Jacob had sent his family on across the river Jabbok. Now he's alone in the night with the river; this smooth talking, manipulating, deceiving Jacob. Here he stands in the dark by the river Jabbok; the river that runs in the darkness between the life he has lived up to this point and the new life that could lie on the other side in the land of Canaan ? the Promised Land. All he has to do is cross it.
But to cross over into a new life is not an easy thing to do. It is not a simple process because before one can cross, unknown dangers may have to be faced and terrifying battles fought. This is what Jacob discovered. To cross over into Canaan was not just a matter of crossing a stream, because in the darkness a strange and mysterious Presence arises. Ancient tales had it that rivers had spirits which had to be defeated before the river could be crossed. But when we read on in scripture we learn that the antagonist that appeared into the night to seize Jacob for a struggle that would last until daybreak, was not a river spirit, but the God of Righteousness forcing Jacob to his reckoning.
There comes a time in our lives when every soul must give a reckoning by the river Jabbok. This Old Testament story is dramatizing the consequence that comes to every soul that has tried too long to evade the truth about itself. The soul must wrestle with the mystery of existence and the reality of God to whom we must give an account. It is a time in our lives when we cannot manipulate anyone or deceive anyone or con our way out of the situation because no one's there but you and God.
Jacob is wrestling with the judgment of God flowing through his very core of being. Tomorrow he has a date with destiny; he sees Esau whom he so easily degraded into an object to be used for his own advancement. Jacob saw his world shadowed by his guilt. Old memories awakened; old fears rose up from the past. All his betrayals, deceptions, lies and manipulations converged in on him in fateful battle.
Here, by the river Jabbok Jacob had to find the God within. He had to face up to himself and admit deep down that he did not deserve anything. He had to give up the pride that thought he could work out his own peace of mind by his own wits. Jacob had to struggle with himself to break through himself to the divine. Who will win?
We too must fight many personal battles with our inner selves by the river Jabbok. We cannot cross over to the new life until we come to terms with ourselves and recognize ourselves for what we really are. Then we must make the decision as to which one of ourselves will win the battle by the river Jabbok. Who will win when we see in one corner dirty, broken, bleeding, unsuccessful people crying out to be loved and in the other corner clean and bright and upward rising stars? Who will win when we hear Jesus' voice calling us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him and Satan's voice offering us power and wealth and prestige? Who will win the struggle when a friend is in trouble or disgrace and to stand by him or her would mean that your own sweet reputation could also be tarnished? Who will win when power and status parade before our eyes and tempt us to betray ourselves and others in exchange for recognition, adulation or a high office? Who will win?
Who will win as we and Jacob wrestle with the God within our souls in the night beside the river Jabbok? Our true selves that were made in the image of God or the fragments of our selves that want to make idols of things like sex and power and money and recognition?
The Presence at Jabbok is stirring within us, calling us to wrestle with our depths until we find our true selves.
Scriptural Reference: Genesis 32:22-32(NIV).
Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, is expected to be available soon.
You are welcome to visit amen ministries: your soul's service station for spiritual refreshing, soul edification, browse our newly expanded mini shopping mall or review our recommended books you may want to add to your personal library.
Blessings to all!
Lincoln Stretch rentals Alsip ..Sundered Knight:Although the world, Denies the weak aid and justice,... Read More
Everybody knows that if you stick your hand in a... Read More
One day Gilligan ventures off as usual into the jungle.... Read More
The Emmaus Journal What is Wrong With Being Common? This... Read More
We want to hear from God so that we may... Read More
Life is just a journey. Princess DianaWhether we are... Read More
If you were Satan and your goal is to destroy... Read More
Echo was a flea-bitten gray horse, with brown speckles everywhere,... Read More
Lately I have become aware of a new truth that... Read More
We have all heard the phrase, "follow your nose". This... Read More
Before Donna was born she took with her a dollar,... Read More
Taco Bell, the Mexican fast-food franchise, has a new ad... Read More
The teacher of the future.... will be a master of... Read More
Whadda ya know?Seriously. With absolute certainty, what do you know?... Read More
Of the many individuals who were touched through the ministry... Read More
Everyone is busy nowadays. It's hard to find time for... Read More
What type of person grabs your attention and motivates you?... Read More
"It's a big challenge. It's a journey into the unknown.... Read More
So I met a friend recently and we went to... Read More
Most of us have heard talk or have read something... Read More
I had the intention of writing about Soul Mates but... Read More
Michael Shermer speaks with the energy and passion of an... Read More
Prayer. It's the foundation of a Christian mom's life. Why?... Read More
The spiritually dead church. Now, I am not talking about... Read More
You're probably sabotaging your successful Christian life right now if... Read More
Western Springs shuttle limo ..Many of you come to this site because you are... Read More
Irish myth has the power to transform your life into... Read More
Are you looking for a way to improve your accuracy... Read More
Make no mistake about it, change is challenging whether it... Read More
We've all heard the saying, "You have to forgive, but... Read More
I was recently asked how I interpreted the Mayan and... Read More
Someone asked me the other day what was the most... Read More
You're probably sabotaging your successful Christian life right now if... Read More
We have all heard the phrase, "follow your nose". This... Read More
There is no such thing as a coincidence. Albert Einstein... Read More
"Who being in the very nature God, did not consider... Read More
If anyone says that his/her religion is the only path... Read More
... Read More
When I was 10 years old my father decided to... Read More
Knowing what is right and what is wrong in your... Read More
Have you ever thought about how your orientation to time... Read More
As more and more alternative and spiritual healings are being... Read More
An analysis of Western man's guiding presuppositions, A Review of... Read More
MOST PEOPLE NEVER REALLY CHANGESad, but true.Some people never even... Read More
Some men see things as they are and say, "Why?"... Read More
Jesus said, "No one can see the Kingdom of Heaven... Read More
We've all heard the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as... Read More
Do you ever have one of those days when you... Read More
I love rivers. I have for many years lived away... Read More
I started reading the book "The Purpose Driven Life" about... Read More
Spirituality |