I WILL NOT LET YOU GO UNLESS YOU BLESS ME

Post date: Aug 29, 2014 4:00:19 AM

Jacob was not a man of extraordinary strength, but he was a man of extraordinary faith in all things; he was a man of great determination to succeed in life through obedience; first to his parents and thereafter with his God. A combination of faith, determination and obedience will definitely make a hug difference in the life of every believer irrespective of location, church affiliation and the situation you may find yourself despite your gender, language, position, qualification and profession. God will never ignore a Christian who is faithful and with a determination to walk in obedience not minding the inconvenience he or she might have to endure in doing so.

That was the character that Jacob inherited from his father Isaac as he was growing up to become a man. On occasion of his walking in obedience to the instructions of God, he was asked by God to return to his father’s home where he ran away from initially. Jacob decided not to take that instruction lightly though he knew what he was going to face by doing that; moved with great determination to please God rather than self and a desire to walk in obedience towards God, he gathered all his family members and possessions and began the journey back.

It is good that Christians know that each time they decide to walk in obedience to the instructions of God, the devil will be there to challenge their decisions with doubts and fears; he will be there to try everything possible to discourage them, frustrate them, and remind them of all impossibilities that they had never thought of before. He will remind them of their past sins, their past and present weaknesses, the strength and excellent preparation of their enemy to confront and defeat them, and will be there to accuse them; but despite whatever he will do, God will also be there to encourage them and to give them the victory they deserve in obeying Him.

When Jacob began his journey back as instructed by God; while still on his way home with all his family members and possessions, the devil came reminding him of all his weaknesses in life; Jacob sudden discovered his needs to successfully confront Esau his brother, he remembered him of his brother’s anger against him that was not abetted. Jacob remembered his brother’s high temper and desire to kill him. He remembered he cannot persuade his brother out of his determination, and he remembered his brother was angry because he took his birthright.

Based on what the devil had reminded him concerning his past and the strength of his brother, Jacob contemplated aborting the mission, but at night, he had an encounter with the angel of God that embolden his determination to go forward; that encounter ended with Jacob’s declaration, not to retreat and a demand “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” That was the prayer of a man who initially feared his brother. Resolved, I long to go with a blessing from God, I will have the victory. He was not asking for a physical blessing but for the presence of the Almighty God with him physically and mentally as he was preparing to meet his brother. Jacob knew that when God is with you, your victory is certain irrespective of the strength of your enemy. Please make that same request now.

“This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, let me go, for the dawn is breaking. But Jacob said, I will not let you go unless you bless me. What is your name? The man asked. He replied, Jacob. Your name will no longer be Jacob, the man told him. From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won. Please tell me your name, Jacob said. Why do you want to know my name? The man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.” Genesis 32:24-29. For prayers, Click here