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The Blessing of Brokenness

Genesis 32:22-28, NIV


22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.
24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.
25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.
26 Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
27 The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered.
28 Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."


No one in this world would refuse to receive blessings. Blessings come from God, the source of every blessing. Among the many blessings that God showers upon us, He gives us the grace to change into His mature children. That is The Blessing of Brokenness.

1. Jacob was left alone.
After Jacob deceived his father and stole his brother?셲 blessing as the first-born, he fled to Haran. Twenty years passed, and when he returned home, his brother Esau, who held a strong grudge against Jacob for 20 years and had a strong desire to take revenge on him, came to meet Jacob with 400 men. Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed by this news. So he stayed behind at the ford of the Jabbok and sent all his flock and family on ahead to save his own life and see how things went (Ge 32:13-15, 20, 22). Everyone is self-centered?봨ust like Jacob. All the problems in our social life arise from the conflicts between people who have strong egos. This stubborn, self-centered ?쁈??must be broken to experience change (Jn 12:24). I hope we will nail ourselves to the Cross and be broken every day (Gal 2:20).

2. Jacob wrestled with God.
When Jacob was left alone in his night of despair, God came to him (Ge 32:24). When we are all alone by ourselves, our spirit meets God and has fellowship with Him (Ps 77:6; Jn 16:32). God came to Jacob to break his ego. Jacob figured out that his visitor was no ordinary man and clung to him so desperately, knowing that his life was at risk. We also need to have faith in God and pray to Him fervently. Jacob clung to God persistently. When the man of God saw that he could not overpower Jacob, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched (Ge 32:25). Jacob was thoroughly broken. Sometimes God completely humbles us like He did to Jacob.
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3. Jacob had his name changed.
As a result of brokenness, God?셲 blessings were upon Jacob (Ge 32:26-28). Jacob had his name changed into Israel. His position was changed into a precious servant of God. After his name was changed, he received blessings, that is, he was reconciled with his brother Esau. After Jacob was broken and changed, he approached his brother Esau. When Esau saw Jacob limping, he took pity on Jacob, embraced Jacob, and they wept together (Ge 32:31; 33:4). Through brokenness, Jacob reconciled with his brother, met his family again, and lived happily in his hometown.

When we are in the middle of despair because of problems, we need to cry out to God desperately until we receive answers from Him. Once we are broken and made humble before the Lord, God?셲 answers and blessings will be upon us, just as Jacob was changed into Israel. That is the blessing of brokenness. God takes care of the broken and gives grace to those who are broken.