There's a Crack in Your Armor Perry Stone

Jacob’s résumé would reveal that he had tricked his brother, Esau; Isaac, his father; and his father-in-law, Laban. For about seventy years Jacob lived a life of “It’s all about me and what I can get”—until he hit a dangerous crisis. After twenty years in exile, living in Syria and working for Laban (Gen. 31:41), Jacob returned to Canaan and discovered that Esau was bringing a small army to meet him. For all Jacob knew, Esau planned to assassinate him, endangering him, his two wives, and his children. There was nowhere else to run and no other relative’s estate to escape to. It was time to come face to-face with who he was, what he had become, and his pride. It was in that moment that Jacob had no choice but to wrestle! At times God allows trouble and conflict to come your way to confront you, forcing you to seek Him! We read where Jacob wrestled an angel till the breaking of day. In reality, the wrestling was not for the sake of the angel but for Jacob’s sake. Jacob had to confront Jacob before Jacob could become Israel. WRESTLING HIS INNER ME God’s plan to build a mighty nation through Jacob’s sons was already preordained. However, to bring the predestined purpose into the earth, this chosen vessel must be aligned in total right standing with God. Jacob’s wrestling began late in the evening and continued all night until the sun was rising (Gen. 32:24–32). Three important things occurred in less than twelve hours, between sundown and sunup.