....UNTIL YOU PRAY....

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*.....UNTIL YOU PRAY.....*

*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.*

You are one step away to an everlasting victory, if you sincerely pray persistently.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

Jacob's struggle with the Man symbolizes his spiritual transformation, leading to a reliance on God rather than self-reliance.

Until he wrestled with the Man, he remained Jacob, who he was and when he wrestled with the Man he became Israel whom God wanted him to be.

Until you pray, you will remain stagnant thinking you are flowing, active or moving.

Most likely Jacob limped all the days of his life after the Man touched the hollow of his joint. His legs must have suffered length inequality or discrepancy or a walking/gait abnormality.

He walked at the mercy of God. He would no longer rely on his own way of doing things, his crooked ways, his heel-grabbing, cunny ways as Jacob but will henceforth lived a life as Israel: a prince who has power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

He fell as Jacob but rose as Israel.

He fell as one man but rose as a nation.

God had rewarded his "unblushing boldness," and ultimately responded to his earnest, continual asking. He blessed him there and renamed him. While his hip was dislocated, he held on to the blessing and forever and as long as he lived, come what may, he would have victory over humanity regardless of his shortcomings!

No human will have victory over him and whichever way the enemies may try the table will eventually turn against them.

God will remember to fight for Israel. Passage of time will not take away vengeance over his enrmies, ref 1 Sam 15:2.

God will ultimately fight for him. As for Israel, his enemies would wish their ends be like his and it will ultimately be victory at last for him!

Balaam who was hired to curse Israel said to Balak *How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?*

He said Israel can not *"..... be reckoned among the nations."*

*Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!*, Numb 23:8-10.

Balaam said to Balaak that Balak had not seen anything yet about Israel. Their largeness (which was a threat to Balak Numb 22:1-6) is just a little to what God would do for them.

He said in Num 23:23 *Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!*

No curse can touch Jacob; no magic has any power against Israel. For now it will be said of Jacob, ‘What wonders God has done for Israel!’

Balaam was telling Balak to give up on Israel. He was telling him he will only be undoing himself. He (Balak) will have himself to blame if he continued pursuing or waylaying Israel.

Moses said of Israel the *".....eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.*

*Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.*

*Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.* Deut 33:27-29

By one man's prayer, God brought an unstoppable reign of supernatural blessing upon him and his descendants eternally.

From him continued a genealogy unto eternity. Jesus was referred to as the King of Israel, John 1:49 and the King of the Jews, Matt 2:2.

He was Jacob when he went to God. He became Israel when he came out.

You may remain down until you have prayed

You may remain who you are but not who God wants you to be until you have prayed.

*Remorse corner.*

You are one step away to an everlasting victory, if you persistently pray sincerely.

*Call to Word action.*

You can not waste your time praying!

Jacob had nothing in his hands. By the time he finished praying, he had the world and etrnity in his hands

*The Christian clarion duty.*

Some people have to fall to rise. Jacob fell for Israel to rise. You have fallen if you fail to strive to rise. He strove with God and rose with God. Falling may be a motivation to rise.

*Prayer.*

Lord, help me to pray when l am down. Lift me up as You lifted Jacob, in Jesus name.

Good morning all and have a blessed day.

God bless you.

Shalom.