The True Blessing

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank. (Gen 32:24-32)

The True Blessing

Jacob’s cry, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me!” upon first glance this can seem kind of confusing. Why confusing you might say? Well, if you look closely at the story, Jacob was already ‘blessed’, that is if you only look at it from a temporal point of view. Look at the list of things that Jacob had to offer to Esau as a peace offering. In those days, Jacob would have been considered to be well off. He was not in any way lacking in terms of ‘worldly’ possessions. Which brings me to wonder...if Jacob was already blessed with such goods and wealth, why then did he feel like he wasn’t? Or better yet, maybe the things that he possessed was not the true blessing after all. Maybe the temporal things we consider blessings are not the true blessing.

In the Chronicles Jabez was more honorable than his brethren. Why? Here in the midst a great list of genealogies all of a sudden God stops to take some time out to mention Jabez. Could it be that the prayer of Jabez recognized that a true blessing was not in what one possessed but could only be had in being possessed of the One who blesses. And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. (1 Chr 4:9-10)

Solomon was blessed not because he asked of himself, but that he could have an understanding heart to judge amongst God’s people. His request pleased the Lord and because Solomon was FIRST Kingdom minded, God was more than willing to give him both riches and honor. And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. (I King 3:10-14) Once again this adheres to the principle that temporal blessings are usually nothing more than a ‘symptom’ of doing right before the Lord WHICH IS THE TRUE BLESSING. Here the devil then says that there are those who know not God yet are blessed with many temporal riches...what gives? If they are ‘blessed’ it is only because they are using a Godly principle without giving any glory to God and since God cannot lie and He is no respecter of persons, if you use His Word...sinner or not...you will reap goodness from it. Some though reap it to their own damnation while others see the blessing as nothing less than the hand of an Eternal God. When you take a stand for God and then know of a surety that He is standing for you...what more of blessing does a man desire??? If God be for us then who can be against us?

King David looked up and said, God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. (Ps 67:1-2) Look closely! Why bless us? Why should God shine his face upon us? THAT the way of the Lord may be know upon the earth! If you are blessed with ANY material blessing it is ONLY that His Glory may be shone forth upon this earth. Such blessings are given to men not for men to gain glory for themselves...BUT to only show the greatness of His mercy and the power of the Gospel in this earth. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (1 Pet 2:9-10) Wow!!! What a powerful scripture! Here again showing that a mere temporal blessing is NOT a true blessing at all. As a matter of fact such a blessing can end up becoming a delusion if one is not careful. Yes it is great to have material possessions. It is great that God moves on our behalf to make sure our bills are paid and we have ‘things’ for our earthly enjoyment, but this alone is not the true blessing neither does it show that we are blessed of God! We were called OUT to show forth the blessings that He gives us but the blessings that we receive should only be used to point to the One who blesses and all our blessings should be used to show forth the praises of Him...the glory of His Gospel...and the power of His resurrection!

Abraham looked for a city whose builder and maker was God. Moses refused to be called son of Pharoah’s daughter choosing rather to suffer the afflictions of the children of God...they saw something that went way beyond the earthly. Both of these examples are from men who were not lacking in earthly material blessings, but were indeed blessed beyond measure if only looked at from a temporal standpoint. Although they were ‘blessed’, to them, something was amiss in their lives; otherwise why pursue after the hidden things of God? Obviously (at least to me), their blessing was not in a natural blessing, but in the realm of being in the place of the One who gave the blessings. You cannot be fed at a ‘soup kitchen’ unless you are willing to walk to where the soup kitchen is.

To leave all the riches of Egypt and a renown place of political power shows me Moses saw something way beyond the temporal. To choose suffering over the comfort of the every material need that a man could ever want is an amazing testimony. It testifies of the greatness of God’s eternal riches that supercede anything that this world can offer.
What contrariness to the flesh!!! To think that some would look at all this world has to offer and turn away from it’s riches and follow after Christ! The hypocrite nor the defiled and unbelieving can in no way understand such a view. Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Tim 6:5-6)

In this day and age so many seem to believe or feel that temporal gain or worldly possessions are a measurement of a true blessing. But if you look at Jacob’s request as he wrestled with the Lord it seems to bring such a thought or idea into question. Jacob had it all, yet he felt like he wasn’t blessed. He felt like there was a blessing that superceded anything that the world could offer him. And he pursued after it with a tenacity that went beyond momentary rejection. He fought through the mental torment of his own thoughts and pain in his body, because he knew if God wasn’t for him it didn’t matter how many ‘things’ he possessed! I think Jeremiah summed it up best! Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. (Jer 9:23-24)