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How many of you know what it means to enter or reenter the ring of life are forced to face your worst nightmare? I think this the story of Jacob and Esau one very restless night when the two enemy brothers were destined to face off with each other.
The story starts with Jacob and Esau, wrestling with each other in their mother Rebekah’s womb (Gen 25:19-26).
Jacob lives his life as his name indicates, by being a Deceiver…or a Con Artist. His brother lives the life of a carefree bully, angered and seeking revenge from his brother when he was tricked out of his inheritance.
Wily Jacob flees his brother’s wrath by journeying to his uncle’s house. Here he falls in love with one sister but ends of marrying two…siring twelve sons…and prospering in every way possible.
However, he feels he is being cheated by his uncle, so he flees with his family with the hopes of returning to Canaan, his home area…But directly in his path lays his brother and his brother’s entourage…twenty years later.
The night before the meeting, Jacob spends a whole night in prayer…in a wrestling match with an angel of God. (Gen 32:22-24)
The night turned out to be pivotal for Jacob…He refuses to let go until he is blessed. He is given a new name (Israel) and the confidence that he has seen God.
But he also has his hip displaced resulting in a life-long limp…a reminder of this most unusual evening when he refused to back down…a Hard Fought Hallelujah (Gen 32:25-31).
Many years later, Jesus also spends an evening in prayer (Lk 22:39-44) resulting in another hard fought hallelujah…the cross (Lk 22:45-46; Jn 19:28-30).
What are your hard fought hallelujahs? In what ways does God ask you not to back down?