070925

 
First day working the new solid schedule!

Up at 555 to pray

Full holy hour!
BRIDGET PRAYERS BEGIN AGAIN AT LAST

FINALLY called and scheduled a vocation visit!


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Once again containing yesterday's train of Hebrew thought on Genesis 32

⭐BTW HOSEA 12:4-5 CONFIRMS THAT THE "ENOSH"-"MAN"-ANGEL IS ACTUALLY GOD!!
"In the very womb Jaco. overreached his brother, in maturity he wrestled against God. He wrestled with the angel and beat him, he wept and pleaded with him. He met him at Bethel, and there God spoke to us..."
⭐‼️"ISRAEL" MEANS "WRESTLED WITH GOD," AFTER ALL!! AND ONLY GOD CAN CHANGE NAMES!!!

⭐‘Wrestled’ in Hebrew (ye’abeq) is a play on ‘Jacob’ (ya‘aqob) and ‘Jabbok’ (yabboq).
"Jacob has struggled all his life to prevail, first with Esau, then with Laban, his uncle who is the father of his wife, Rachel. Now, as he is about to re-enter Canaan, he is shown that it is with God that he must “wrestle”. It is God who holds his destiny in his hands (and always has!)."


River Jabbok = root is 1238 "baqaq" = "TO POUR OUT"; "TO EMPTY"
‼️"make empty, empty out, fail utterly, make void
⭐‼️figuratively, to depopulate; by analogy, to spread out (as a fruitful vine)
(THE IRONY! "Depopulation" as a curse of infidelity, "fruitfulness" as a blessing of loyal love... and Jacob having sent everyone and everything belonging to him across that river, leaving him "alone." This was a result of his fear of Esau, who he had manipulated, to steal his birthright, which is tied TO fruitfulness of lineage.)
‼️‼️‼️‼️"When the ‘man’ sees that Jacob is getting the upper hand, he strikes Jacob on the hip and dislocates it. The hip socket is in the fleshy part of the thigh. There is a hint of injury to the sexual organs and, indeed, with Benjamin, his 12th and youngest son, already conceived, Jacob will have no more children.

⭐‼️"God came to him in such a form that Jacob could wrestle with him, and successfully– yet God also showed Jacob that He could disable him at will."

⭐⭐⭐‼️‼️‼️ "Jacob will not let the man go without receiving his blessing. He seems to suspect the divine origin of his opponent. There is also an indication that Jacob is still having problems over their father’s blessing which he got by deceit. He wants now a direct (legit his own) blessing from God himself."

The probable meaning of the word ‘Israel’ is ‘May God show his strength’, but here it is understood as ‘He has been strong against God’.

At the very moment Jacob reaches full maturity as father and patriarch, his descendants acquire their national name.

⭐‼️ Later, Israel’s national encounters with God will constantly entail intense struggle, with the divine and human alike, perpetuating this initial event in historical pattern.

Why is it that you ask my name? = Given that the stranger is God himself, it is wrong to ask such a question, and, in any case, it cannot be answered. The name of Yahweh could not be uttered by any observant Israelite.


⭐⭐⭐‼️‼️Then he leaves, limping because of his damaged hip. Limping is a frequent motif in myth and legend suggesting a maturing in his relationship with God, who is the real Lord of his life. It parallels in some ways the experience of Abraham at Moriah where he was told to sacrifice his only son. Although less whole physically, it is precisely through his (crippling) experience that he becomes more spiritually complete. He is now Israel, and not just Jacob.
And, the reading tells us, to this day Jews will not eat the sciatic nerve which runs near the hip, because that is where God had struck Jacob... Jacob retained in his body a perpetual reminder of this fateful encounter with God.

Finally, the Jerusalem Bible comments on this scene:
⭐⭐⭐‼️‼️‼️“This enigmatic story, probably Yahwistic, speaks of a physical struggle, a wrestling with God from which Jacob seems to emerge victor. Jacob recognises the supernatural character of his adversary and extorts a blessing from him... Jacob holds fast to God and (thereby) forces from Him a blessing; henceforth all who bear Israel’s name will have a claim on God.

This dramatic scene later served as an image of spiritual combat and of the value of persevering prayer. It was advice that Jesus himself gave, and also St Paul.


⭐⭐‼️‼️‼️""baqaq" depicts God’s decisive act of “emptying”— draining power, pride, or plenty until nothing remains. Whether shattering Egypt’s confidence, laying waste the whole earth, or stripping Babylon bare, the term consistently reveals the Lord’s sovereign right to overturn human security.

