  We do not have to wrestle with Him to receive His blessing for our future. 

So choose to rest in Him!

I will be resting this week knowing He is in control and I am His treasured possession.