Spirituality Information |
The Jabbok Experience
Jacob had sent his family on across the river Jabbok. Now he's alone in the night with the river; this smooth talking, manipulating, deceiving Jacob. Here he stands in the dark by the river Jabbok; the river that runs in the darkness between the life he has lived up to this point and the new life that could lie on the other side in the land of Canaan - the Promised Land. All he has to do is cross it. But to cross over into a new life is not an easy thing to do. It is not a simple process because before one can cross, unknown dangers may have to be faced and terrifying battles fought. This is what Jacob discovered. To cross over into Canaan was not just a matter of crossing a stream, because in the darkness a strange and mysterious Presence arises. Ancient tales had it that rivers had spirits which had to be defeated before the river could be crossed. But when we read on in scripture we learn that the antagonist that appeared into the night to seize Jacob for a struggle that would last until daybreak, was not a river spirit, but the God of Righteousness forcing Jacob to his reckoning. There comes a time in our lives when every soul must give a reckoning by the river Jabbok. This Old Testament story is dramatizing the consequence that comes to every soul that has tried too long to evade the truth about itself. The soul must wrestle with the mystery of existence and the reality of God to whom we must give an account. It is a time in our lives when we cannot manipulate anyone or deceive anyone or con our way out of the situation because no one's there but you and God. Jacob is wrestling with the judgment of God flowing through his very core of being. Tomorrow he has a date with destiny; he sees Esau whom he so easily degraded into an object to be used for his own advancement. Jacob saw his world shadowed by his guilt. Old memories awakened; old fears rose up from the past. All his betrayals, deceptions, lies and manipulations converged in on him in fateful battle. Here, by the river Jabbok Jacob had to find the God within. He had to face up to himself and admit deep down that he did not deserve anything. He had to give up the pride that thought he could work out his own peace of mind by his own wits. Jacob had to struggle with himself to break through himself to the divine. Who will win? We too must fight many personal battles with our inner selves by the river Jabbok. We cannot cross over to the new life until we come to terms with ourselves and recognize ourselves for what we really are. Then we must make the decision as to which one of ourselves will win the battle by the river Jabbok.Who will win when we see in one corner dirty, broken, bleeding, unsuccessful people crying out to be loved and in the other corner clean and bright and upward rising stars? Who will win when we hear Jesus' voice calling us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him and Satan's voice offering us power and wealth and prestige? Who will win the struggle when a friend is in trouble or disgrace and to stand by him or her would mean that your own sweet reputation could also be tarnished? Who will win when power and status parade before our eyes and tempt us to betray ourselves and others in exchange for recognition, adulation or a high office? Who will win? Who will win as we and Jacob wrestle with the God within our souls in the night beside the river Jabbok? Our true selves that were made in the image of God or the fragments of our selves that want to make idols of things like sex and power and money and recognition? The Presence at Jabbok is stirring within us, calling us to wrestle with our depths until we find our true selves. Scriptural Reference: Genesis 32:22-32(NIV). Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, is expected to be available soon. You are welcome to visit AMEN Ministries: Your Soul's Service Station for spiritual refreshing, soul edification, browse our newly expanded mini shopping mall or review our recommended books you may want to add to your personal library. Blessings to all!
MORE RESOURCES: Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting |
RELATED ARTICLES
Halloween Rites For some of us, EVERY DAY IS HALLOWEEN!!! If you want to be unusual dress up as a nurse, secretary, grocery clerk or bank teller this year. Gypsy, vampires and shaman wanna-bes are everywhere already!Or you could get all Martha Stewart about it and practice the following festive rites, which find their origins in the British Isles and Europe for that "authentic" Halloween experience. Gods Will Many may wonder what is God's will, or how do I put God's will into my life? Well let's see what the Bible says about God's will. We must first understand that Jesus wants us to be holy. Diversity Not Assimilation Good morning Roy, good morning Joseth. (Channelled)From time to time most of you wish that more people were like you so that you could be understood and get things accomplished your way. Questioning - Is It A Natural Process? One of the first issues people on the spiritual path have to address is a doctrinal one: Is it wrong to question? Is asking questions about the truth we've been taught "sinful?" Your answer may have a dramatic effect on your ability to explore without guilt!One of the major issues facing many individuals today is the question of whether or not questioning the doctrine presented by their religion as a whole is "sinful." It's the first doctrinal issue that must be addressed by an individual seeking to strengthen their level of conviction, whether that conviction is for or against their religion as the foundation on which their spirituality is built. 6 Little Prayers That Bring Healing - Every Time You Pray Ok, let's start with the amazing story ofRobbie and how a little-known scripture in the bookof Galatians got him healed of cancer - after the doctors had given him only 6 months to live!!Ready? Here we go.. What Is The Spiritual Path? For many years of my life, I thought the spiritual path had something to do with following one of the major world religions or pursuing an Eastern practice. I even thought it had something to do with morality and ethics. Prayer - The Ultimate power There is an prayer process in every religion and everyone has it own unique importance.I like to explain an real, sensible & fact-full meaning of a prayer, as follows. Sole Work - Walking the Spiritual Path For the past several years I have struggled with getting (and staying) fit. Ok I admit it, the struggle has been longer than just a few years. Spirit and the Mind-Body Team Your mind-body team is made up of your mind and your body. No surprise there! Your mind and body are closely related because they can both be()given to you genetically ()created by you ()altered by some physical world eventGeneticsYour mind-body team is biologically based. Go Beyond - You Are Your Own Best Friend, So Start Liking Yourself! A year ago, a beautiful woman came to see me. Her husband had been cheating on her and she wanted some advice regarding her future. Ten Suggestions For The Overscheduled Child Ever wonder what happened to the family dinner hour? Or for that matter the family dinner half hour? Monday is Soccer Practice, Tuesday is Piano lesson, Wednesday is Church Activities, Thursday is a Soccer Game, Friday a birthday party to attend. A number of events will fill up the weekend. I Count It All Joy A new chapter in my life begins today, the anniversary of my birth. It is therefore necessary that I pause to reflect upon this past year. A Mothers Journey to Spiritual Surrender I have studied many of the great Religions, Quantum Physics, Mystical Awareness and many forms of Spirituality over the past 17 years. I consider myself a Seeker and a Lightworker. Ask and It Shall Be Given You This statement sounds incredible. ASK and it shall be given. A Mothers Battle The tongue is such a tiny little organ. Yet, it can be one of the most powerful weapons. Fulfillment A feeling of fulfillment is something we all seek. Here I would like to address this in a way that many of you already know at some level but which I feel is necessary to highlight. Psychotherapy and Spiritual Growth The teacher of the future.. From Superstition to Clashing Rocks "Our mind is capable of passing beyond the dividing line we have drawn for it. Beyond the pairs of opposites of which the world consists, new insights begin. Be Still Psalm 46:10"Be still, and know that I am God;I will be exalted among the nations,I will be exalted in the earth." (NIV)Before my wife, Melinda, gave birth to a baby girl eight months ago, I thought I had God all figured out. Nurturing Your Spirit Do you ever wonder about the other "YOU ?"The one that speaks to you quietly, the one that helps you find inspiration. It is in yourspirit that the feeling of love and peace reignsupreme. |
home | site map | contact us |