I will ruin the plans & nullify the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem
I am going to frustrate the plans of the Egyptians and destroy their morale. They will consult their idols... [but I will hand them over to judgment]
Look! The LORD is about to destroy the earth and make it empty, a vast wasteland... The earth will be utterly depopulated and completely laid waste...stripped completely bare
I will send foreigners to destroy Babylonia and empty her land, like a wind that blows the chaff away
The LORD is about to restore the glory of Israel, as it was before her enemies plundered her and stripped her branches bare

‼️‼️‼️Vessel overturned—everything pours out. Winnowing floor—grain tossed until chaff is scattered. Stripped vineyard—lush branches ruined.
(ALL GOSPEL-USED TERMS!!!)

⭐⭐‼️‼️Physical ruin mirrors inner barrenness.
Egypt’s proud & idolatrous “spirit” collapses, Judah’s strategizing fails, Israel’s religious pageantry is exposed.
The Lord empties what is falsely full, compelling repentance and dependence on Him alone.

Prosperity without obedience is vulnerable to God’s emptying.

⭐⭐Baqaq is never final. Immediately after the double devastation of Nahum 2:2 comes the pledge: “The Lord will restore the excellence of Jacob.” Emptiness functions as pruning, clearing the way for covenant renewal.
This gives great Comfort: our humbling Seasons of loss may be signals of divine preparation for greater fruitfulness.
"God the Father cuts away every branch of Mine that doesn't produce fruit. But He also prunes & trims clean every branch that does produce fruit, so that it can & will produce even more fruit."


‼️‼️Nations proudly exalting military, economic, or religious self-sufficiency stand under the same winnowing judgment; prayer for their conversion and proclamation of the Gospel remain urgent.

⭐⭐Hannah’s song, Mary’s Magnificat, and Paul’s renunciation of worldly gain all echo the "baqaq" principle: God sends the self-satisfied away empty, (in order) to fill the humble with lasting and true riches.

⭐⭐⭐‼️"Baqaq" portrays a God who drains out all hollow greatness so that He might refill vessels with His own glory. For every believer and nation, the choice is clear: either cling to this world's fragile futile fleeting "fullness" and be divinely emptied, or empty yourself out in self-effacing submission to the Refiner and emerge truly filled with Him.


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I'M MISERABLE TRYING TOO HARD HERE. STOP FORCING "UNDERSTANDING." LIKE PAUL SAID, THERE'S NOTHING "HIDDEN" FROM YOU THAT YOU NEED TO DIG FOR. THE SPIRIT WILL TELL YOU!!



⭐‼️A "ford" signifies a shallow place of passing over [the river]... travelers speak of the strong and rapid current of the Jabbok, its depth reaching the horses stomachs (human waistline) even AT the ford... (this means BOTH horse & man had their legs TOTALLY SUBMERGED.)
⭐‼️Jabbok/ Yabbok= from "bakak", to empty/ pour forth, or from "abak", to struggle. It may have been so named either from the natural appearance of the river, or, as is more probable, by prolepsis, from the wrestling which took place upon its banks.
(Prolepsis = " a figure of speech in which a future act or development is represented as if already accomplished or existing." This often refers to prophecy. "In theology, it refers to instances where biblical texts or Christian teachings describe future realities.")

⭐Jacob "CAUSES HIS HOUSEHOLD TO PASS OVER" as HE stays behind. He "EMPTIES HIMSELF OUT" both materially by this, AND spiritually by the wrestling?? HUMBLED

⭐ "the river is often Completely hidden by the dense mass of oleander which fringes its banks"
Oleander = representing both beauty and danger, allurement & caution (vigilance).
"The oleander was extremely significant in Christianity. The Bible frequently references this flowering plant. People believe that due to its nickname, ‘the rose,’ it was actually the rose of Jericho, mentioned in Bible literature.
In Spain, some people believed the oleander represented a important spiritual links. A story that was regularly told, was that as Joseph stood with his staff, an angel came to bring him a message. The message was that he would soon be married to the Virgin Mary. As he received the news, beautiful oleander flowers suddenly appeared, decorating his staff."
⭐⭐⭐"Overall, the main symbolic meaning of this flower is to represent the complexities of love. The oleander’s meaning associates with attraction, romance, and fate. They are the main flower to show a person’s endless love for another."

The olea europaea is the botanical name for the olive tree. This is where the word ‘oleander’ comes from, and is due to its similarity (in foliage appearance) to the olive tree.

