"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."
Genesis 32:24, 25
Jacob's night of wrestling, as recorded in Genesis 32, was a turning point in his life. If we read the context we see that he is literally at "wit's-end corner." Up until that time, by scheming and conniving he had craftily tried to direct his own future, but now he has finally come to the end of human devices. God is seeking by these adverse events to take full control in his life. The Man who wrestled with Jacob makes him realize what a poor, feeble creature he is by throwing his hip out of joint. Jacob surrenders, seeks a blessing, and God takes over.
J. H. McConkey once said to a physician friend of his, "Doctor, what is the exact significance of God's touching Jacob upon the sinew of his thigh?" The doctor replied, "The sinew of the the thigh is the strongest in the human body. A horse could scarcely tear it apart." Ah, I see," said McConkey. "God has to break us down at the strongest part of our self-life before He can have His own way of blessing with us."
God is not looking for brilliant men; He is not dependent upon eloquent men; He is not even shut up to the use of talented men in sending His Gospel out to the world. As the late Dr. Ironside has remarked, "God is looking for broken men, for men who have judged themselves in the light of the cross of Christ. When He wants anything done, He takes up men who have come to an end of themselves and whose trust and confidence is not in themselves but in God." If you will let God touch the strongest part of your "self-life" - the thing that is holding back His full blessing - you too will become a "prince" and a power with God.
"Bread For Each Day"
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