Category: Biblical Wisdom

Life comprises of series of struggles and joys.  Every moment of our life is filled with joys and sorrows; the memories which we ever so cherish forms our experience that belong only to ourselves.  Yet, who do we struggle with?  Is it man, life circumstances, ourselves or is it with God?  Genesis 32:24-28 paints a beautiful picture about a man coming to terms with his identity, one who endured many struggles throughout his life, only to struggle once more.

“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.  When the man saw  that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. ²⁶ Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”  But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”  The man asked him, “What is your name?”  “Jacob,” he answered.  Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”

Jacob, the deceiver, in his defeat to God at the brink of the morning, seemingly after an advantageous fight throughout the night, clinging onto what appears to be God’s feet in humility, asks to be blessed.  God, our heavenly Father, then asks the question that was once asked by Jacob’s earthly father, to whom he deceived.  This time Jacob realizes the implication of his struggle in conjunction with his identity which leads to the monumental realization that his struggle was with God all this time.  God blesses Jacob and gives him a new name, a new identity forged from the birthplace of wisdom; the understanding that apart from God we are nothing.

Our life brings forth many struggles, yet we are distracted by the worries of the outcome of the struggles that we forget that midst the chaos God is shaping our character.  Our struggles are not worldly, instead it is a struggle to claim our identity; the person who God wants us to be as opposed to who we are as a result of the fallen world.  We must ask ourselves, is ourselves not more important to God than the external circumstances to which we blindingly hold fast unto?  Does God not promise to test us beyond our capabilities, for he will direct us in a path to flee from temptation?  Isn’t our character worth more than all the treasures of this world?  As Booker T Washington once said, “Character, not circumstances, make the man.”

God initiates the struggle, wanting for us to realize that we have no control over life’s circumstances, that faith and hope ultimately dictate our peace.   The assurance that God will provide us with all of our needs.  It is difficult to trust in God when we are emotionally distressed and our life is falling before our eyes.  We question God’s promises, whether they were a fragment of our imagination; however, God is faithful and he blesses those who are faithful to him among strife and uncertainty.  I’ve yet to witness an individual who puts their trust in the Lord whom God failed to deliver.  We should rejoice in our struggles and tribulations, for God chastens and rebukes those whom He loves.

“Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”  Genesis 5:24.  A statement so profound, in all the Wisdom of Solomon, the military might of Caesar and the intellectual giants of history, there is no achievements in all their greatness that equates to the character that is evident by the one who walks with God.  In that single statement, more can be conjectured about Enoch than all the men whom the world holds in its esteem.  What is so exceptional about walking with God that resulted in the individual being taken away?  Walking with God requires an intimate understanding of God and his desires.  It requires a submissive heart that places the will of God above their own.  It is the pinnacle of an individual’s faith whereby their thoughts closely matches that of God; an understanding that requires no further clarification or explanation.  It closely models two friends who are emerged in their conversation that they have no concern for anything else that might be transpiring.  In fact, the Bible only specifically mentions two individuals by which the phrase “walked with God” is used and it is never used in the same context and intimacy as it is used for Enoch.

I believe there are three stages to our walk with God.  First, we walk before God as children; eager to learn and try new things.  It is the critical period where we discover God and establish a framework by which we approach Him with petitions and praise.  Next, we walk after God as His servants.  This is the stage where the individual recognizes the voice of God and responds appropriately.  It is a stage that is represented by service and sacrifice; when we learn to concern ourselves with the needs of others and act purely for their benefit without ulterior motives.  Thirdly, we walk with God as His friends and as previously described, it is the most intimate stage of relationship with God and the ultimate destination for any that profess themselves as Christian.

