JACOB'S "DISABILITY"

[prophetess m. brignac]

As we encounter our adversary and engage him in violent warfare and conflict, the truth is that there will be occasional casualties, and an assortmnet of injuries, but they shouldn't matter as long as you exit the battle field or arena, with the "spoils" in hand. We often hear the old adage that "some things are worth fighting for", although the author never specified "what" they may be. An obvious reason for this omission,would be that there are too many variables, and the circumstances are indiviually based, and the worth and practicality of entering the ring with the enemy is individuallly assessed, "case by case", or trial by trial. I've seen many crack adddicts try to slaughter each other over a barely visible "piece of death", and others have commited a "187", voluntary manslaughter over intangible words, and invisible egos or "reps". What compelled the patriarch, Jacob, to wrestle all night, in obvious aggression, if not violence, until it left him crippled with a disability. What are you wiling to risk limb and life for, and to give up a promising career, in exchange for a fixed income of "S.S.I." for? What is it that would motivate you to sanctify a fast and, call your own personal shut-in, with no one in attendance, but the Holy Trinity, and , perhaps, a few warring angels, just to make sure the fight remains even, and not "fixed"? Is there anything that would inspire you to that level of unselfishness, knowing that you're taking a calculated risk, and that you were jeopardizing your own comfort, but still, after considering the matter, you declared like Esther, "Well, if I perish, then I perish"! Jacob had a clue, that things were abut "to go down", and he either sent his family away for their own safety, or to porotect them from the pain of seeing an angel put an angelic whipping on him. It is wisdom to clear the room, if not the house, when you have a lot on the line, and you can't afford any casualties, or any distractions. Jacob knew that he needed something that would only be released by extreme methods and visitations, but even he didn't realize that what he really needed had never entered in to his thoughts. He could've never guessed that his circumstances required a "name change", and a fresh perception of God, himself, and the wrong he had commited against his brother. Even though he was known as a great "scammer", and hustler, he came to a place of self enlightenment, that demanded personal accountability, repentance and transformation, and he arose, valiantly, to the occasion. We know the story, how that upon situating his family, the angel of the Lord came quickly, and "called him out", and they battled and wrestled back and forth the entire night, but Jacob was of a mind that "Since the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom suffereth violence, but the violent TAKETH BY FORCE! Remember that this man's concern and determination to be "blessed" as he went in to the city, so that he could pass through alive, and be "blessed in the field", when he comes and when he goes, was not just for him, but he was wrestling this angel on behalf of his immediate family and household, as well as for the strength and courage to face his brother, and to find favor, so that he might not be destroyed! Jacob experienced the Biblical truth that "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning!" This angel apparently had istructions, to depart form Jacob's house before his household, and the city's residents began to stir and be about the daily business. Anything that you're wrestling with, or will wrestle with, has a set amount of time in which to try to defeat, discourage or disable you, but the enemy wants to keep you ignorant concerning his "short time" to try you! This man was that determined that he kept getting back up again, and again, and I'm sure the angel of the Lord wasnt serving him up an ordinary kind of "beat down", but Jacob had hs eyes on such a great "prize" that he willingly submitted to this intense pugalistic encounter, or 'KNOCK DOWN DRAG OUT" with his opponent. The Bible declares hiow he really stuck with the angel, blow for blow, until the angel was forced to knock him off balance by dislocating his hip, and rendering him a disabled man! This was not a shameful state of affairs, ecause his battle injuries,could be worn proudly, a reminder and a testimony that it is very possible to wear, even an angel, down, if you call upon the Lord to manifest and intervene as Jehovah Nissi, and Jehivah tsebaoth! Christ, Himself,wrestled in prayer up at the Mt. of Olives, until He, as it were, sweat great drops of blood"! Hannah labored so in travail, and lamentation that her own pastor percieved that she had been sipipng "apple marintinis", but she was wrestling, over her disability of "barrenness"! As Jacob determinedly, and ruthlessly engaged the angel of the Lord, he became more determined, than he weary, because being defeated, hearing no", being denied was not an option. I believe that his relentless importunity, wearied the angel, until, just to get Jacob off of him, he had to cripple him. As you labor with your own angels, there's a great possibility that you'll be "disabled", maimed, or otherwise physically affected, but it is a small thing for the Lord, to "relocate" your hip, heal every disease, and reverse every curse. Because of his diligence ,and determination,and his bold declaration "Now, look here, Angel of the Lord, I'm "beat"and you've got to be tired as well,but if we have to wrestle with each other, until the devil gets "saved, "I'M NOT GOING TO LET YOU GO, UNTIL YOU BLESS ME!" The angel did something that not many 'WRESTLERS" WOULD DO AFTER CONTENDING WITH AN OPPONENT ALL NIGHT LONG. USUALY , IF EVEN YOUR "ENEMY" WANTS TO KNOW YOUR IDENTITY, THEY ASK IN THE BEGINNING, BUT THE ANGEL CAME TO PROVE JACOB, AND TO TRY THE REINS OF HIS HEART, SO THAT HE COULD FULFILL HIS REAL PURPOSE, AND RELEASCE THE PREDESTINED 'BLESSING" OF REMOVNG THE REPROACH OF HIS FORMER NAME, AND REPUTATION, WHICH MEANT "SUPPLANTER", IN EXCHANGE FOR A NEW IDENTITY AND PURPOSE, IDENTIFIED BY HIS NEW NAME , "ISRAEL", WHIH MEANT "PRINCE OF GOD"! Nobody told him that this would be the latter end of his night of intense wrestling, but his committment, focus, and dedication provoked the hand of God to manifest his predestined purpose. Can you, and would you "bear in your body, daily the marks",scars, and brokeness" of Jesus Christ, even as you wrestled with "he" who was withholding your "blessings? Will you wrestle until your marriage is restored,or better yet, your Pastor's, and the other leaders? Will you wrestle until the break of dawn, to see violence and drug transactions driven out of your neighborhood and city? Can you wrestle, aggressively, and with an attitude of "take no prisoners", to see prayer reinsituted in the school system, or to see the "White House" aligned with God's Word? If you are willing to wrestle, not knowing the outcome, or when your daybreak will come, the Lord is guaranteed to not only release your blessings, but to grant you another name, that being "Blessed"!