Gen 32:26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
Jacob is at the brink of a potentially volatile reunion with Esau. He’s clearly uncertain as to the disposition of his once scorned brother. Esau had cried and begged to be included in the blessing of the inheritance two decades prior. He said to his father Isaac, “Isn’t there one more blessing left?” It all went to Jacob.
The meeting between them is about to commence. It’s a fragile moment for which Jacob has no confidence. So on the night before, he seeks the Lord, wrestling with the Angel of the Lord. This could have been a theophany; some physical, temporal manifestation of God. The night was difficult as Jacob sought for an answer. The scripture offers us a small insight in the breaking of dawn and the final moments of petition.
Of the many things preached, taught, and written concerning this passage, the final words echo in the corridors of time: “I will not let thee go except thou bless me.” The request was open-ended. He did not ask for a specific blessing. It was God’s choice. The night of struggle revealed Jacob’s resolve, but it also pointed to the many who have let go.
The decision of letting go is in our hands. We cannot bless ourselves or change our situation. We are mostly inept as to what kind of blessing we need. There are issues on a daily basis. Past mistakes or poor paths always come with a reckoning. There is a cost for everything; a harvest for every seed planted. We all need help from the Lord. These are the times when we are given an opportunity to grasp God and not let Him go. Incredibly enough, He made it so that we can constrain Him. The grip of humanity in desperate prayer is sufficient to compel the very God of Heaven. He has allowed such.
This is not about talent, money, position, or power. The answer – the blessing given – has nothing to do with our faithfulness or merit. His blessing is given because First, He is Good and Secondly because we held on. There is no intellect in this equation. No inherent goodness on our part. We have nothing in our hands to exchange for His blessing. The only thing in our hands is Him. The word is found in Luke 11:8, Importunity! I did not earn it. I just did not stop asking, seeking, and knocking. I just would not let go of Him.
Pastor Jeffrey Harpole