“只剩下雅各一人。有一个人来和他摔跤，直到黎明。” - 创 32:24

? Wrestling Jacob

"Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak." — Genesis 32:24

? Devotion

Having stolen his brother's blessing from their father, Isaac, Jacob left his family and went to live with his uncle Laban (Genesis 27-28). Then, after many years, Jacob returned to reconcile with his brother Esau.

The night before the brothers were to meet, a man came and wrestled with Jacob in a match that ended in a tie. Only after the struggle was over did Jacob learn that he had been wrestling with God, who said to him, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel."

This new name, Israel, was a symbol of how God was changing Jacob's life. Jacob would no longer be an ambitious, sly deceiver, but a receiver of blessings who would struggle with God and prevail.

The baby whose birth we celebrate at Christmas had a name that symbolized who he was too. Immanuel means "God with us" (Matthew 1:23). Just as God was with Jacob his entire life, God is with us too, and he has promised: "I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).

Like Jacob, we can take great comfort in knowing that God is with us in every step of our journey. And if God is for us, then nothing "will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39).

? Prayer

Immanuel, you came from far beyond our reach to be with us and for us. We know that nothing can ever separate us from your love. Abide with us forever. We pray in your name. Amen.

诵读:楚云   片头: 张妙阳

感谢《普世佳音》制作上传网络

文字校对：李清

图文编排：裕化

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