Genesis 32:25
And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
In sports, it is not uncommon for those who lose to come up with an ailment they can use to blame for their loss. We often call this the loser’s limp. A quarterback does fine the whole game, but at the end of the game, when they can't see any way to win, they mysteriously develop a limp. Amazingly, the limp is often gone later that day because the limp was simply a loser’s limp.
Jacob learned the hard way that nobody wins in a wrestling match with God. God will win, but what will He have to do to you to win? Jacob’s problem is found in Genesis 32:1, And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. It does not matter that Jacob was going to meet with his brother; it mattered that he was going his way. It did not matter that Jacob had contrived a plan to right the wrong he made against his brother; it only mattered that he was doing things his way. It was that night when he was alone that he wrestled with God about surrendering his way to do things God’s way. Sadly, Jacob continued to wrestle and God prevailed not, so God touched the hollow of his thigh and caused Jacob’s leg to be out of joint. Jacob’s attention finally was turned from doing things his way to asking God to bless him. God had to physically hurt Jacob so that he would surrender his way to God’s way.
Imagine if Jacob had just surrendered when God first came to get him to surrender. Had Jacob surrendered, he would not have had to limp the rest of his life. Jacob had the loser’s limp, but that limp revealed that Jacob lost self to live for God’s will, which was not a bad thing.
There is nothing wrong with having a loser’s limp as long as that limp is about losing self to surrendering to God. My friend, nobody will win against God. Do you really think that you can prove God wrong? Do you really think that God will not perform what He placed you on earth to do? Samson learned the hard way, but his loser’s limp were eyes that were plucked out. Balaam learned the hard way that compromise never pays, and his loser’s limp was he eventually lost his life. Joseph learned the hard way that he needed to be humbled before God could use him, and his loser’s limp was slavery and the prison cell. Paul had a loser’s limp with eye problems that affected his ability to serve, but God’s grace was sufficient. The loser’s limp should be a reminder of two things.
First, nobody wrestles with God and wins. You can fight God and His plan for your life, but you will lose, and He will win. You can run like Jonah, but God is always at the destination to where you are running. You cannot get away from God, and you will not win against God. Surrender is the best choice for any believer because the longer you wrestle with God, the greater the pain of the loser’s limp.
Second, the loser’s limp is a reminder of your weakness and God’s desire to use you mightily. Nobody has been used mightily without God giving them a thorn in the flesh, the loser’s limp. The loser’s limp is what allows the power of Christ to rest upon you. The good thing about the loser’s limp is that every day you are reminded of your weakness and God’s power, and if you surrender to His power daily, the power of Christ can rest upon you and work through you to do mighty things for God.
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