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Thursday, March 22
Hirpler? What the heck does hirpler mean? Let’s see...
Jacob, alone in the camp. Out of the dark, a Man, an Angel of God, appears.
He touches Jacob’s hip, wrenching it out of its socket. Jacob is now a hirpler: a limper. Dawn arises on the two, still locked in a scuffle. The Man says, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” (Gen. 32:26 NLT)
No, says Jacob. He is determined to cling with all his might. “I will not let You go unless You declare a blessing upon me...And [the Angel of God declared] a blessing on [Jacob] there.” (Gen. 32:25b, 26b Amp)
The Word says Jacob wrestled with the Man. In the Hebrew, wrestle means to bedust or grapple. Grapple...to hold or make fast to something, to seize another or each other in a firm grip as in wrestling, or clinch.
Jacob clung. Hosea tells us, “Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; he wept, and sought favor from Him.” (Hos. 12:4 NKJV) Jacob prevailed, or, more literally, was able, and received the favor and blessing he sought, not by so much by wrestling but by clinging.
We put the emphasis on what Jacob did instead of on what he said: I will not let You go!
It’s not about wrestling an answer from God. We don’t need to wrestle with God. The struggle is as Oswald Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest) said, “You have to wrestle against the things that prevent you from getting to God...Don’t be a hirpler in God’s ways, but be one who wrestles before God with things, becoming more than a conqueror through Him.”
When we cling to the Father seeking His favor, we will receive it. But if we limp through life as a hirpler, we will not be bold enough in our faith to cling to Him and wait for His favor.
So, {lovingly said} don’t be a hirpler!
Well, today I learned a new word. I never remembered reading that word from Oswald. This is a great take on Jacob's wrestling match. Much to mull over.
Love, love, love this post, Lynn! What a great reminder to us all. Have a blessed weekend!
Love the thought, "not by wrestling, but by clinging." Thanks for these wonderful thoughts to ponder!
Great post, Lynn. I've often read this story and focused on the wrestling, not the clinging.
And I certainly don't want to go through life being a hirpler.
Blessings,
Joan
I learned a new word today, too, Lynn. Thanks for another insightful post.
Great post, Lynn. Yes, we do not want to be cripled in our faith. We do need to cling to Him with all our heart. Love the word hirpler.
Please forgive me, everyone. I'm so sorry for my delayed response. You have all blessed me by taking time to read and comment. Love you all! Blessings to you!