Wrestling As Prayer

Genesis 32, Luke 18:1-8

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church from the book of Genesis and the Gospel of Luke :

Genesis 32:22-31

22 In the course of the night, Jacob arose, took the entire caravan, and crossed the ford of the Yabbok River. 23 After Jacob had crossed with all his possessions, he returned to the camp, 24 and he was completely alone. And there, someone† wrestled with Jacob until the first light of dawn. 25 Seeing that Jacob could not be overpowered, the other struck Jacob at the socket of the hip‡, and the hip was dislocated as they wrestled. 26 Then Jacob’s contender said, “Let me go, for day is breaking.” Jacob answered, “I will not let you go until you bless me.” 27 “What is your name?” the other asked. “Jacob,” he answered. 28 The other said, “Your name will no longer be called ‘Jacob,’ or ‘Heel-Grabber,’ but ‘Israel’—’God Wrestler"—because you have wrestled with both God and mortals, and you have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked “Now tell me your name, I beg you.” The other said, “Why do you ask me my name?”—and blessed Jacob there. 30 Jacob named the place Peniel—“Face of God”—“because I have seen God face to face, yet my life was spared.” 31 At sunrise, Jacob left Peniel, limping along from the injured hip. 32 That is why, to this day, the Israelites do not eat the sciatic muscle that is on an animal’s hip socket, because Jacob’s hip socket was struck at the sciatic muscle.

Luke 18:1-8

1 Jesus told the disciples a parable on the necessity of praying always and not losing heart: 2 “Once there was a judge in a certain city who feared no one—not even God. 3 A woman in that city who had been widowed kept coming to the judge and saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ 4 For a time the judge refused, but finally the judge thought, ‘I care little for God or people, 5 but this woman won’t leave me alone. I’d better give her the protection she seeks, or she’ll keep coming and wear me out!’” 6 Jesus said, “Listen to what this corrupt judge is saying. 7 Won’t God then do justice to the chosen who call out day and night? Will God delay long over them? 8 I tell you, God will give them swift justice. “But when the Promised One comes, will faith be found anywhere on earth?”

This is the word of the Lord.         Thanks be to God