While I was in college, God put in my heart the passage regarding Enoch’s walk with God.  As I read all the passages concerning that topic and wondering about all the implications that had on an individual, God opened my eyes for a week and showed me what it feels like to walk with Him.  Due to my imperfection, I was not able to maintain that walk for more than a week; however, God’s reassurance was that if I continue to seek and grow in Him, I will one day reestablish that walk.  That week was perhaps the greatest week in my entire life.  I saw the world by which God viewed it; able to discern the brokenness and shame that prevents people from truly experiencing the joys and peace resulting from their relationship with their Creator.  It was a week filled with an intimate relationship with God which brought forth contentment and great joys.  Why was I unable to maintain my walk furthermore?  Because at the depths of my heart, my desires were worldly.  I didn’t fully appreciate God’s love and mercy in such a way as to merit the intimacy and joys that were part of walking with God.  My heart needed to be refined further and my desires needed to be mended to reflect God’s holiness.  God’s reassurance gave me comfort and motivation to seek Him continually and I understood that God understands us in our imperfection.  He knows our struggles and obstacles that are a hindrance to our relationship with Him and is continuously working to refine and purify the substance that is our character.  God wants all of us to experience an intimate relationship with Him, to walk with Him and He so desires to be our companion and friend, but the commitment is difficult.  It requires sacrifice and occasionally trusting in God when everything looks bleak or hopeless.  But through the struggles, we grow closer to God and understand the suffering that God experiences as a result of sin.  It is by overcoming our struggles with God do we understand who He is and have the spiritual maturity to merit our walk with God.

During my adolescent and teenage years, this was perhaps the most overlooked commandment as I was bent on my quest for rebellion against my parents.  At that time I failed to realize the importance and significance of what is undoubtedly the greatest earthly commandment given to mankind by God.  In fact, it is the only commandment with a specific blessing for those that observe it, which is – “that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.“ Deuteronomy 5:16.  My unwillingness to become accustomed to this commandment was indicative of a greater sin in my life, which was a sin of rebellion against none other than God himself.  At the time, I sincerely believed that I was a child of God and that I had favor with Him; that it was my parents who were dissolute and in need of enlightenment.  In my arrogance I failed to understand humility and was lost on a path of darkness, reluctant to remove the blindfold that kept me captive and bound with chains to sin.  I did not partake in the blessings resulting from observance of this commandment and I questioned why my life was so broken and lacking fulfillment; yet the answer eluded me in its simplicity.  It was not until I started honoring my parents that my life turned around.  And this time the conviction came from my heart.  I understood, from God’s perspective, the fulfillment and joys that this commandment brought forth and have never turned back.

The first four commandments pertain to our relationship with God and the remaining six concern our relationship with mankind.  To honor thy parents is the fifth commandment and resides at the pivotal location as it is the transitional commandment which bridges our relationship with God to our humanistic commitment.  I am not advocating that one commandment is more important than another; however, perhaps there is significance in the ordering of the commandments.  One viewpoint to consider may be by the order of consequence or impact, with the commandments that produce the greatest impact or the greatest consequence for disobedience appearing first.  Another significance of listing order could be based upon how the commandments should be prioritized.  I lean towards the latter; regardless, it stands to testament how profound this commandment is as there is no other commandment apart from our love of God that greatly describes the extent to which we should love our neighbor.  Our obedience to our parents is symbolic of our submission to God and is the physical manifestation of our spiritual relationship that we experience with God.  In fact, it is said that “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” 1 John 4:20-21.  If we have difficulty honoring parents who ultimately wants only what is best for us, how will it be possible for us to love our enemies as God has commanded?  Why do we often dismiss our parents’ ideas as wrong, when they have more years of experience on which to draw for deciphering which course of action is best for us?  Sometimes it seems that honoring our parents requires of us a great deal of sacrifice.  It means sacrificing our innermost desires at times to honor and please our parents.  Obedience requires a broken and selfless heart that prioritizes the needs of others above our own desires. Such selfless action closely models what our relationship should be with God.  It is much easier to love and serve fellow mankind once we establish an honoring and obedient relationship with our parents.  From my experience I can deduce that those who honor their parents genuinely and lovingly develop into more caring, giving and sacrificial individuals.  It stands to reason that God blesses those who follow His commandments, giving them a long and good life.  After all, the adherence to His commandments requires a person to develop a virtuous character; much as gold is refined when passing through fire.