Gen 32:24 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.
There is a constant wrestle that takes place in our own lives. Wrestling tends to take place when left alone especially in those quiet midnight hours. Many sleepless nights can be attributed to wrestling with pain, fears, ideas, thoughts, opinions. Jacob left alone encountered with God. God had spoken to him to move back home after years living with Laban his father inlaw. The reason Jacob was at Laban’s in the first place was to flee from his brother Esau’s vow to kill him. Jacob had cheated him of his inheritance. He had been at peace at Laban’s so far, married with children, and possessions. God was going to raise him to new heights, He therefore brought him to confront his past. That alone was terrifying to Jacob hence the wrestling with God.
Times of fear should drive us on our knees to pray to our God. How often do you wrestle with God? He says something according to His word and you ask how can it be? He tries to show you, but you bring the past haunting memories and what could have happened. All night you wrestle yet you are not prevailing. Here is what encouraged me, vs. 25, “Now when He (God) saw that He did not prevail against him (Jacob), He touched the socket of his hips”. Sounds like the Almighty God failed to pin Jacob. To quote Matthew Henry “The divine adversary was also the electing saving Lord who strengthened Jacob with grace to wrestle on against Himself lest he be overcome and condemned. However tried or discouraged, we shall prevail; and prevailing with Him in prayer, we shall prevail against all enemies that strive with us”. We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.