Peniel, The Game Changer:
Where Man meets God face to face.
Revisiting Genesis 32: 22-32
Peniel, a Rendezvous; the turning point - where the old is gone, and the new is come.
The Game changer - loser becomes winner; the warped and twisted turned into the image of Christ. It’s where fake and fleeting blessing is dumbed for true blessing.
What is true blessing? Here we go, Jacob leads the way:
Jacob, the heel grabber, had spent his entire life struggling and cutting corners. He was smart, adeptly “winning” every contest and outwitting all contenders. Starting with Esau, his brother, he outwitted Uncle Nebal. His two wives, two female servants, and eleven sons are a living testament to Jacob’s “smartness.” He was “blessed.” Quite a lot to show on the outside, but empty of inner peace that comes from God. He had left his Uncle’s place in a bit of turmoil.
Now it’s time to go back home!
To home we must all return at a time appointed for you and me. What do we do at the end of the road with all we have grabbed to ourselves? The proverbial net worth in the bank, numerous mansions and landed properties doting the landscapes of our cities and rural areas; What about our limousines, the yachts, and private jets? Our wives, men, and women friends?
“And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok; He took them, sent them over the brook, and all that he had.”
Then Jacob was left alone!
Like Jacob, alone, we shall face our Creator - giving an account of how we spent our days here on the Earth.
“And a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.”
You probably might want to argue your case with God - proving you were right about living a life of deceit and self-indulgence, while millions are dying of hunger and preventable diseases.
Are we being swayed by the worldly-wise/nominal Christians querying our faith and wisdom for living right? It’s okay to wrestle with His Spirit until the sockets of our hips are touched. We all need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit and be purged of self-righteousness.
As for you reading this, you don’t have to wait any longer. You can end your struggle with your Creator today. He will shower you with the true blessing of peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, if you ask Him. Living in peace with yourself and your neighbors flows from making peace with God.
“Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of the joint as He wrestled with him.”
And He said, “Let me go, for the day breaks.”
But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said “Jacob.”
And He said,
“Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”
You can change your name today — from loser to winner; indeed, everything about you can change— from a life of struggle to a spirit-filled life of victory.
“Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about my name?
And He blessed him there.
So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel. “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
You can make this your Peniel moment - and have your life preserved onto eternity.
“Just as he crossed over Peniel, the sun rose on him...” (Gen. 32:22-32).
It is the journey of a lifetime. The step to spiritual transformation.