⭐⭐‼️‼️A well-known Greek legend tells of the reason behind this plant’s name: A man named Leander fell in love with Lady Love. To see her each night, he had to swim across the Hellespont. This is a narrow part of sea linking the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. Alas, one fateful night the waters were too rough. The man drowned. As his love walked along the shoreline, she called out his name in desperation. She shouted, ‘Oh, Leander!' When she came across his washed up body, she discovered he was still holding on to a stunning white flower. His lover planted the flower and watched it grow. From then on the flower had the name, ‘oleander,’ as it was symbolic of their undying love.
(OH WOW HELLO COVENANT IMAGERY!!!)
GOD AS "LADY LOVE"?? JESUS IS "LADY WISDOM" = HE IS LOVE INCARNATE
"JACOB" OLD LIFE DROWNED IN ROUGH RIVER
GOD CALLING OUT HIS NAME & CHANGING IT AS HE DOES
JACOB'S BODY OUT OF THE RIVER (PASSED THROUGH)= EXODUS RECALL =
HOLDS A WHITE FLOWER= SIGN OF PURE LOVE & "BLOSSOMING" = JACOB HAS REACHED MATURITY "AS A PATRIARCH" = ABLE TO TRULY LIVE COVENANT WITH GOD?? "FRUITFUL" UPON DEATH; TYPE OF CHRIST
GOD PLANTS THE FLOWER= ISRAEL BECOMES A NATION

"The seed of glory sown in manWill flower when we see your face."

⭐⭐⭐‼️The Rose of Jericho, also known as the resurrection plant, is a fascinating plant known for its ability to revive from a dried, dormant state when exposed to water
In Christianity, it is often associated with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, symbolizing renewal, rebirth, and the cycle of life and death. 

"The name Leander, of Greek origin, means "lion-man" or "lion of a man" (CHRIST PARALLEL). The name gained prominence through the Greek myth of Leander and Hero, where Leander famously swam the Hellespont nightly to meet his priestess lover."



⭐‼️ Jabbok serves as a "natural boundary marker" = remember yesterday with "TRANSGRESSION" = "PASSING OVER GOD'S BOUNDARIES"!! The name root "baqaq" meaning things like "to fail utterly" and "to empty out" FITS THIS?? God's "boundary markers" are His "rivers" of lifegiving WORD = LAW, and they are meant to KEEP US OUT OF SIN???   

yabboq, "luxuriant river" = luxuries "emptied out" in "wrestling struggles" of spiritual transformation, ironically allowing us to receive TRUE treasures of God
"The name suggests a "pouring out" or "emptying" of oneself, connecting to Jacob's spiritual transformation at its banks" (pun intended; what are your riches? Can you stand firm on them or will they wash away?)

The term describes the river's vigorous flow and the way it "wrestles" through the landscape

...the river's role in defining tribal territories.
(Holy nation separation)
The Jabbok River region was a site of various historical events and interactions between different peoples
(Israel ultimately including all Gentiles, once THEY "wrestle with God"?)


it is mentioned as the border of the territory of the Amorites, which the Israelites conquered under Moses' leadership... This conquest was part of the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land... Additionally, the Jabbok River is referenced as a boundary marker. It delineates the land of the Ammonites, which the Israelites were instructed not to disturb.


Jabbok is known for its deep gorges and rugged terrain... The bed of the river is in a deep gorge with steep, and in many places precipitous, banks. It is a great cleft, cutting the land of Gilead in two. It is lined along its course by a luxuriant growth of oleander which, in season, lights up the valley with brilliant color. The length of the stream, taking no account of its innumerable windings, is about 60 miles. The mouth of the river has changed its position from time to time. In the lower reaches the vegetation is tropical. The river is fordable at many points, except when in full flood."

"By cutting the mountains of Gilead into two, creating the two regions of the territory of Gilead, the Jabbok River forms a natural boundary which served as a political border throughout almost all historical periods.

The first biblical reference to the river occurs in connection with Jacob, who forded it (waded through the shallows) on his way to meet Esau, following his departure from Haran. His struggle with the angel took place at Peniel on a ford of the Jabbok, a place which was considered consecrated by later generations."

Gilead = represents healing, refuge, and abundance = "PERPETUAL FOUNTAIN," "heap of testimony," "monument," or "hill of witness." Jacob Laban covenant!
"Jesus is called the "Balm of Gilead" because it symbolizes His role as the ultimate healer of both physical and spiritual wounds"

Haran= Heb. haran, i.e., "parched;" or probably from the Accadian charana, meaning "a road." 
(Needing both WATER and a WAY TO WALK = CHRIST!!)

