(Not Professional) Wrestling with God

After his mother had helped him impersonate his brother Esau, Jacob had received a great blessing from his father Isaac.  Anticipating the fury of Esau, Jacob followed the instructions of his parents to flee to the land of Padan-aram.  In his flight, he stopped at a place where he had a vision from the Lord.  He promised that if the Lord would help him to eventually return to his father's house in peace, that he would serve the Lord faithfully. (Genesis 28:20-21)

The Lord did indeed prosper Jacob, and when he departed from the house of his Father-in-law Laban, he was a wealthy man with servants, flocks, herds, and a large family.  Notwithstanding the blessings that he had received, he was afraid that Esau would kill him and his family.  He had prepared numerous gifts, and also divided his procession so that some of his family would be spared if the worst should happen.

After making his initial preparations, a very unusual event is described:

"And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." (Genesis 32:24-30)

Initially, the account states that he wrestled with a man.  At the end of the passage, he says that he has seen God face to face.  One of the most fundamental aspects of this wrestling match is that it somehow involved communion with God.

Additionally, Jacob said that he would not let the man go unless he received a blessing by him.  Obviously, Jacob would not have done this with just a stranger.  He knew that this individual had power to help him.  But if he recognized the man as an agent of God, then why attempt to wrestle?  Why make demands?  Should he not have bowed himself down and obeyed?  Was not this the righteousness with which Abraham was credited when he would not withhold Isaac from sacrifice?  Why the wrestling match?

The words of Jesus provide clarity on the subject in the form of this parable:

"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me." (Luke 18:1-5)

The idea of the parable of the unjust judge is that God hears the persistent cries of his children.  This is something to which many people can relate.  A child might go through a phase where they desire something, but by the next week, the thing is forgotten and they have moved onto other things.  Even for adults trying to make better financial decisions, it is common to hear counsel to wait on purchasing decisions to avoid impulse buying.

Ultimately, what seems to be a confusing story in the old testament with wrestling matches is actually guidance for understanding the question "why isn't God answering my prayer?"

Certainly specific requests demonstrate a level of thought about a given request or issue, but remembering it every day, or multiple times each day, represents a completely new level of sincerity.  Given enough time, if it is still important, and if an asker still believes that God can answer their prayer, a person can demonstrate they are not wanting God to fulfill their whims.  They are seeking something more earnestly.

Although theses are not the only requirements that accompany receiving answers to prayer, it is clear that it made a difference for Jacob.  When he finally met his brother Esau, they embraced one another and wept.  The promises of God had been fulfilled, and there was peace between Jacob and Esau.

Sincerity, diligence, and faith go a long way to helping prayers ascend to God.

Divine Intervention

I have known several people who lose their faith in God because of the lack of divine intervention when catastrophes strike.  It does not seem unfair, if God is all-knowing and all powerful, to ask why he does not intervene when a terrorist activates a bomb, opens fire on a public building, or guns down innocent people at a school.  If murder is such a serious sin, why not prevent it?  If human life, especially that of innocent children, is so precious, why not protect it from malevolent force?

Events of violence that seem to be increasing in frequency certainly seem to contradict the message of Christians who claim that God loves us and seeks our happiness.  It is little comfort to the families of victims to hear that God loves them when it seems that he does not love them enough to spare them pain.

The confusion can be compounded when a person opens the scriptures and discovers numerous times in which God did intervene.  Though people go hungry today in many parts of the world, he sent manna to the children of Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 16:35).  Though people are driven from their homes today, God send an angel to smite the invading Assyrians in the days of Hezekiah (Isaiah 37).  Though people are filmed being burned alive by brutal regimes such as ISIS, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were spared the afflictions of Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace (Daniel 3).

Why does God intervene in some cases and not in others?  An examination of the first real crime is in order.

Adam and Eve had taught their children about offering sacrifices to the Lord.  Abel did as the Lord directed and offered the firstlings of his flock, but Cain offered the fruit of the ground, which was not what the Lord had asked.  Cain was furious that God had not respected his offering.  The Lord spoke to Cain using this language:

"Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him." (Genesis 4:6-7)

God knew exactly what would happen next.  He recognized how Cain was being manipulated by Satan, and warned Cain against following the Lord of sin.  He did not however warn Abel.  Cain indulged in his wrath and murdered his brother.

Why did God not protect Abel?  Why not stop Cain before he could commit this horrific crime?

Obviously, God was never a fan of murder, otherwise he would not have decreed the death penalty for those who committed this crime ("Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man." Genesis 9:6).  This means that more than preventing murder, he wanted something else.  This is not limited to the case of Cain and Abel... more than preventing harm, he wants something else.  

People become frustrated that God does not answer prayers asking to spare them pain and loss, but God is not playing favorites...  Ultimately, this something else was more important than the torture and murder of his own son.  Jesus Christ also prayed that the cup might pass from him: "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done... And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:42-44)  God allowed his son to be betrayed, tortured, and murdered... and all this even though Jesus was innocent of any crime.

The suffering and death of Christ does not necessarily explain why God has at some times offered intervention.  Why free the Hebrew children from Egypt?  Why cleanse Naaman the Syrian of leprosy?  Why feed 5,000... but only on rare occasions?

Perhaps God intervenes more than people realize.  The servant of Elisha was surprised when he beheld the mountains filled with chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:17), and even greedy Balaam found deliverance when his animal warned him of an angel in the way (Numbers 22:27-31).

Additionally, Jesus Christ is now alive and well... and in the end, all the righteous who have trusted in the Lord (including Abel) will rise again and live beyond the power of pain and loss or crime and abuse.  From the beginning, life on earth was always meant to be provisional.  We are born, we live, we die, but this was never the end or purpose.  Injustice can, in its worst manifestations, be only temporary.  Ultimately, there is something else that drives purpose here.

When confronted with tragic circumstances, it is easy to ask why God did not intervene, but it is very difficult to focus on the something else that God hopes to achieve.  

What is that something else?  It is the thing that governs Divine Intervention.  It is the cause for which the world was forged.  It is the purpose humans learn by experience to love goodness, kindness, selflessness, justice, and honor.

That something else is the hope that you can become something more than you are:

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (Revelation 3:21)

In other words, those who have faith and persist in following Christ will have access to Divine Intervention... Jesus is, in fact, trying to save us all.