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Read: Genesis 25:22-34
Listen: Genesis 25

“After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.” Genesis 25:26

God promises Abram (later named Abraham) that he will be the father of a great nation and that all peoples on earth will be blessed through him (Genesis 12:1-3). Abraham eventually has a son, Isaac, who also has two sons, Jacob and Esau. From the womb, Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, is recognized as a wrestler. As his twin brother, Esau, was born, Jacob reached out and grabbed his brother’s heel (Genesis 25:26). And thus, he was given the name “Jacob,” which means, “he grasps the heel”—another way of pointing to Jacob’s wily and deceptive ways.

As Jacob grew up, his self-reliant and deceptive ways followed him. Much like Jacob, we can be self-reliant and deceptive as well. Like when we retaliate against a coworker with passive-aggressive anger. Or when we attempt to numb life’s pain through various methods—alcohol, video games or shopping. We may even gossip or slander someone as we attempt to get people on “our side.” Much like Jacob, we are often tempted to take matters into our own hands in ungodly ways.

TODAY: A large part of growing in the Christian life is learning to trust God in all things and at all times, relying on God and not yourself. Turn to God in prayer. Ask God to show you how you have been wrestling instead of trusting him. Then ask him to give you strength and courage to rely fully upon him and not yourself.