旧约人物：雅各与神摔跤
创世记二十七章22至31节
22他夜间起来，带着两个妻子，两个使女，并十一个儿子，都过了雅博渡口，
23先打发他们过河，又打发所有的都过去，
24只剩下雅各一人。有一个人来和他摔跤，直到黎明。
25那人见自己胜不过他，就将他的大腿窝摸了一把，雅各的大腿窝正在摔跤的时候就扭了。
26那人说：天黎明了，容我去罢！雅各说：你不给我祝福，我就不容你去。
27那人说：你名叫甚么？他说：我名叫雅各。
28那人说：你的名不要再叫雅各，要叫以色列；因为你与神与人较力，都得了胜。
29雅各问他说：请将你的名告诉我。那人说：何必问我的名？于是在那里给雅各祝福。
30雅各便给那地方起名叫毘努伊勒(就是神之面的意思)，意思说：我面对面见了神，我的性命仍得保全。
31日头刚出来的时候，雅各经过毘努伊勒，他的大腿就瘸了。
信息分享
神断然不会让他重回旧路。神要他知道，凭他自己的力量和计谋，他的人生仍会多有缺乏。唯有神能成为他的力量，帮助他面对人生各样的处境。
回家路上的最后一晚，雅各选择单独度过。与二十多年前那个晚上一样，神再次向他显现。
神以一个人的形像来与他摔跤。雅各一直努力坚持，直至神在他大腿上摸了一把，使他最强壮的部分受伤才败下阵来。其实神早就可以这样做，但祂一直等候着雅各自己降服。
在那一刻，雅各终于说出了一句最重要的话：「你不给我祝福，我就不容你去。」神于是问他说：「你名叫甚么？」
这个生性诡诈、工于心计的人回答说：「雅各。」神对他说：「我要你改名为以色列（意即「与神一同治理」）。」
这是何等重大的改变！雅各从此成为以色列，他的后裔也代代继承这个名字。你有何感想？那是神的工作！我们生命如何得着改变？同样靠神的作为。
放弃自己的努力，神就会接管我们的生命。我们永远不会知道，神会在我们生命中有何等奇妙的作为，我们的生命在神手中有何等大的用途。
诗歌：凭你意行
凭你意行，主！凭你意行！因你是陶匠，我是泥土，陶我与造我，凭主旨意，我在此等候，安静顺服。
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.