Jacob goes from HARAN to SUCCOTH (BOOTHS!!) to SHECHEM ("ridge"; shoulders, "place to carry burdens" = CROSS)

"Abram could not stay where he was (HARAN) and still obey God. He is being called to leave His pagan culture in order to commit himself to the Lord. In going, though, God will promise to do great things for Abram... God was asking Abram to abandon all the certainties in his life, and all the support structures that he could ever hope for" (EMPTIED OUT!!)

"After deceiving his father and brother, Jacob left his family home and travelled north to his mother's relatives in Haran. The official reason was that he was looking for a wife, but it was evident that he was fleeing his brother's wrath."

⭐"Jacob is returning from Paddan-Aram with wives, children, and livestock, facing a potentially lethal reunion with Esau"
= To a Hebrew audience, the name Paddan-aram may have sounded like Elevated Ransom, or better yet: Ultimate Upgrade (NEW NAME & IDENTITY = PERSONAL BECOMES NATIONAL)
➕Paddan= plain, plateau? "To extend"
"It is the stage on which the Lord preserves the covenant family, multiplies their number, and reveals His steadfast love. The plain’s memory reminds God’s people that no matter the location, His purposes prevail."
➕Aram = highland, "elevated", citadel?
"Aram’s multifaceted role in Scripture—as kinsman, opponent, instrument of discipline, and unexpected recipient of grace—encouraging readers to trust God’s sovereign purposes in the rise and fall of nations."


"The river is described as the northern boundary of the kingdom of Sihon the Amorite... These passages apparently refer only to the lower reaches of the river, for the upper reaches were within the border of the Ammonites and were excluded from the area of the Israelite conquest (Deut. 2:37). Reuben and Gad inherited the lands of Sihon and thus the Jabbok also served as their border with Ammon."
(Boundary between JUDAH and AMMONITES?? Between LEGIT & ILLICIT OFFSPRING? True religion vs idolatry?)

"When the Israelites, on their way from the wilderness to the Promised Land, asked his permission to pass through his territory, Sihon refused to grant it, and tried to bar their way."
"Amorites are the pre-Israelite inhabitants of the occupied land in general... The Talmud applies the term darkhei ha-Emori ("the ways of the Amorite") to superstitious heathen practices not covered by specific prohibitions but subsumed under the general prohibition of "neither shall you walk in their statutes"..."

+ It is a tributary of the Jordan River, flowing from east to west
+ originates in the mountains of Gilead and flows into the Jordan River
+ historically significant due to its strategic location.
+ Served as a natural boundary between various ancient kingdoms
+fertile banks and surrounding lands were conducive to agriculture and settlement
+ a critical point of passage for travelers and armies.
+ Its fords were essential crossing points,
+ challenging terrain also provided natural defense mechanisms

It was a strategic location due to its fertile land and water resources,

The river's valley is characterized by its rugged terrain and lush vegetation

Its course cuts through a deep gorge, providing a natural defense and a challenging crossing point

A perennial stream which intersects the mountain range of Gilead and falls into the Jordan on the east about midway between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea!

It was on the south bank of the Jabbok that the interview took place between Jacob and Esau

Its westerly course... traverses at first an elevated and desert region, and receives a branch from the north and another from the south. This south branch separated the Ammonites from Israel. The eastern part of the Jabbok is dry in summer. Towards the west, it flows through a deep ravine.

In its course westward across the plains it passes more than once underground.


Theological Implications
The Jabbok River is emblematic of transformation and divine encounter. Jacob's wrestling at the Jabbok is often seen as a metaphor for the spiritual struggles and growth that believers may experience. It underscores themes of perseverance, faith, and the transformative power of God's presence in one's life. Jacob's renaming to Israel signifies a new identity and mission, reflecting the broader narrative of God's covenant relationship with His people.
The Jabbok River, therefore, is not only a geographical feature but also a symbol of spiritual renewal and divine intervention in the biblical tradition. Its mention in Scripture serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the transformative encounters that shape the lives of His followers.

The tribes of Reuben and Gad, along with the half-tribe of Manasseh, requested to settle in the land east of the Jordan River, which included the region around the Jabbok... Moses granted their request on the condition that they assist in the conquest of Canaan. The land they inherited was fertile and suitable for their large herds and flocks.

