‘Until’
The Bible says, ‘Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man [the angel of the Lord]… until the breaking of the day.’ When God decides to deal with you He will get you alone. Notice, Jacob was ‘left’. When surgery is required, only the patient is allowed in the operating room. Something in you must be dealt with or you won’t make it. Notice also, ‘There wrestled a man with him until’. Others may give up on you, but not God. ‘He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.’ (Philippians 1:6 NKJV) ‘Until’ you begin to walk, talk and live in such a way that everybody around you knows you’ve been touched by God. God’s not going to let you get by with stuff He used to overlook. He will wrestle with you and show you that you’re wasting your life. He will wrestle with you over your careless attitudes, words and actions. He will wrestle with you over your ingratitude [ungratefulness] and help you see how blessed you are. He will wrestle with you over your double-mindedness and unwillingness to make a commitment. You’ve changed jobs, changed relationships and changed churches; when are you going to let God plant you permanently somewhere so that you can bear fruit? There are two ‘untils’ in this story. First, God wrestled with Jacob until he said yes. Second, Jacob wrestled with God until He blessed him. At that point Jacob’s name changed, his past ended, and the future God had in mind for him began.