A popular television series from 1994-2003 was Touched by an Angel. Fiction for sure, but it portrays how angels can interact in our lives even while we are unaware. I loved watching this program.

I wonder how many of us have had numerous encounters with angels of which we were unaware.  Protection in accidents, promptings to stay or go in any given situation, guardian angels.  There is a verse in Hebrews 13:2 that gives me pause, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

Jacob had an encounter with a Man in Genesis 32:24-32 that changed his life.  Jacob was known as a sly ol’ trickster, a deceiver of his brother, father, and father-in-law.  He was also a hard worker and went after what he wanted but at times he was not a nice guy!

After deceiving his father he had to run away (OK, so he was sent away by his conniving mother!) to a far country, worked for his mother’s brother’s family, got married (to two sisters!), had a family, grew in wealth and finally decided to return to his homeland.

On the way home he learned that his brother was coming to meet him and fear stuck Jacob.  Esau was the brother he had deceived and cheated out of the family blessing YEARS earlier (be sure your sins will find you out! Numbers 32:23).  Jacob was afraid of meeting his brother so he sent his family, servants, and flocks ahead first (nice guy!). Now Jacob was alone.  ALONE and afraid. Then he had an encounter with a supernatural Being. 

The Bible doesn’t tell us how this happened … did Jacob get down on his knees and begin to pray? Was he sitting on a rock with his head in his hands, “Oh God what do I do now? Esau is going to kill my family and me and all is lost! Oh me, Oh my … my life is over … my deceitfulness is catching up with me …” I think I might have done something like that!  But in his aloneness, a Man came and wrestled with Jacob!  Imagine a man wrestling with God Himself!  Jacob had spent years working in the fields and with animals and became very strong but the Man kept the wrestling match going until the sun began to come up.  The Man said, “Let me go; it’s daybreak and I gotta’ go!” But Jacob answered (realizing he was fighting with a supernatural being and undoubtedly growing weak) “I will not let you go until you bless me!” He wasn’t wrestling just to wrestle … he was in a fight for a blessing!

WOW!  What an encounter!  The Man then asked his name and Jacob, well aware I’m sure of what his name meant, answered Him, “Jacob”.  At that moment he acknowledged who he was … his name meant “deceitful”. Jacob had to acknowledge his weakness before he could be transformed! The Man then gave him a name change!  “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and prevailed …” Did you get that? God came down to have a wrestling match with Jacob! Jacob was desperate and God met him.  Jacob, imperfect.  Jacob, a deceiver.  Jacob, a conniver.  His name change meant “Prince with God”!  God saw his future!

Then the Man touched him … not only a name change (he still was an imperfect man!) … the touch threw his hip out of joint and thereafter for the rest of his life he walked with a limp. I believe that not a day went by but that he recognized the fact that the pain he bore from his hip displacement and his imperfect steps was because of his encounter with God!

The match is over.  Jacob received what he fought for … a blessing from God.   Before Israel crossed over the brook to join his family on the other side he named the place where the wrestling match took place, Peniel, meaning “Face of God” (v30) “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” He named the place as a memorial.

I am reminded of the chorus … “Shut in with God in a secret place, there in His presence beholding His face; finding new power to run in life’s race, I long to be shut in with God.”

I do wonder however just because Israel had this encounter with God he still struggled with his human flesh!  He wasn’t a great dad (in my opinion!). He showed favoritism in his children, he did not protect them as he should have and yet God was honored in his life.

How is it with you?  Have you wrestled with God?  I don’t mean in hand-to-hand combat, but have you wrestled in prayer? Have you ever been desperate? Have you sought God for answers? For a blessing? Has He touched your life in some aspect?  Have you built a memorial of remembrance? Can you look back on moments of your encounter with God with thanksgiving?  Has it helped you to remember His touch?

I’ve had some encounters with God that changed the direction of my life.  Some I felt were knock-down drag-out encounters … others were nudges, little pushes.  Some of you have been touched by physical healing … did it change the way you live for God? Others had a spiritual healing giving you a life-changing direction … are you still living for Him?

Some are weary in the struggle, I get that!  But we don’t fight in our own strength!  God gives strength to the weak and I love that but we must be faithful to pursue Him. Has His touch changed the way you walk? Our “limps” or our “scars” are to remind us of what we have gone through, what we have learned, and how we MUST lean on Him for the rest of our lives.

This touch wasn’t given by an angel … it was God himself who came to wrestle with Jacob.  What a thought!

Let me ask you … do you walk with a limp?