come away changed

Today in the One Year Bible, we read from Genesis 32:13-34:31. We read a fantastic story about Jacob wrestling with either an angel or with God Himself, the text isn't entirely clear. But at the end of the wrestling match, Jacob's name is changed to Israel, which means "struggles with God", so that is indicative.

But the take away message from this passage is that we are encouraged to "wrestle with God." Not always to be his blindly faithful "yes man", but to wrestle with what He wants and then, eventually, to own it. To make it our own. To agree.

And another take away message is that any time we DO wrestle with God, we come away changed. Jacob is changed in many ways - his very name is different. He walks with a limp. He is never the same afterwards. That's what we have to look forward to, as well. Our name will forever be identified with Him. We will not walk the same as we did before. He will change us.

Especially if, like Jacob, we ask Him to bless us.

God, thanks for changing us forever. Please bless us.