Wrestling with God

I was a wrestler for 4 years in HS, and it may surprise you to know that I was not very good at it! (I learned the moves, but wasn’t good at putting them together when it was needed in a match). One of my weaknesses was that I didn’t have a very strong grip. My opponent seemed to always get away from me (and then take me to the mat.)

There are several skills that would have been helpful in this sport: speed, strength, flexibility, or endurance (I didn’t excel at any of these either). But this trait always impressed me, the athletes that had a strong grip. They just managed to hang on longer than most others. They just didn’t let go. Having a strong grip is important in several other sports as well, but in wrestling it is invaluable. I guess that is why I am so impressed with Jacob…

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,[a] because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Gen 32:24