Who am I… really? Isn’t it time we embraced our true identity rather than projecting ourselves to be someone we are not? So often we try to be someone we think people will like so we can be interesting and loved by others thus we expend much time and resource creating that image. The marketing industry is focused on painting you a picture of success if you will only utilize their products and/or services. The current system is centered around a lie and the perpetuation of that lie. The lie is to exalt “self” with an illusion of being someone else. As we promote the illusion, we suffer the judgment associated with such deception. Consider Jacob.
In Jacob’s life there were two wrestling matches. The first one was when he was in the womb with his twin brother. In Genesis chapter 25:
21 Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the LORD.
23 And the LORD said to her:
“Two nations are in your womb,
Two peoples shall be separated from your body;
One people shall be stronger than the other,
And the older shall serve the younger.”
Jacob was a deceiver and he was given the “blessing” by Isaac under false pretense for he pretended to be Esau right after he exploited his brother. What did his deception cost him? 21 years in service to another deceiver called Laban. Jacob’s deceptions were a manifestation of his insecurities. His trust was not in FATHER but in his own ability to do whatever is necessary to get ahead. His unwillingness to trust FATHER finally came to a head in Genesis chapter 32:
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.”
He wrestled with the angel and in the midst of the wrestling, the angel asked Jacob “What is your name?”. When Jacob finally admitted his deceptive nature, the angel revealed his true identity given to him by FATHER. In spite of Jacob’s habitual deceptions, FATHER was still able to use him according to his purpose given to him before HE formed Jacob in the womb. Jacob wrestled and resisted FATHER’S Divine Nature of Love for much of his life until he finally had to confront the Truth. He wrestled in his darkness until finally the light of day exposed the reality and once that occurred, his nature changed and he was given a new name to reflect it. From deceiver to Israel which means “GOD prevails”:
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.”
Let us take on our true identity and walk in it. Let us shed all of those false identities we have projected to others and accept who FATHER created us to be. Our confession should now align with FATHER’S Intent for us rather than projecting some illusion created by our ego. FATHER is not ashamed of who HE made us to be and neither should we accept the words of judgment and discouragement from those who live in fear and lack. Those people who disparage us are living a lie thus they must belittle us in order to exalt themselves. They are only successful when we accept their lie.
We must no longer wrestle with FATHER’s Divine Intent of Love to be expressed to us and through us to others. HE has commanded us to walk in HIS Intent so let each of us submit to and embrace HIS Command for Love to prevail in our lives. The wrestling needs to end.