Turbulent Times
These are turbulent times. We do not know when we will be faced with a situation where we have tried
everything that is humanly possible, and yet we are afraid, very afraid. These situations are varied, some
expected, some totally unexpected. Sometimes we have to make tough decisions and can be greatly
stressed. The road gets lonely, and the soul can go through a dark night, and it can be a very dark night
indeed! Sometimes, the dark night is not just for one night but a longer period of time.
In the Bible, many of God’s children have gone through such experiences. Joseph, when he was in prison,
Job when he lost everything, David when he was fleeing from Saul, Daniel in the den of Lions, Paul on
several occasions, including when going through the storm, Euroclydon (Acts 27:20-24), and our blessed
Lord in the garden of Gethsemane. Another occasion was Jacob by the brook Jabbok.
In Gen. 32, we read of Esau coming to meet Jacob with 400 men, v. 6, and Scripture says, that Jacob was,
“greatly afraid and distressed, v.7.” Jacob tried everything that he knew to do. He divided the people
and herds into two groups, v. 7-8; prayed to God, v. 9-12; sends a gift of 580 animals of various kinds, v.
13-16; told the people taking the gift what to tell Esau when he meets them, v.17-21; and he even sends
his family over the brook Jabbok, v. 22-23. Then we read, Jacob was left alone, v. 24. This was the dark
night of his soul. A long night, a dark night, a night of wrestling with his fears.
Soon the wrestling was not with his fears but with another person. Wrestling all through the night until
daybreak, v. 24. Jacob wrestled so intensely that the person touched the inside of Jacob’s thigh that his
thigh became out of joint. Hosea describes the nature of this wrestling, “Yea, he had power over the
angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: . . .” 12:4a. “Let me go” the person said,
but Jacob said, “I will not let you go, except you bless me.” What is your name the person asked?
“Jacob,” he replied. No more feigning to be Esau. No more fleeing and fighting in his own strength. No
more known as the “supplanter,” said the person, but Israel, prince with God, who has power with God
and with men, and has prevailed. Then Jacob asks the person His name, at which the person blesses
him. In blessing him, Jacob knew that this person was not a man, but the Angel of the Lord (the Pre-
incarnate Son of God). Jacob then said, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
Till the end of his life (another 50 years), Jacob walked, stood before Pharaoh, and worshipped leaning
upon his staff, Heb. 11:27. When people asked him, “why do you limp?” He would say with joy on his
face and a gleam in his eyes, “that’s the day the Lord touched me and blessed me.” He touched me, O
He touched me and blessed me, and my life was preserved forever to tell the story!
Is this story only for Jacob? No, not only for Jacob but it is for anyone going through a dark night of the
soul. When wrestling with fears, lonely, and when all hope seems to have evaporated, turn towards God
and pray, agonize in prayer all through the night. Pray with tears. Many all-night prayers lead to greater
blessing. Come clean before God, confess all your sin. Pray and plead, “I will not let you go, except you
bless me.” Nevertheless, not my will but Thy will be done. And God’s promise to Israel and to us is, “I will
give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the
Lord, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel,” Isa. 45:3. Pray not only for yourself and family,
but for the people in the family of God, for more people to come into the family of God, and for families,
rulers, and nations of the earth that they may know the one true and living God, the God of the Bible.
Brother Sajan