One of the most important issues in life is to know what side you are on. One of the more fatal decisions one can make in life is to pick the wrong sight or to avoid picking a side at all. When you go into a battle you need to have decided who your allies are, and who your opponents are.
I have frequently heard and read comments which speak of someone’s unbelief or lack of faith as if it was a member of their team. When faced with evidence for God, or the importance of religion to society, they state, “Well, since I don’t believe in God…” or “ Since we live in a post-Christian society…”
The reality is that they have confused the teams. A person’s lack of faith, or a societies fall from faith, is not their ally, their buddy, their companion… it is their enemy.
Let us look at the passages in scripture which speak of wrestling
And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.
Genesis 30:7-8
In this passage we see Rachel wrestling with her sister in an effort to see which of them could have more children. Would that our modern women were willing so to wrestle.
And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 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.
And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh.
And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
And he said unto him, What is thy name?
And he said, Jacob.
And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name.
And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
Genesis 32:24-30
In this passage we see Jacob wrestling with the Lord, prevailing against the Lord, and being blessed by the Lord.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Ephesians 6:10-18
In this passage we have the apostle Paul point out the triviality of our mortal, physical difficulties and the extreme importance of our spiritual difficulties.
Introduction/Conclusion
I have been asked by
to comment on the concept of wrestling with faith.How does the story of Jacob wrestling with the angel in Genesis 32:22-32 serve as a metaphor for the spiritual and emotional benefits of grappling with doubts and questions about one’s faith?
In what ways do the Psalms, particularly those expressing lament and questioning (e.g., Psalm 13 and Psalm 22), provide a biblical foundation for viewing struggles with faith as an essential part of spiritual growth and relationship with God?
Considering Jesus' own moments of anguish, such as in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-42), how should Christians interpret and value their own moments of doubt and struggle in their faith journey?
This post is directed solely at the first part of the question… the metaphor of wrestling. The Scriptures are filled with images of wrestling. And the Scriptures are full of the word ‘faith’, it is mentioned all over the place. But it is vitally important for us to realise that in all of the combats that we are called to have, we are to enlist faith, however small, as our ally, not our enemy.
The image that many people have when the hear the words ‘wrestle with faith” is of two fighters on a mat, their skin glistening with sweat, reaching out and grasping each other, each trying for a hold where they can throw the other to the ground.
But our enemies are be doubt, fear, sin, pride, peer pressure, lust, cowardice, apathy… but never faith.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:6
When we are told to fight the good fight, and to run the race, we are to be fighting with faith and running with faith, but always as our ally and our equipment, never as our enemy or our opponent. It is not faith which hinders, or faith which weighs us down.
When someone says, “Since I don’t believe…” they need to realise, we need to realise, that their grammar is wrong, their wording is false. It implies that a lack of faith is a rock upon which one’s life is founded. But a lack of faith is not a rock, it is sand, indeed quicksand.
The correct grammar, the correct language, is, “I am in rebellion against God. I am a fool, and one part of my folly is that I deny that He exists.”
Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!
Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.
If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!
If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.
Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,
Von
Links
Some Theology from Andrew
Love in Division // Podcast Version
Justice and Talents
Marriage Discussion
I write a lot on the subject of marriage, and one of the most important threads has been a letter exchange with
. Our question in that thread was ‘What Is Marriage?”.Ryan Shortalso contributed.
When someone says, “Since I don’t believe…” they need to realise, we need to realise, that their grammar is wrong, their wording is false. It implies that a lack of faith is a rock upon which one’s life is founded. But a lack of faith is not a rock, it is sand, indeed quicksand." Good post. Never thought about Unbelief as a rock for unbelievers to stand on. Interesting ...
I am certainly well-experienced in the “picking the wrong side” mind set, as a returned Prodigal. We are fortunate that the mercy of Papa God brings us back, works with us in our contrite state and gradually rebuilds our soul in a resemblance of Christ. A very tough task but needed. So grateful to have come back Home…