Facing the gradual resumption of work and return to normal life, how should Christians regain power from God so they can “soar like an eagle?” What are the new feelings and preparation for life and faith in the future? These questions remind me of a particularly intriguing story in Genesis 32: "Jacob wrestles with a messenger of God." It is particularly interesting to think about how a man could wrestle with God. The Bible records that only Jacob himself and God's messenger experienced this “wrestling.”
Good and evil were combined within the person of Jacob. In fact, Jacob's human nature had a particularly remarkable characteristic which is also suggested by his name, meaning “to grab.” In life he tried to grab the birthright of the eldest son; in material things he tried to grab enjoyment; and in his beliefs he tried to grab God’s power and blessings. Genesis Chapter 32 was a turning point in Jacob's spiritual journey. This laid a solid foundation for his future spiritual progress and abundance. We also can receive light from this understanding.
Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward. Readers who are familiar with the Old Testament know that Jacob stole the name of his older brother, Esau. He designed a scheme to cheat his father and receive the blessing intended for Esau. Later he had to flee to live with his uncle Laban because he heard Esau would kill him. Soon 20 years passed by, Jacob had two wives and two concubines with 11 sons as well as herds of cattle, sheep, camels and other livestock. He labored hard in his uncle's family. That made Jacob homesick all the more. Finally, one day he took his wife and children and returned home.
But Jacob worried that his brother Esau might take revenge on him because of what he had done in the past. He was even more worried that Esau might think he was returning to divide up the family’s inheritance and wealth and harm him. So Jacob sent servants in advance to Edom to greet Esau. He was afraid and upset when he learned that Esau responded by coming towards him with 400 troops! Jacob said to himself—this is probably the end. So he divided all the people and the livestock into two groups thinking—if Esau kills the first group, the other group can escape. He made gifts from his possessions and instructed the servants to present them to Esau, indicating that he was not coming back to claim the family business and at the same time that he wished to make things right with his brother.
Although he carefully considered everything and made thoughtful arrangements, Jacob's mind was still not at peace. At the thought of coming face-to-face with his brother whom he had wronged, he couldn’t think clearly. At this time his heart turned to God. He remembered during the past 20 years how God had so powerfully guided and preserved him. He remembered God's promise to him: "Go back to your father’s land, I will treat you well." Then he sincerely prayed to God: "Please save me from my brother Esau’s hand because I am afraid that he will come to kill me, even my wives and children." As Psalm 77:2 says, "I seek the Lord on the days of suffering."
It was in this desperation that Jacob learned again to seek and rely on the Lord. The end of a man is the beginning of God. No Christian's life will be smooth sailing. There are difficulties and even the danger of death, but we can remember what Job said: "Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward." Paul also said, "We have to go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God."
Difficulties are inevitable. They are not unexpected. Yet the key is how we face and overcome these difficulties. Job's experience tells us, "As far as I am concerned, I will look up to God and entrust my affairs to Him."
Today, in the face of such a severe pandemic, it is also necessary to admit to God that we are powerless and that even Christians need to go through all kinds of hardships and difficulties. But we are not without someone to depend on. Job told us to look to God, to entrust our lives to His hands, the one true God who created all things in the universe, and to obey Him. The Lord who gives also takes back. His mind is higher than ours. What should we worry about? In such a time of loneliness and helplessness, it is time for us to seek God.
- Translated by Charlie Li
从旧约雅各的经历默想重新得力的秘诀
面对着逐步复工复产恢复到正常生活状态，基督徒又当如何重新得力如鹰展翅上腾？面对今后的生活和信仰又有哪些新的感悟和准备呢？这使我想起《创世纪》32章有个特别耐人寻味的故事：“雅各与神使者摔跤”。这个题目就特别有意思，人竟然和神摔跤，而且在《圣经》记载中只有雅各和神的使者摔跤。
在旧约《圣经》中，雅各是一个很特别的人，人间的善与恶在他身上交织着。其实雅各的人性有一个特别显著的特点，就和他名字一样——“抓”：生活里抓长子的名份，抓物质的享受；信仰上抓神的能力，抓神的祝福。《创世纪》32章是雅各灵程的一次转折点，为他以后灵命的长进和丰盛奠定了坚实的基础，其中也给予我们很多亮光。
人生在世必遇患难，如同火星飞腾。熟悉旧约的朋友们都比较清楚，雅各骗取了兄长以扫的长子名分，又设计骗取父亲以撒的祝福；后因以扫扬言要杀他，就逃往巴旦亚兰寄居在母舅拉班家里。一晃二十年过去了，此时雅各已有两个妻子两个小妾，养育了十一个儿子，还有成群的牛、羊、骆驼等牲畜。在舅父家备受劳苦，使得雅各对父家亲人的那份思念越发显得深切。终于有一天，他携妻带子踏上了归家之路。
但此时的雅各一直担心兄长以扫找他清算旧账，更担心以扫误以为他此次回来是要分家业而加害于他。因此，雅各先打发人往以东去向以扫问安。当得知以扫带四百兵丁朝他而来时，他就惧怕而且愁烦。雅各心里说：这下恐怕是要凶多吉少了。于是，他就将所有的人与牲畜分成两队，心想：以扫若来击杀这一队，剩下的那一队还可以逃避。而且从所有的物中拿出礼物，吩咐仆人捎给以扫，表明自己回来并非要与他争家业，同时赎还先前对兄长的亏欠。