The Jabbok River is not only a geographical marker but also a site of spiritual transformation. Jacob's encounter at the Jabbok symbolizes a turning point in his relationship with God, reflecting themes of struggle, perseverance, and divine blessing. This event is often interpreted as a metaphor for the spiritual journey and the transformative power of faith.
The Jabbok River holds a multifaceted role in the biblical narrative, serving as a geographical boundary, a site of divine encounter, and a symbol of transformation. Its significance to the tribes of Reuben and Gad underscores the importance of the land east of the Jordan in the history of Israel.

This event marks a significant transformation in Jacob's life and is a profound moment of divine interaction.

The Jabbok River is more than a geographical feature; it is a symbol of transformation and divine encounter. Jacob's wrestling at the Jabbok represents a moment of personal struggle and spiritual renewal, illustrating the theme of God's direct involvement in the lives of His chosen people. The river serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the transformative power of His presence in the midst of human challenges.

https://biblehub.com/topical/j/jabbok.htm

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79 "abaq" wrestling

⭐‼️‼️ The ford of the Jabbok becomes the stage where the patriarch’s lifelong pattern of striving— first with Esau, then Laban, and now God Himself— reaches its climax.
(Jacob refusing to be powerless or inferior? Controlling. Had to "have a grip" on every situation. Refused to be "at a disadvantage" or to be outsmarted? Had to have the "upper hand" and "last word." Could NOT therefore surrender to God’s unseen Plan? Would NOT accept or admit helplessness or impotence)

Night, isolation, and suspense all frame his "abaq" as a turning-point event within redemption history.
(Spiritual "night" of darkness, silence, fear– isolation from community, suspense of not knowing if we'll survive until tomorrow. Trauma vibes, also grief & loss, "emptying" of self & attachments to physical world: you cannot see or use it at night (unless you're sinning, in which case you're not going near this river of passage). Night ALSO a time of REST, and isolation as BLESSED SOLITUDE– a separated rest from daily cares & distractions & noise. The positive suspense "waiting on the Lord" and walking in trust by "blind" faith. BOTH THESE CIRCUMSTANCES PARADOXICALLY INTERSECT AT THE "RIVER"?? (Place of "crossing over" from one demarcated context/era or "life" to another) AND TOGETHER MAKE IT A TURNING-POINT. That WON'T HAPPEN without a withdrawal from the earthly on some level, AND a state of "HOLY DISTRESS" somehow to NEED & SEEK & ENTER INTO THE INHERENTLY REDEMPTIVE=EXODUS ASPECT OF THE CROSSING!! YOU HAVE TO GET UP & MOVE OUT & LEAVE. Carefree comfort, complacency, contentment, safety, security, soft living, sloth, etc. PREVENT & HINDER & RESIST ANY SUCH RADICAL YET SALVIFIC CHANGE.)


⭐⭐⭐‼️ In an act of profound Divine condescension, The unnamed “Man” (God) initiates contact, permitting Jacob to grapple physically with the One who alone can bless. God stoops to human level (for this purpose), foreshadowing later incarnational themes.
(GOD ALWAYS ACTS FIRST.) (GOD WANTS TO BE CLOSE ENOUGH TO US TO BE TOUCHED– but even moreso, I think He YEARNS to take it further. GOD WANTS TO BE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE WRESTLED WITH— direct and deliberate impacts of skin on skin, actively engaged, potently tangible, immediately & powerfully intimate. This is a grappling embrace, entered into and sustained ONLY by the DECISION to do so, as a man and a valid athlete, by throwing yourself in totally, your whole body and mind and heart involved, CHOOSING to expend ALL YOUR STRENGTH in this momentous interaction. Only one of you will come out on top; the winner must keep the other beneath him, held fast by superior stamina. No mortal can best the Omnipotent God. We're all doomed to be pinned. But isn't it a joy, to be held fast by His Hands, to feel His weightiness strategically placed upon us, not as a foe but as a sparring partner–  someone who can get that close, and stay there? Do you grapple with God just to feel the force of His grip on you? Do you wrestle Him just to get face-to-face? Are your fights just excuses to get your arms around Him as vehemently as possible? God is a Warrior; I think maybe He loves to wrestle.) 


⭐⭐⭐‼️"Jacob emerges limping yet renamed: “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled ("abaq") with God and with men and have prevailed”. The wrestling thus becomes the hinge between an old identity built on self-help and a new identity rooted in covenant grace"– By dawn, the covenant promise made to Abraham is renewed through his battered but blessed grandson. Hosea later interprets the event: “He struggled with the Angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor”, linking Jacob’s wrestle to heartfelt repentance and worship.


