PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Genesis 32:22-31Jacob and ??? wrestle

Time to reflect: Jacob was probably being cowardly in sending the wives and children ahead. Whether this is a reporting of a historical event, a reporting of a Psychological struggle within Jacob or a parable, we need to recognize the changes that came upon Jacob because of this “encounter” with God. Even his name changes from Jacob (“grabber”) to Israel (“God rules”).

 

Moving through the day: Think of a new (secret) name for yourself that reflects your current relationship with God.

Scripture:

 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants 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 men and have overcome."

  Jacob said, "Please tell me your name."
      But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.

 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."

  The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.