Wrestling with Angels

Genesis 32-36

There's a little devious behavior in every family, isn't there?  And none of us are perfectly wonderful all the time.  So, I guess I can't judge these characters too harshly.  But boy, did they have some character flaws!  Jacob began it all with stealing the birthright and such.  But God blessed him with all those sheep!  And women and babies and cattle and donkeys and......more!  Yet, He still didn't trust God.  He worried about leaving to go home, so he slunk away like a thief in the night.  He didn't realize that there really was a thief with him!

And what about Rachel?  I think she must have been the best "grudge-holder" in the whole world.  First, fighting with her sister over Jacob's love and then holding it against her dad that he married Leah to Jacob in the first place.  At least, I guess that's why she stole his alter pieces.

And what about those brothers?  Killing a whole city of men to "defend the purity of their sister" even after their father had worked things out for the benefit of the family.  Doesn't say much for Jacob and Leah's parenting skills.

And yet the Lord kept leading.  And I guess after wrestling with that angel, Jacob had finally learned that he could trust God so he did moved his family one more time.  I noticed that Jacob talked to them about God the most just before this move, showing that he had matured in his faith enough to spread it to his family.

Maybe that is what today's reading is really all about---maturing in faith.  God comes to us time and time again. Letting us make our mistakes, but staying by our side.  Explaining things and letting us "wrestle" with the new ideas.  Loving us enough to help us pick up the pieces and try again.  Thanks, God.