Wrestling 101

 

When you think of God revealing His will, what instances come to mind? Do you think of Jesus sweating drops of blood as He pleaded with God? Do you think of that time when you fasted and earnestly prayed? Maybe when Mary was going about her own business and the Lord gave her a purpose to her life for which she would have never dared to seek? Do you remember the time when God so clearly shut the door to something you so desperately wanted to do?

 

Knowing and seeking God--it's both incredibly passive and absolutely active. It is something done to us and something we must do.

 

Take Jacob, for instance. The guy innocently sets up camp and prepares his rocky bed, only to have his slumber interrupted by the most extraordinary vision of his life {Genesis 28:10-22}. What did he do to learn God's heart in such an extraordinary way? As far as I can tell, absolutely nothing.

 

God does not need us to ask in order to reveal Himself--but He does want us to ask.

 

"Sow for yourselves righteousness;

Reap in mercy;

Break up your fallow ground,

For [it is] time to seek the LORD,

Till He comes and rains righteousness on you." 

Hosea 10:12 

 

This word for seek does not mean "whisper a prayer in the morning, whisper a prayer at noon...." Instead, it comes from a word which literally means to trample with the feet or thresh [1]. A person who is seeking the Lord will earnestly inquire, constantly investigate, and seriously care. He will strive to harvest every bit of fruitful wisdom he can from God--and find that the fruit overflows and the harvest never ends.

 

God may come to you at the most unexpected times, but if you haven't heard from Him lately, perhaps you haven't sought Him. Perhaps you have grown numb to the gnawing of your famished stomach; perhaps you just need to sign up for some wrestling classes.

 

Good old Jacob. Two more times, Scripture records that he hears from God--and both times, he sought God like a man possessed.

 

"He took his brother by the heel in the womb, And in his strength he struggled with God. Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; He wept, and sought favor from Him. He found Him [in] Bethel, And there He spoke to us-- That is, the LORD God of hosts. The LORD [is] His memorable name. So you, by [the help of] your God, return; Observe mercy and justice, And wait on your God continually."  Hosea 12:3-6

 

Have you wrestled with God and prevailed? Have you plumbed His endless depths and struck bottom? Have you studied His heart until you know its landscape by heart? Have you experienced Bethel and then gone back and asked for a second Bethel {Genesis 35:1-15}? We have not because we ask not. Seek His face with desperation, boldness, perseverance, and humility, and you will find Him.
 

Photo Credit: Tim and Selena Middleton
 

Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for darash (Strong's 1875)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2013. 11 Mar 2013. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm? strongs=H1875 >
 

New King James Version, © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.