2478) When I was a kid, my brothers and I used to watch wrestling. Now, let’s be clear, these were a bunch of men putting on a show, and as a kid of 10, I was dazzled by it.

As I think about wrestling, my mind goes to Jacob in the book of Genesis. Jocab wasn’t particularly a role model, at least not a positive one.

Jacob wrestled with his twin brother as early as his birth. He continued to wrestle with his brother and father over the birthright. Jacob even wrestles with Laben over future wives. Jacob was a wrestler.

If we continue to follow Jacob’s life, we see that Jacob wrestled with another in Genesis 32. This chapter contains a very unusual event. In reading, you’ll discover (or rediscover) that Jacob wrestles with who he later discovers is God.

I must admit this event has always stumped me, but I do see an important connection.

Wrestling with others continually brings on problems that can last a lifetime, and yet, the times we wrestle with God can be the most productive.

The problem of suffering. The difficulty of loving our enemies. The lack of a “yes  ” to a prayer. All of these we should wrestle with God. It’s in wrestling that faith can grow. The question is, who are you wrestling with?