On what subject(s) are you an authority?
If I’m being honest, I don’t like this question. There is always something new to learn in this world. If you know me by now, you know where I’m about to go with this post. So, if you want, go ahead and dust the bunnies off of that Bible that’s been sitting on your dresser collecting dust.
Today, it’s time to put a crease in it. This word can’t wait until tomorrow. I want to tell you about a man who thought he knew it all. I mean this man was so sure that he wrestled with an angel. In my translation, it says he wrestles with God.
This particular scene happens in the first chapter. So, today we won’t crease the Bible too much. Hopefully, it doesn’t take you too long to find it either. Just kidding, I know ya’ll are in your Bibles everyday.
Back to the story. The man we’re going to speak about today is Jacob. Jacob was the son of Isaac and also the younger twin brother of Esau. Just backstory on before they were born, God had told their mother, Rebekah, that she would have twins. He also told her that they are two nations and that the older son would serve the younger one. However, this didn’t happen like we would think.
Jacob deceived his father Isaac and basically stole Esau’s birthright from him. Then he decided to run away from his brother’s anger and went to Haran in Mesopotamia to take refuge with the tribe of his ancestors.
On his journey there, God gave him a revelation. God promised Jacob lands and numerous of offspring that would be a blessing to the entire earth. Mind you, all Jacob had as of this moment is a walking stick and hope. But pay attention to what Jacob does because it’s important. If you’re reading this and you received a word from God of something He will bring to pass, keep reading.
When Jacob arrived, he saw Rachel and it was love at first sight. She was just minding her father’s sheep, and her husband saw her. For the ladies in the back, we don’t look for Jacob, Jacob will find you! So, Jacob told Rachel’s father Laban that he will work for him for seven years, if he let him marry Rachel. So, he did. The Bible says in Genesis chapter 29 verse 20 that Jacob was so in love with Rachel that the seven years felt like a few days. Talk about patience.
But Laban tricked Jacob into marrying his older daughter Leah. Jacob was so upset ya’ll. Side note, The Bible basically said Leah was ugly, no shade.
Leah’s eyes were weak,[a] but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. Genesis 29:17
I’m just reading the Bible ya’ll. I thought I was watching the Real Housewives of Haran how Rachel and Leah was bickering and competing for Jacob’s love. It’s teaaa! Needless to say, Jacob decided to work seven more years for his bride, Rachel. Now, Jacob was a man at the end of the day, and this goes to show since the beginning a man need to like what he sees. So to my ladies that are looking, please don’t walk out the house looking a mess! Keep yourself up sis!
However, Jacob was showing favoritism to Rachel and God saw this. One thing about God, He is not a man, so He will be fair. He blessed Leah to be able to have children, and Rachel could not. Not only did Leah have children, but Leah had sons. This made Rachel jealous of Leah. She was so jealous that she questioned Jacob. Jacob said “Am I God,” he told Rachel that God is blessing Leah not him.
So this went on and the girls bickered and fought amongst eachother. Eventually Rachel had her own children after making Jacob marry her servant to have children for her. But the end result of all of that was God’s promise to Jacob.
He had many children, and mind you, he was still working for Laban, Rachel and Leah’s father. God had spoke to Jacob and told him that it was time for him to go back home to were his Father Isaac and brother Esau was. God promised that He would be with Jacob.
When Jacob told Laban that it was time for him to provide for his own family and he could no longer work for him Laban was upset. But, Jacob told him that he would only take the speckled and spotted sheep and the black lambs. So, Laban decided to have his sons take all the speckled, spotted sheep, and black lambs away on a trip. He basically didn’t want to give Jacob anything after all his work he had done. But God made all of the offsprings of the sheep come out speckled, spotted, and black. Every single one of them!
Laban was upset with Jacob because Jacob became wealthy even when he was trying to cheat him. He kept changing the wages and every time he changed them, God made it work in Jacob’s favor. So Jacob took his family and snuck out to go back home.
When Laban found out that Jacob was fleeing, he planned to catch up with him. But God warned Laban in a dream not to mess with Jacob. So, he caught up with them and long story short they promised not to go after one another. After this Jacob went on to meet Esau. Jacob sent messengers to tell him that he was coming.
At this point, Jacob was afraid. He thought his brother was still angry with him. So, he decided to send him a bunch of gifts ahead of him to appease him.
This is were Jacob thought he knew it all. This is were God had a problem. So Jacob wrestled with and angel and he almost won, but the angel touched his hip and broke it. Day break was coming and the angel told Jacob to let him go. Yet, Jacob told the angel I’m not letting you go until you bless me. The angel asked Jacob his name and Jacob told him. Then the angel said your name is now Israel. The angel said that Jacob/Israel has fought with God and with man and prevailed, so the angel blessed him.
I thought to myself, what was the point of him wrestling with an angel? But after some research and some thinking on all the other stories in the Bible. I realized that God didn’t intend for Jacob to be self sufficient. He wanted Jacob to trust His word and to obey. Jacob was used to doing the work and God would bless the situation. But in this case, God wanted Jacob to simply obey. So Jacob had to limp for the rest of his life because where we are weak, God is strong. His power works best in our weakness.
There’s a lot we can get out of this story, but today I wanted to emphasize this point. We don’t have to know it all. I understand that I am not the best writer and I don’t know the Bible like the back of my hand. But God told me to continue writing and spreading His Word. I am being obedient regardless of what I think.
So, whatever it is that God is telling you to do, be obedient. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have the requirements. If God called you to it, He will walk you through it. So, trust and obey.
Happy Independence Day and Happy Thursday!!
I love you all!!
Bible Brat 
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