Page 15 - Potters Vessel - Vol 1, Jan 2018

FINAL 2 - Jan 18_Potters Vessel - First draft 13/01/2018 18:08 Page 15

Come Over to Jabbok

to face meeting’ with a ‘man’. In the course of the
ne of the most interesting characters in the wrestling, he held on to this ‘man’ long enough to
Bible was Jacob, the twin son of Isaac and receive a real blessing; not a stolen blessing, as in the
ORebekah. Looking through his life history, past but lasting one through the God of his father
we can see that he was indeed a beloved of God. Abraham, who keeps promises. By the next day,
though Jacob was wounded, he was blessed and had
Jacob ran away from home after stealing his twin
a permanent change of name and identity.
brother’s birthright and blessing. He made so many
He became a new man (Gen 32)!
glaring mistakes that cost him several years of servant-
hood under his dubious uncle Laban. He worked Beloved, are you fed up of your lifestyle? Do you want
fourteen years for his uncle Laban to get two wives, a lasting change? Are you weary or burdened with
one of whom he really didn’t even need. your past and think there is no way out? Come over
to Jabbok! It’s time to be alone and ‘iron out some
Finally, he decided to break free; he longed to go
issues out with God’. You can’t afford to
home - Bethel. But, he remembered a death
postpone it anymore.
sentence hanging on him because of past misdeed
against his twin brother Esau. The messengers Jabbok is a lonely place. A place where you must
returned an unpleasant news. Esau was on his way to admit your sins, inadequacies, short-comings and
Jacob and he had four hundred men with him. truly open up to God, though none of your ways are
Unfortunately, this time, Jacob ran out of question- hidden from Him. Jabbok is a place you must wrestle
able schemes to pave his way out of this dreadful with God about some issues in your life, if you truly
situation. desire to fulfil his mandate upon your life. The way
to receive God’s blessing is not a pleasant one; it
Ahead was Esau. Behind were his past errors; the lies,
involves pain, lots of sacrifices and self-denial.
the deception and the stolen blessing. Jacob became
Beloved, what sacrifice are you willing to make to
sorely afraid. In his distress, he divided his family
ensure that you find God?
into two halves so that he could have something to
fall back on, should Esau kill one half. He cried to At Jabbok, you will be blessed, renamed, re-branded
God for help. He sent his wives, his maids, and his and re-aligned with God’s original plan for your
sons across the river Jabbok but he waited behind destiny. Delaying your trip to Jabbok could cost you
there. That night, no one was with him. He re- eternal regret.
mained alone on the banks of the Jabbok.
Do it NOW!
At Jabbok, Jacob wrestled with God in prayer all r
night long over the issues of his life. He had a ‘face The Potter’s Vessel

The Potter’s Vessel 15