舊約人物：雅各與神摔跤
創世記二十七章22至31節
22他夜間起來，帶著兩個妻子，兩個使女，並十一個兒子，都過了雅博渡口，
23先打發他們過河，又打發所有的都過去，
24只剩下雅各一人。有一個人來和他摔跤，直到黎明。
25那人見自己勝不過他，就將他的大腿窩摸了一把，雅各的大腿窩正在摔跤的時候就扭了。
26那人說：天黎明了，容我去罷！雅各說：你不給我祝福，我就不容你去。
27那人說：你名叫甚麼？他說：我名叫雅各。
28那人說：你的名不要再叫雅各，要叫以色列；因為你與神與人較力，都得了勝。
29雅各問他說：請將你的名告訴我。那人說：何必問我的名？於是在那裡給雅各祝福。
30雅各便給那地方起名叫毘努伊勒(就是神之面的意思)，意思說：我面對面見了神，我的性命仍得保全。
31日頭剛出來的時候，雅各經過毘努伊勒，他的大腿就瘸了。
信息分享
神斷然不會讓他重回舊路。神要他知道，憑他自己的力量和計謀，他的人生仍會多有缺乏。唯有神能成為他的力量，幫助他面對人生各樣的處境。
回家路上的最後一晚，雅各選擇單獨度過。與二十多年前那個晚上一樣，神再次向他顯現。
神以一個人的形像來與他摔跤。雅各一直努力堅持，直至神在他大腿上摸了一把，使他最強壯的部分受傷才敗下陣來。其實神早就可以這樣做，但祂一直等候著雅各自己降服。
在那一刻，雅各終於說出了一句最重要的話：「你不給我祝福，我就不容你去。」神於是問他說：「你名叫甚麼？」
這個生性詭詐、工於心計的人回答說：「雅各。」神對他說：「我要你改名為以色列（意即「與神一同治理」）。」
這是何等重大的改變！雅各從此成為以色列，他的後裔也代代繼承這個名字。你有何感想？那是神的工作！我們生命如何得著改變？同樣靠神的作為。
放棄自己的努力，神就會接管我們的生命。我們永遠不會知道，神會在我們生命中有何等奇妙的作為，我們的生命在神手中有何等大的用途。
詩歌：憑你意行
憑你意行，主！憑你意行！因你是陶匠，我是泥土，陶我與造我，憑主旨意，我在此等候，安靜順服。
OLD TESTAMENT HEROES: THE NIGHT JACOB WRESTLED WITH GOD
Genesis 32:22-31
22 And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok.
23 He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had.
24 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.
25 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 joint as He wrestled with him.
26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”
But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
27 So He said to him, “What is your name?”
He said, “Jacob.”
28 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.”
29 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.
30 So Jacob called the name of the place Penuel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
31 Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip.
Message
God could not let him go back like that. He had to learn that his own strength and schemes would never be sufficient for his life. God had to be his strength for all the circumstances of life.
Jacob chose to spend the last night of his journey alone. It was like that night twenty years or so before. And again God met him.
God came in the form of a man and strangely wrestled with him. Jacob would not give in until God touched one of his hips, one of his strongest parts. God could have done that at any time but waited, hoping Jacob would give in.
Finally Jacob said some great words; 'I will not let you go unless you bless me. Then God said, What is your name?'
'Jacob' said the twister, the liar, the cheat. God said, 'I am going to change it - you are going to be Israel, a prince with God.'
What a change! It lasted the rest of his life and was carried on by his descendants. How do you explain the change? God did it. How can our lives be changed? In exactly the same way.
When we give up trying to do it all by ourselves and let God take over, there are wonderful changes God can make in our lives. And our lives can be used for Him.
A SONG FOR TODAY: Have Thine Own Way, Lord
Have Thine Own Way, Lord! Have Thine Own Way! Thou Art the Potter , I am the clay, Mold me and make me, After Thy will, While I am waiting yielded and still.