
Readings: Genesis 32:22-32; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7; Matthew 15:21-28
In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Jacob wrestled with God and had his hip ripped out of its socket. Dislocated. Pain. A lesson so important that it required a continual reminder to never eat any animal meat from that spot where God pulled Jacob’s hip out when they wrestled. Even in pain Jacob persisted. He demanded a blessing from God. He was strengthened, so much so that the Bible says that he prevailed over God and men. To be sure he limped away from that wrenching pain of a dislocated hip, but He was stronger and wiser, blessed in faith.