⭐⭐‼️Jacob’s refusal to release his Opponent— “I will not let You go unless You bless me”—models a bold stamina of persevering, persistent, even importunate prayer. The New Testament echoes the motif: “Pray without ceasing” and “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful”. The believer’s grip on God’s Promises mirrors Jacob’s hand on the divine Wrestler– because GOD IS THE ONE WHO STARTED THE SHOWDOWN. He WANTS us to keep wrestling with Him, and wrestling WHOLEHEARTEDLY, since He's ALSO the One Who SET THE PRIZE. "Seek and you shall find" still applies, but sometimes you find a river and a WWE ring. "Ask and you shall receive," but sometimes the reception is on the terms that you throw down with the LORD first. "Knock" on the door, but you'd better be wearing your sparring uniform, because that's the door to the arena, and let's face it— you wouldn't BE knocking, or seeking, or asking such things without SOME inkling of the contexts & criteria involved. Of course God is a Good Father Who WANTS to give you whatever you need, and He WILL... it's just not handed over casually. A good Father, IN the very act of giving, also teaches you value, and dignity, and honor, and integrity, and how to be a man... by teaching you Himself. And sometimes, that Self-teaching is most personally, powerfully and memorably revealed on the mat with Him.)


⭐‼️‼️‼️The lone Old Testament wrestling scene anticipates every believer’s spiritual conflict, redirecting attention from human antagonists to the real driving force behind their enmity & apathy: the realm of demonic spiritual opposition. As we fight the darkness both within & without, we must always remember that ALL victory in our spiritual warfare comes not through "overpowering God" by the supposed heft of our accumulated religious "merit," moral pride, discerning wisdom, or intellectual self-sufficiency– Who do you think GAVE you those things, IF indeed you do have them and aren't just puffed up in foolhardiness? No, you're still just mortal; they won't do you any good. Your only hope– and your unfailing hope– to win ANY battle, is ironically through clinging to God. When you're under HIS Power, nothing else can touch you.


⭐⭐⭐‼️‼️‼️The permanent & humbling weakness of a dislocated hip ensures that Jacob— and the nation of Israel— will forever remember the source of their blessing. Physical weakness complements spiritual strength, perhaps even by design: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in your weakness”. Believers will learn by experience that Christ's authentic power only proceeds from yielded, even wounded, vessels. Great blessing comes through brokenness, like shattered pottery fixed with gold. Our very weakness becomes our strength, in that it IS a helpless place of self-emptying, an open and surrendered channel through which God can work.
Lasting change often only follows seasons of struggle; wounds may become lifelong reminders of grace.
(WHERE GOD TOUCHED HIM, HE WAS CRIPPLED. AND THAT DISABILITY WAS THE MEMENTO OF A LIFECHANGING BLESSING!!!)


⭐⭐⭐‼️Many interpreters see the Wrestler as a pre-incarnate appearance of the Son. The mysterious figure speaks with divine authority, yet manifests in tangible form, preparing hearts for the ultimate self-revelation in Jesus Christ, who wrestled in Gethsemane and conquered at the cross.

Foreshadowing the Incarnation: God who lets Himself be touched.

⭐⭐‼️‼️This event encourages believers to engage honestly with God; unanswered questions and fierce petitions can coexist with reverence.
Wrestling in prayer requires a perseverance that prevails, because you CAN'T stick it out that fervently for that long without REAL FAITH & HOPE.

⭐❓Like Jacob, all Christians receive a new name and mission, Emphasizing our true covenant identity in Christ.

⭐⭐⭐‼️‼️ The spiritual disciplines— prayer, fasting, intercession— are all arenas of "abaq," where we closely encounter God IN our struggle, and our ardent, devoted persistence meets His divine blessing.
(REMEMBER SAINT PAUL'S ATHLETIC ANALOGIES!!!)


Striving with God: confronting self-reliance.

Identity transformation: from Jacob to Israel, from sinner to saint.


⭐⭐‼️‼️❤ "Abaq"'s brief theological footprint is nevertheless vast. Jacob’s midnight contest previews the believer’s lifelong wrestling: clinging to God’s promises, confessing frailty, and emerging transformed. Through this verb Scripture reveals a God who engages, blesses, and renames His people, ensuring that every limp testifies to sovereign grace.


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