Jacob's Limp—and Ours

Jacob must have been a powerful wrestler! Through the night he and an angelic visitor wrestled to a draw. The match came to an end, though, when his opponent "touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man." By the time the struggle was over, Jacob had received a divine blessing, a new name (Israel), and the awe-inspiring realization, "I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared." As the sun rose and Jacob walked away, "he was limping because of his hip" (Genesis 32:24-31).

Does it surprise you that an encounter with God would leave someone blessed but broken, loved but limping? Jesus' first Beatitude confers a blessing on broken people: the poor in spirit. David wrote, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalm 51:17).

Are there really any of us who couldn't qualify as broken people? Most of the leading figures in the Bible had to overcome personal weaknesses, embarrassing failures, and painful circumstances outside their control. Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery. Moses lacked confidence in his ability as a public speaker. Two of Aaron's sons disobeyed God and were struck dead. Joshua and Caleb faced the threat of stoning, outnumbered by a large majority who refused to believe Israel could conquer the land of Canaan. Naomi and Ruth endured famine, widowhood, and poverty. Sarah, Hannah, and Elizabeth struggled with infertility. David committed adultery, and his family nearly fell apart. Elijah ran for his life into the wilderness, dejected and exhausted. A young mob made fun of Elisha's bald head. Jeremiah lacked self-confidence. Daniel rose to the heights of government, then found himself in a lion's den. Hosea's wife cheated on him. Esther saw a powerful political figure nearly destroy her people.

John the Baptist was jailed and beheaded for telling the truth. Group dynamics among the 12 apostles were complicated by strong egos, stormy tempers, and the treasurer's misappropriation of funds. Thomas had his doubts and Matthew had his seedy friends. Peter struggled with impulsiveness, and when the pressure was on, he denied the Lord three times. Mark deserted his coworkers in the midst of an important mission trip, which led his relative Barnabas to experience a painful falling out with his longtime friend, Paul. Paul himself suffered from a thorn in the flesh, and his young colleague Timothy had stomach problems. John served the Lord faithfully for decades, but ended up in exile on the island of Patmos.

Blessedness and brokenness go together. If God didn't use broken people to do his will, to whom would he turn? On this sin-scarred earth, broken people are all he has—and all he needs. We are jars of clay in which God has placed his treasure "to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us" (2 Corinthians 4:7).

At the Last Supper Jesus "took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me'" (Luke 22:19). The Christians at Corinth were not impressive by human standards, but the apostle Paul told them, "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it" (1 Corinthians 12:27). Like the Communion bread, members of Christ's body are blessed and broken in his hands.

So don't be surprised if you experience brokenness or times when you wrestle with God. The key is to keep walking by faith—even when you must walk with a limp.