Back in the late 1980’s they were called the Bad Boys of the NBA. They were the most hated team in the league, and no player, not even the great Michael Jordan, looked forward to playing against the Detroit Pistons. Their reputation was fed in large part by their three most physical henchmen: Rick Mahorn, Dennis Rodman, and Bill Laimbeer. They were just as much hockey players as they were basketball players. They pushed, shoved, tripped, elbowed, and punched their way to infamy. The refs knew there was always going to be a fight. Always.
But if you were one of their teammates, you loved those guys. You knew they had your back, you knew they would give 110 percent, and you knew there was nothing they wouldn’t do to win.
Sometimes I think God wants to see just how much fight we have in us, too.
“That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.”
– Gen. 32: 22-29
Jacob’s life had been largely influenced by his deception and scheming. Perhaps this battle with the angel that evening was spiritually symbolic in that he was struggling with his past and his character, and he was desperately seeking God’s forgiveness and reconciliation. But I also believe that God was testing Jacob’s faith and determination. Whatever the case, this battle ended up transforming Jacob’s life.
Some of us may find ourselves in a similar battle today. Perhaps we’re struggling with something from our past, or something going on currently, or something spiritual in nature that has us wrestling with God. Our faith and trust in Christ seldom grow without some discomfort and pain along the way. And sometimes it requires us to get in the ring and spar with God and work out our faith. But whatever the challenge is, don’t give up.
The best thing about wrestling with God is it requires us to get close to Him.
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” – Romans 15:4
Former Blackout Artist 