虽然经过深思熟虑，而且作了较为周全的安排，但雅各的心里还不踏实，想到即将要面对与他有嫌隙的兄长，他的心里总是七上八下的。这时候他的心转向了神，他想起二十年来神在他身上奇妙大能的带领与保守，想起神曾对他的应许：“回你本地本族去，我要厚待你”，他就诚恳的向神祈求说：“求你救我脱离我哥哥以扫的手，因为我怕他来杀我，连妻子带儿女一同杀了。”正如《诗篇》77章2节里诗人说：“我在患难之日寻求主。”
雅各就是在这心焦如焚、寝食难安的困境中重新学会寻求主、依靠主的功课。人的尽头是神的起头。每一位基督徒的一生都不是一帆风顺的，都有遇到困难陷入困境甚至濒临“人的尽头”时，但我们可曾记得约伯说过：“人生在世必遇患难，如同火星飞腾。”保罗也说过：“我们进入神的国，必须经历许多艰难。”
困难是免不了的，不以人的意志为焦点，关键在于如何面对与克服这些困难。约伯的经验告诉我们：“至于我，我必仰望神，把我的事情托付他。”
今天在如此严峻的疫情面前，也要向神承认自己的无能为力，知道即使基督徒也需要在世上经历各种艰难和困境，甚至是绝望到“人的尽头”。但我们不是没有依靠的，正如约伯告诉我们的，来仰望神，把生活仰望交托在创造天地宇宙万物的独一真神手中，去顺服祂。赏赐的是耶和华，收取的也是耶和华，祂的意念高过我们的意念，我们还有什么可惶恐不安的呢？在这样孤独无助的时候，是我们可以更好地寻求神的时候。
Facing the gradual resumption of work and return to normal life, how should Christians regain power from God so they can “soar like an eagle?” What are the new feelings and preparation for life and faith in the future? These questions remind me of a particularly intriguing story in Genesis 32: "Jacob wrestles with a messenger of God." It is particularly interesting to think about how a man could wrestle with God. The Bible records that only Jacob himself and God's messenger experienced this “wrestling.”
Good and evil were combined within the person of Jacob. In fact, Jacob's human nature had a particularly remarkable characteristic which is also suggested by his name, meaning “to grab.” In life he tried to grab the birthright of the eldest son; in material things he tried to grab enjoyment; and in his beliefs he tried to grab God’s power and blessings. Genesis Chapter 32 was a turning point in Jacob's spiritual journey. This laid a solid foundation for his future spiritual progress and abundance. We also can receive light from this understanding.
Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward. Readers who are familiar with the Old Testament know that Jacob stole the name of his older brother, Esau. He designed a scheme to cheat his father and receive the blessing intended for Esau. Later he had to flee to live with his uncle Laban because he heard Esau would kill him. Soon 20 years passed by, Jacob had two wives and two concubines with 11 sons as well as herds of cattle, sheep, camels and other livestock. He labored hard in his uncle's family. That made Jacob homesick all the more. Finally, one day he took his wife and children and returned home.
But Jacob worried that his brother Esau might take revenge on him because of what he had done in the past. He was even more worried that Esau might think he was returning to divide up the family’s inheritance and wealth and harm him. So Jacob sent servants in advance to Edom to greet Esau. He was afraid and upset when he learned that Esau responded by coming towards him with 400 troops! Jacob said to himself—this is probably the end. So he divided all the people and the livestock into two groups thinking—if Esau kills the first group, the other group can escape. He made gifts from his possessions and instructed the servants to present them to Esau, indicating that he was not coming back to claim the family business and at the same time that he wished to make things right with his brother.
Although he carefully considered everything and made thoughtful arrangements, Jacob's mind was still not at peace. At the thought of coming face-to-face with his brother whom he had wronged, he couldn’t think clearly. At this time his heart turned to God. He remembered during the past 20 years how God had so powerfully guided and preserved him. He remembered God's promise to him: "Go back to your father’s land, I will treat you well." Then he sincerely prayed to God: "Please save me from my brother Esau’s hand because I am afraid that he will come to kill me, even my wives and children." As Psalm 77:2 says, "I seek the Lord on the days of suffering."
It was in this desperation that Jacob learned again to seek and rely on the Lord. The end of a man is the beginning of God. No Christian's life will be smooth sailing. There are difficulties and even the danger of death, but we can remember what Job said: "Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward." Paul also said, "We have to go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God."
Difficulties are inevitable. They are not unexpected. Yet the key is how we face and overcome these difficulties. Job's experience tells us, "As far as I am concerned, I will look up to God and entrust my affairs to Him."
Today, in the face of such a severe pandemic, it is also necessary to admit to God that we are powerless and that even Christians need to go through all kinds of hardships and difficulties. But we are not without someone to depend on. Job told us to look to God, to entrust our lives to His hands, the one true God who created all things in the universe, and to obey Him. The Lord who gives also takes back. His mind is higher than ours. What should we worry about? In such a time of loneliness and helplessness, it is time for us to seek God.
- Translated by Charlie Li
Regain Power from Meditation on Jacob in Old Testament
