Verse of the Day 3/18

Through the Bible - Job 32-33, 1 Corinthians 11:1-16

 

Good morning,

If you are or have been the father of teen age boys you may have gotten into wrestling matches with them.  They gain confidence in themselves and at some point they feel that they can "take" you, when in reality, you could pin them at any time.  Its a picture of what we read in Genesis yesterday, God and Jacob wrestled all night, God could have "pinned" him at any time, but there was a purpose.  There comes a point where the child will say "I give" or "I give in".  Jacob gave in and submitted but held on waiting for God's assurance of blessing.

 

Gen 32:26-28  Jacob said, "I'm not letting you go 'til you bless me."

 

The man said, "What's your name?"

 

He answered, "Jacob."

 

The man said, "But no longer. Your name is no longer Jacob. From now on it's Israel (God-Wrestler); you've wrestled with God and you've come through."   The Message

I like the Message paraphrase that Jacob had come through, God had seen to it.  Jacob was given a new name Israel.  Some have interpreted the name to mean that Jacob wrestled with God and prevailed.  J.M. Boice pointed out that as with other Biblical names such as Daniel or Samuel, God is actually the subject which changes the meaning to "God prevailed."  Jacob had finally submitted to God, God had prevailed, Jacob now sought God's blessing instead of seeking blessings in his own way and by his own will as in the past.  God had brought about in Jacob a change in heart a new heart.

 

For today's verse we'll go to the book of Ezekiel where God is ready to do a work in the heart of the nation of Israel.  Though the prophet speaks for the nation, God accomplishes this individually in the hearts of his people.

 

Ezek 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.    NKJV

Have you been wrestling with God?  Perhaps He's using your circumstances to bring about a change in your heart, to break your heart of stone, and soften it, make it alive again, beating for the Lord and for others.

 

Boice writes that in his battle with God "Jacob suffers a reversal of his fortunes, which is actually his victory.  He loses his wrestling match with God; God touches his hip and he is permanently wounded.  But in the divine logic, which is beyond our full comprehension, this loss is Jacob's victory.  For at last Jacob surrenders himself.  He wins by losing and it now able to go on in new strength as "God's man".

 

Are we willing to lose ourselves and find ourselves in Him?

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV
Ezek 36:22-31

 

22 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord God: "I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. 23 And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord," says the Lord God, "when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. 24 For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.  28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. 29 I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. 30 And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations.
NKJV