This is my little doggy and her name is Zoe!  She is our little bundle of life and energy!! 

One of our mainstays in training her is using treats.  When she goes outside to potty she gets a treat.  When she comes back in she will follow you everywhere expecting her treat… right behind your heels…everywhere!  She never forgets until you get the message that she wants her blessing.  Sounds similar to another story I know…

“And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. 23 He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had. 24 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. 25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. 26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” 27 So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” 28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel;  for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel:  “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”; ”  Gen. 32:22-30

Our friend Jacob was in trouble, I mean it kind of seemed to follow him.  In the natural,  he had been given a name that meant, “Supplanter (substitute) or Deceiver” and apparently had lived up to that meaning.  He had deceived his dad in blessing him rather than his brother Esau and Esau in turn hated him and wanted to kill him.  Now some 20 years later God was speaking to Jacob and telling him to return to his family of birth because God wanted to deal well with him.  I’m sure he was thinking, well?  After what I have done?

At the same time Jacob is pondering his presumed demise, you see this scenario unfolding where Jacob’s men have just given him a report that Esau is coming near with a force of 400 men (vs. 6).  Jacob is shaking in his boots with fear and dread.  He has his wife and whole family that he has invested years to have and to build and adore.  Now, this thing he did 20 years ago is coming back to potentially take everything from him the same way he took everything from his brother?  What a dilemma!  So, he continues reasoning and scheming to justify in his own mind how things could possibly go “well” with him and how he might, “help” God along.  He tries to win Esau’s favor with stuff, tradition, intimidation and his preferred method…deceit.  That night with his future uncertain and looming before him he has this encounter with what Hosea says is an angel of the Lord. 

We know that Jacob is quite a tenacious man and he knows a thing or two about blessing.  He deceived Esau out of his and then worked for Laban for years for a blessing from him. It seems fitting that he would go after it since it is such familiar territory! But, as with all things concerning God, mans tactics may work on man for a season, but they don’t work on Jesus.  He sees straight through them and straight through us; right to our heart.  He knows that Jacob has learned bad behaviors and has never understood who he is and that will not work for the ultimate blessing God wants to give him.  He doesn’t mess around, He understands how Jacob sees himself and He doesn’t want to give him the opportunity to rely on his past methods.  He jumps right in there in his face and wrestles him!!  I love this!!

  You can rest in knowing that God sees you. He will not allow you to operate in your learned behaviors when it concerns Him!  He will not be manipulated or controlled!  He loves you too much!  He knows the only way for the blessing to come is by complete encounter with Him!!!  Complete encounter brings complete transformation!!   This transformation brought Jacob a new name, Israel.  Israel means “Prince with God”!!  All of these years Jacob saw himself as a deceiver and a substitute and God wanted him to know how He saw him…as Prince!

Jacob was destined for encounter.  He was destined for blessing, that is why he was so drawn towards it his whole life.  He just had to learn that he didn’t have to trick for it, work for it or any other human method.  You simply receive God’s blessing through encounter. Then when he saw who he was in God’s eyes He longed to know who this was who had loved him so…

Do you ever find yourself like Jacob.  God has given you a promise but the circumstances are the exact opposite of that promise and those circumstances are producing a dread in your heart, strategizing in your mind and anxiety in your soul?  Well one thing you can trust is that God knows how to find you and there is nothing in all creation that will ever separate you from His love!!  He will do what He needs to have a vibrant encounter with you.  Call out to Him today in response to His love, grace and favor on your life. Jesus has made a way for you to have great relationship with him! He is the blessing! And that relationship is what will guide you through your distresses. He wants you to know how He sees you and what name He has for you so you don’t fall back into your old patterns and reasonings. So, when face to face with Him, you like Jacob will understand all He died to give  and when you really see that love, you will not let Him go either until you receive Him as your blessing in Jesus Name!!