“Then the man said, “let me go for it is daybreak” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me” – (Genesis 32:26).
Any can wonder what to say with a close encounter with the Almighty God. Well, think of a situation where you meet the Lord Jesus, but then time is not on your side- as He has to move on. Would you just let Him off, without receiving a special blessing!
This is exactly what happened when Jacob had an earthly encounter with the Almighty God. Somehow it was soon clear that the man he had met and was wrestling with all night was not as any other ordinary mortal. So Jacob held on tight to this stranger and would not let go till he was blessed of him. Finally, “Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome” (Gen 32: 28).
This humbled Jacob. “So Jacob called the place Paniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared” (Gen 32: 30).
What happened here is nothing but a story of chancing upon God and not letting go of him till you receive His blessings. Just as Jacob was not ready to let God go off him without receiving that blessing, you too today have met Jesus and would you let him go without a blessing. Just as Jacob did, cry out to God to end and begin the new coming Year, with his blessings.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, because I have met your son Jesus Christ, I hold on to him and ask of His blessings to lead me to the end of the year and open a floodgates of blessings, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
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27/04/2024 - 28/04/2024 All day“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (Psalm 42:1).
In the wildlife, a common feature is predatory animals chasing after less ferocious ones, which on a bad day become good dinner. Through the savannah plains of Africa the antelope tends to suffer that fate. After a long chase from a mighty lion, cheetah or leopard; antelopes that survive tend to retreat to a fresh water spot. There they gladly refresh their quench with streams of water.
King David, must have been more familiar with deer, as there are more common in the Northern Hemisphere. For us in the tropics we can substitute the deer with our antelope, commonly chased by predators. After a long chase, of course all pant for pints of water.
The significance of this metaphor is that whenever we encounter any situation that puts us on a chase, where do we run to! Habakuk 3:19 says, “The Lord God give my strength. He helps me run fast like deer. He leads me safely on the mountains” (Habakuk 3:19).
Two things of note here. The Lord can make us run as fast as the fastest antelope being chased by a predator to a well of safety. And of course, as we run, we have that the well of God to end up to and refresh ourselves! This is why David wrote, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today like the antelopes of the wildlife I run to you, to that well of life, which refreshes my soul, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
