Winning a New Name (Meditation 71)

We live in a dualistic culture where it seems everything is a competition and our only purpose is winning. Worse, when we do not win, whatever that actually means, we are losers. It is expected that we conquer everything, even conversation. The definition of “winning,” it seems to be not merely to do better than an opponent, but to leave the opponent with nothing. Losing, even to many believers, is a grave sin.

It seems we need to change our ideas of what winning and losing are, and maybe we need to rethink the notion of competition. Jacob wrestles all night with God and we are told he prevailed. Other translations state that he struggled “with God and men” and won. Has Jacob beaten God or annihilated people? No. No one has or will beat God. The wrestler has not even come out of the night unscathed, but the next day limps into town because of the wound to his hip.

Instead, let’s consider what Jacob has gained. He came out of his “battle” (not a good word, but the word many would assign) with a blessing and a new name. Jacob did not conquer God, but was changed by God. He was given a new identity, one that would become the identity of God’s people. Remember Israel means “strives with God” or “God contended.”

We are like Jacob. We fight with God, sometimes through nights that seem to never end. We do not usually realize we are contending or recognize our opponent, because His face is hidden from us.  We do not even realize that what we labor against is not an enemy. But to gain the blessing, we do not have to crush or destroy the contestant, but last until the day. And when we do, we will be changed.

Lord God, the conqueror of our souls, let us encounter You today knowing that we are never strongest than when we are weak with You, and never more equipped for the challenges of the day than when we have spent the night being wounded by You. In the Name of our strong deliverer, Jesus Christ. Amen.