Peniel: for I have seen God Face to Face

Genesis 32:24-32 (KJV) 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. ³¹ And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. ³² Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.

Here in Genesis 32 we see a life changing event in the life of Jacob.  Jacob, whose name means to supplant, to undermine, is known as the man who deceived both his brother and his Father.  Jacob stole the birthright from his brother Esau and lied to his father, Jacob concerning his identity so he could receive the blessing normally given to the first born. 

 The deceiver was reaping what he had sown.  After working 7 years for Laban, he was given the oldest daughter Leah, instead of the promised daughter, Rachel. It is certain that our sins find us out and what goes around comes around.  It did for Jacob.  Here in Genesis 32 Jacob must soon face his brother Esau.  His lifestyle is catching up to him.  He needs a change in his heart and in his character.  Jacob understood there is a God who can instantly transform any heart.  He can change any life.  

 Jacob wrestled the entire night with the Son of God.  He refused to let go of Jesus until Jesus blessed him. Jacob’s persistence paid off.  Jesus blessed him and changed him forever.  The change was so dramatic that Jesus changed Jacob’s name to Israel.  The name Israel means who prevails with God.  The word prevail means to overcome, to gain the victory.  What happened that night?  That night Jacob wrestled with Jesus until he gained the victory in his life over his deceptiveness and deceitfulness. Jesus Christ has the power and ability to transform a person’s life overnight. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) ¹⁷ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

When I was a young preacher, I attended the funeral of the mother of one of the older men in our church.  She was a Pentecostal and lived much of her adult life in poverty.  At the funeral, the preacher asked if anyone would like to give a testimony and, to my surprise, for over an hour one person after another rose to speak of how this women blessed them and showed them the love of Jesus Christ. I wanted to know more about this amazing woman who obviously was filled with the Spirit of God.  I visited her son and he told me about her life, and specifically about a life changing event.  She and her husband had attended a revival meeting at a small holiness church in Rock Hall, Maryland.  The preacher had preached on living the victorious Christian life and both her and her husband came under conviction.  They returned home that night realizing they were saved, but not living in victory.  Both were chain smokers, and had tried to quit many times only to have failed many times.  That night at 10:30pm they called their preacher and asked him if he would help them quit smoking.  He answered; meet me at the church in half an hour.   

They met the preacher at the church and he told them; we are going to pray and wrestle with God until God removes all desire in your heart for smoking.  They did and He did.  At 4:00am they both rose from their knees knowing God had touched them.  The desire they once had for cigarettes was removed and they never touched a smoke for the rest of their lives! 

What God did for them, God can do for you.  He has the ability and the power to change and transform lives. 

1 Corinthians 15:57 (KJV) ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:37 (KJV) ³⁷ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

John 16:33 (KJV) ³³ These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Are you struggling in your Christian life?  Are you cold, apathetic?  Do you have an addiction or sin that controls your life?  Do you lack the presence of God in your life? 

Jesus can change your life.  Will you wrestle with Him until you have the victory? 

Write it down, take it with you, meditate on it throughout the day.