The Blessing of "And"

Genesis 32:24-30

Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.”

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Jacob wrestled the angel
And the angel was overcome.

"Bullet the Blue Sky" by U2

Jacob got his name because he was born holding on to his twin brother's heel. Jacob also means "He supplants." That's not the kind of name you want in this life. You'd always wonder if he was coming to supplant you next. And that's what got Jacob into trouble with Esau. Jacob had supplanted Esau taking his older brother's birthright and his father's blessing, and it almost got him killed.

So years later, Jacob went to meet his brother, sending before him a generous gift. He was hoping this gift would help his brother forget. The night after he delivered his gift, and the night before he met his brother, Jacob wrestled with the angel. Did he grab the heel?

This was when Jacob became Israel. This is when the birth of the nation truly began. This is when the people of God started to become the people of God, this is when the reign of God took the face of a people. Not with a great battle, but with a limp.

The clip is from the movie "Rattle and Hum" and at the beginning of this clip Adam Clayton says something I strongly agree with, "There are people who would say that you shouldn't mix music and politics, or sport and politics, or whatever; but I think that's kind of bullshit."

On the side bar of this blog I am a bit more diplomatic saying, "It is said that there is a difference between the sacred and the secular, the holy and the profane. As for me, I say those are false separations. If we believe that all things come from the Lord, we must believe all things come from the Lord."

Everything comes from God. The power of a people, the power of a nation. There is separation between church and state in America, but there is no separation between God and God's people. This is what must be remembered. We must strive to be a nation of "and" not a nation of "but." In eternal life, a life we can embrace on earth, there is more than enough for all.

Jacob has striven against God and won, for that he was blessed. Imagine what can happen when sport and politics and art and God come together for something greater? That will be a blessing.