“Lord Bless Me…!”

“Lord Bless Me…!”
God’s blessings do not come the easy way as some of us are misled to believe. Labour and sweat before gain and sweet was the charge to fallen man in Eden.
The life of Jacob is an example of struggle and conquest. While still in their mother’s womb he struggled with Esau his twin brother. He later cheated his brother of his birthright, stole his brother’s paternal blessing and ran away for fear of his life.
While at his uncle’s home he had to labour for fourteen years before he could get the woman he loved.
For all the years he spent in exile, he had nostalgia for home, even though he still feared the anger of Esau. He strategized on how to get home secured, in case his brother was still planning revenge.
One thing is that all through his struggles he had been earmarked by God. His last encounter was with God himself in the guise of a man. They wrestled all through the night and none was able to overpower the other. Until the man had to dislocate Jacob’s hip, then asked Jacob to let him go.
Jacob refused to let him go, unless the man blessed him.
“The man said, ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome'”(Gen.32:22-32).
What I learn from this story is that God takes the form of an ordinary humanbeing to have an encounter with us to our advantage. He was later on to do this in grand style through the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ could have overpowered his adversaries, but he allowed them to rejoice in their seeming victory, just so that we should be blessed by God the Father.
My friend, God appears to you in a humble way during your times of struggles in life. He gives you opportunity to open your eyes of faith to see him in his disguise and ask for his blessings.
Be careful how you treat a stranger; even the one who wrestles with you. S/he may be the one to bless you and change your name to change your story!
Weekend prayer: Lord bless me and change my name to change my story. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!