Jacob wrestled with God all night long and when God insisted he let go, we notice a different side of the son “who dwelled in tents.” Jacob’s response was a resounding, “I WILL NOT let You go!” Yet, the Hebrew words behind the scene give us even greater insight into how violent this encounter truly was, and how tenaciously Jacob resisted. The adverb, “I will not” has a permanent and resolute quality as it modifies a verb, in this case, “let You go!” “I will not” demands absolute prohibition of “let you go.” Yes, Jacob is violent in his encounter: forceful, ferocious, intense, potent, and furious; and Jacob is tenacious in his engagement: locked-on, relentless, fixated, resolute, and steadfast!
What does this mean for us? Spiritual tenacity and violence require a well-developed sense of who God is, plus an unadulterated understanding of who you are to God. Yahweh is steadfast, never lies, and is, of course, infinitely capable of doing what He promised. We are the wild cards in the relationship. If we fail to recognize who we are to Him, it is easy to get swept away in a flood of anxieties, doubts, and Spiritual Amnesia. Yahweh will certainly do His part; will you do yours? Y’shua taught us, “The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”
If you want on the team, it’s going to take some violent and tenacious wrestling with God. To do so, you must invest as much time as it takes to know God intimately, and spend equal time learning who you are to Him! I promise, accomplish these and you will never stumble! “Therefore, brethren, [as a team member] be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.” II Peter 1:10 NKJV
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