Genesis 32:25 And when he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him.
Jacob is about to enter a new phase in his life. He will be reunited with his family and he will be in the land God wants him to be in. He is also entering a more mature phase of his relationship with God. God wants to bless him. The problem is that Jacob has a strong personality and he keeps going until he gets his way. This is inhibiting his relationship with God, so He wounds him. Now Jacob becomes more dependent on Him. This is a theme throughout scripture. God allows us to have weakness’, so we need Him. Paul had the thorn in the flesh. He prayed three times for it to be removed. But God said, “No”. Then Paul learns to say that he will “boast in his weakness that Christ’s power will rest on him.” 2 Cor 12:9.
When we are full of confidence, we don’t go to God. Then we live life independently. However, God wants to do much with and through us. We need His strength. He allows some difficulties to stay, so we will be humble and go to Him. Paul wrote a large portion of the New Testament and set up many of the churches. This would not have happened without God’s strength and blessing. Paul’s thorn (many say it’s eye issues-maybe legally blind). Others may have needed to escort him around, as well as write and read for him. Gal 6:11 may be a reference to his sloppy writing.
Our overconfidence reduces the flow of God’s blessing. Our dependance keeps it open. “Blessed are the poor in spirit” is another reference to this concept. Jacob is to enter the most significant life phase with a limp. This tones down his strong personality and makes him reliant on Him.
We all have issues we struggle with. Some God wants to heal. others He wants to keep in our lives, so we keep praying to Him. One such issue with me is social discomfort. I’m such an introvert that I get anxious in public. It has certainly kept me humble and reliant on Him. I can say that I’m thankful that He uses my struggles to keep me close to Him. Without God, life would be a world of hurt. Thank You, God, for keeping us close.