Nougat 26

Do God’s blessings always follow the same pattern? Consider today’s Holy Nougat

“Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 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.”” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭32‬:‭26‬, ‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Isn’t that profound, the blessing was in the name! It was also in the struggle. For we know Jacob went to sleep troubled and alone. He was worried about that reunion with his twin Esau. Perhaps he poured his worries into the wrestling match, or he’d decided that no one would pick a fight and leave unscathed, or he figured it out that his opponent was other-worldly; but Jacob earned his blessing!

What did you anticipate would happen next? Do you think he expected a name change? I know the story and it almost seems anticlimactic. Firstly, being asked about his identity, then this – I know most of us would’ve told the prophet to hush if we went for a ‘Holy Ghost read-up’, and all we got was a name change! The least the man could have said was, Esau will never bother you again and you will keep your wealth. That’s more along the lines of what Jacob needed to hear.

Yet, in the Numbers 6 high priestly blessing, Aaron was instructed to speak God’s

* Blessings

* Protection (and Coverage)

* Presence

* Anointing

* Grace

* Favour and

* Peace

over the people. Nothing about wealth or prosperity explicitly stated there. Nothing about overcoming enemies that we created either. So perhaps we ought to reconsider the formula if that’s what we expected. I dare suggest that we might need to revisit what God says to us in God’s Word and via God’s own Spirit to determine what our blessings are.

What exactly is Jacob’s blessing then, if it’s more than just a name? That and more in our reflection tomorrow.

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May all we seek be found in Christ