FROM SETBACK TO COMEBACK.

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*FROM SETBACK TO COMEBACK.*

*Scripture Treasure.*

Gen 32:24-32

*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.*

*And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.*

*Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

After a sunset comes a sunrise.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

As Jacob passed over Penuel, the sun rose upon him and *"....he halted upon his thigh."* meaning: he was left limping from a hip injury but also carries a new identity as Israel (a prince with God), that symbolized his spiritual victory and dependence on God.

Also significant to Jacob was that as he

*"......passed over Penuel, the sun rose upon him....."* Gen 33:31.

Though it was dawn and the breaking of the day and the sun rising upon him

marked the transition from night to day, this natural change of atmosperic variation signified a spiritual meaning to Jacob's new identity.

The sunrise on Jacob symbolized a new beginnings, hope, renewal, and divine presence.

It marked a fresh start after the triumph of light over darkness (his transition from Jacob to Israel), offering him a spiritual awakening.

In Gen 28:1-11, the sun was set on Jacob.

When *".....Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.*

There *"....he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set;......."*

The sunset, though a time of the promise and hope for a new dawn and day, often means a closure, an ending, often a time of deep fading away of light, darkness, difficult moments, a closing chapter etc.

This was when he was fleeing from Esau.

He stopped for the night using a stone as a pillow, and had a dream of the ladder to heaven.

At this place God appeared to him in the dream. In the dream, he saw a stairway from earth to heaven with angels ascending and descending, and God standing above it.

God gave him His presence, the land and numerous uncountable descendants.

It was in his time of darkness (just as darkness was falling on the day) but God was preparing him for the spiritual journey ahead leading him to rename the spot Bethel (House of God). 

In his sunset, God prepared him for his sunrise.

While his sunset was a moment of physical exhaustion, weariness and darkness, it was a signal of a turning point that prepared him for a divine encounter that would establish the foundation of the connection between him and God whom he saw on top of the ladder in the dream he had.

It is so significant to see how God connects nature, the natural world and the cosmos to our spiritual significance and wellbeing. While observing sunset as a closure and moment that prepares for an end to a day, sunrise brings a ray of new hope, new day and a new begining.

The sunset on Jacob prepared him for his sunrise.

His sunset, a moment of physical weariness and darkness signaled his turning point, his sunrise marked the turning point with a divine encounter that brought his ultimate transformation.

His story was from sunset to sunrise.

Your time of sunset must not wear you out to miss your sunrise!

See your time of sunset as a time to set up for a sunrise.

See your time of despair as a time of repair.

Always let go of your setbacks. Embrace the future with the hope of a comeback.

*Remorse corner.*

In your time of sunset, prepare to repair. Prepare to transition to sunrise.

*Call to Word action.*

Remember after a sunset comes a sunrise.

Your sunset (setback) will end. Your sunrise (comeback) will begin.

Psalm 30:5 *"......weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."*

*The Christian clarion duty.*

Do not allow any setback to set you back.

In your time of sunset, contemplate, be in a right spiritual mind with God and a mind prepared for His revealed will. Do not condemn yourself.

*Prayer.*

Lord, do not allow me to suffer any setback. Help me, in any situation l find myself,

to be transformed by the renewing of my mind, that l may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Let me comeback from any setback, in Jesus name.

Good morning all and be blessed as you go today.

God bless you.

Shalom.