Zealous For God

Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Genesis 32:26

BEFORE HE EVEN LEFT his mother’s womb, Jacob grasped for greatness, clutching his brother Esau’s heel. For years thereafter, he continued to grasp—purchasing Esau’s birthright and tricking his way into his father’s blessing. He even matched wits with his father-in-law to make himself wealthy.

Jacob’s name means “supplanter,” and it seemed there was no line he wouldn’t cross to get what he wanted. But God blessed Jacob, choosing him to be the heir of His promises. The fact that God chose to bless Jacob despite his multiple and significant failings is good news for the rest of us. God’s grace exceeds our sin. And He uses imperfect people.

So what did God see in this natural-born cheater? Deep within Jacob’s heart was a desire for God—to know Him, to walk with Him, to carry His promises, and to be blessed by Him. With a fervor and intensity unparalleled in his generation, Jacob wrestled with God. One night, he did so literally.

God desires for men and women to love Him with their entire being (Mark 12:30). Jacob’s ethics were sometimes reprehensible, but we should admire how zealously he chased after God. Pursuing Jesus means seeking to take hold of the one thing that matters most—knowing Jesus personally and intimately. Ask God to give you that desire.

BOTTOM LINE

Pursue God with every ounce of your being, even if it means wrestling with Him long into the night. And know that He is pursuing you, too.

Moment of Strength: Luke 14:25-33