Living in the Spirit
July 29, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Genesis 32:22-31 

So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, ‘For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.’ The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. — Genesis 32:30-31

Jacob’s new name, Israel, literally means “who prevails with God”.  By dealing with God, Jacob had become the person God knew Jacob could be, wanted him to be. Now named Israel, he even has a permanent limp to remind him of this wrestling match. “Peniel” means face of God. “Penuel” is the name of the actual location. While they essentially mean the same thing, perhaps the writer chose the different spellings here to suggest that one never leaves an encounter with God. It travels with him or her, if he or she accepts God’s presence.

What do we do after such an encounter with God? Our scripture suggests a new day dawned for Israel when it says that the sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel where he had struggled with God. It implies Israel accepted God’s presence in his life. This is not a goal attained; it marks a new beginning. For Christians that new beginning is becoming a vital and productive part of the Body of Christ bringing hope and love to a fragmented world.

Jesus also talked about the impact of a risen sun. ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow…Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. (Matthew 13:3b, 5-6) Jesus calls us to sink our roots deeply into the rich soil of his love and follow his way in functioning as the Body of Christ. Our wholeness in Christ is the beginning of wholeness in a fragmented world, but we must be able to stand the heat. The nurture of God through Christ is what makes that possible.

Prayer: Clear the rocks from my path, O Lord, grow my roots deep into your love and let your wellspring surge through me as a conduit of your love to others. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.