![]() | |
![]() | |
![]() |
Spirituality Information |
|
![]() |
The Jabbok Experience
Jacob had sent his family on across the river Jabbok. Now he's alone in the night with the river; this smooth talking, manipulating, deceiving Jacob. Here he stands in the dark by the river Jabbok; the river that runs in the darkness between the life he has lived up to this point and the new life that could lie on the other side in the land of Canaan - the Promised Land. All he has to do is cross it. But to cross over into a new life is not an easy thing to do. It is not a simple process because before one can cross, unknown dangers may have to be faced and terrifying battles fought. This is what Jacob discovered. To cross over into Canaan was not just a matter of crossing a stream, because in the darkness a strange and mysterious Presence arises. Ancient tales had it that rivers had spirits which had to be defeated before the river could be crossed. But when we read on in scripture we learn that the antagonist that appeared into the night to seize Jacob for a struggle that would last until daybreak, was not a river spirit, but the God of Righteousness forcing Jacob to his reckoning. There comes a time in our lives when every soul must give a reckoning by the river Jabbok. This Old Testament story is dramatizing the consequence that comes to every soul that has tried too long to evade the truth about itself. The soul must wrestle with the mystery of existence and the reality of God to whom we must give an account. It is a time in our lives when we cannot manipulate anyone or deceive anyone or con our way out of the situation because no one's there but you and God. Jacob is wrestling with the judgment of God flowing through his very core of being. Tomorrow he has a date with destiny; he sees Esau whom he so easily degraded into an object to be used for his own advancement. Jacob saw his world shadowed by his guilt. Old memories awakened; old fears rose up from the past. All his betrayals, deceptions, lies and manipulations converged in on him in fateful battle. Here, by the river Jabbok Jacob had to find the God within. He had to face up to himself and admit deep down that he did not deserve anything. He had to give up the pride that thought he could work out his own peace of mind by his own wits. Jacob had to struggle with himself to break through himself to the divine. Who will win? We too must fight many personal battles with our inner selves by the river Jabbok. We cannot cross over to the new life until we come to terms with ourselves and recognize ourselves for what we really are. Then we must make the decision as to which one of ourselves will win the battle by the river Jabbok. Who will win when we see in one corner dirty, broken, bleeding, unsuccessful people crying out to be loved and in the other corner clean and bright and upward rising stars? Who will win when we hear Jesus' voice calling us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him and Satan's voice offering us power and wealth and prestige? Who will win the struggle when a friend is in trouble or disgrace and to stand by him or her would mean that your own sweet reputation could also be tarnished? Who will win when power and status parade before our eyes and tempt us to betray ourselves and others in exchange for recognition, adulation or a high office? Who will win? Who will win as we and Jacob wrestle with the God within our souls in the night beside the river Jabbok? Our true selves that were made in the image of God or the fragments of our selves that want to make idols of things like sex and power and money and recognition? The Presence at Jabbok is stirring within us, calling us to wrestle with our depths until we find our true selves. Scriptural Reference: Genesis 32:22-32(NIV). Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, is expected to be available soon. You are welcome to visit AMEN Ministries: Your Soul's Service Station for spiritual refreshing, soul edification, browse our newly expanded mini shopping mall or review our recommended books you may want to add to your personal library. Blessings to all!
MORE RESOURCES:
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
RELATED ARTICLES
Secrets of Effortless Action Action dakini gets everything done. When wanting and grasping hold sway The dakini has you in her power. Resonance Have you ever heard something that really "resonated" with you? I'm sure that if you are in tune with yourself emotionally, physically and/or spiritually you will know this experience well. Have you however ever reflected on what it means when something "resonates" with you?If you reflect on the latter question you will likely come to the conclusion that to say that something resonates with you generally means that what was said feels like "the truth" for you. Where Are You Currently Heading? Do you know where your current path is taking you?Education, religious upbringing, core family beliefs and friend's values have been shaping your life up to now. You're busy with life, work, partner, kids and socials and have little or no time to stop and think about where you're life is heading. How To Change Your Attitudes What type of person grabs your attention and motivates you? Usually it's a person who is very passionate about what he or she is doing. She's on fire and her excitement floods the room she is in. Your Artistic Talent as a Weapon Your creative gift has power.God was the first and still is the greatest artist there is. Spirit and the Law of Cause and Effect Most of our troubles are bought about by exercising our own free will.If you have a war, there will be many people, who will ask, Why does the Great Spirit not stop it? Why does the Great Spirit not try to prevent it?The actual truth is that the people of the world are to blame. Going Where Youve Never Gone Before One of the first issues people on the spiritual path have to address is a doctrinal one: Is it wrong to ask questions that I've never asked before? Is asking questions about the truth we've been taught "sinful?" Your answer can have a dramatic effect on your ability to explore who you are and what you believe in without guilt!If anyone has ever told you that the path to spiritual self-awareness (defined in it's simplest terms as "knowing who you are and what you believe in, and letting those beliefs be the driving force in your life") is an easy one, they were being less than honest!Finding your own truth in these times of confusion and change is no small undertaking, and it isn't surprising that many people begin the journey full of hope and enthusiasm, but - as each step becomes even more difficult because it requires even more honestly with yourself and with others - they begin to lose courage. They find a comfortable plateau - a point in their lives where things are better than they used to be - and they decide that staying where they are might not be such a bad option. Immaterial Gain Among some of us who deem ourselves spiritual, the use of the word "spiritual" causes blushing and anxiety. What a pale word it is in the face of what earned spirituality actually provides. My Experience with Spiritual Healing Healing is a special gift that any human being can have. It is fortunate that we are provided with the opportunity to acknowledge and develop it. Quick! Throw Me A Line! I was reminiscing with a friend recently about his 'dark night of the soul' that he'd just experienced. During his pain, he turned his back on God. True Health Some may ask, is there any truth to have a healthy life. I say yes it is. Spiritual Awakening As we proceed further into the 21st century there is even more of a feeling that humanity as a whole is hearing "a calling". Most of the clients in the realm that talk about this describe it as an "awakening" or experiencing an "enlightenment" or a "need for transformation. Serenity Listen to the sound of silence. Enjoy the peace and quiet. Experiences With Angels All of my life I had heard, read and sang about angels, not really giving a lot of thought to or about them. Just before my mother passed away in August of 1984 she told me of her wonderful experience of a visit from an angel. Energy Fields and Group Healing I have held numerous teleconference workshops where I help individuals experience the effects of a new modality called the Mind Resonance Process(TM) (MRP) which clears negativity from the human bio-field.I want to share here an exciting and powerful consequence of having done this work in groups over the years. Solitons and Wavelets Everything in the entire universe, big and small, visible and invisible, is composed of energy.Quarks and quasars, gluons and galaxies, protons and persons, molecules and minds, sunsets and sensations, electrons and ebooks, anything and everything, are all composed of energy. Sure! Ill be a Millionaire! Discover Wealth and Prosperity with the Angels of Abundance I was in the bank's vault. The Brink's armored truck had just delivered several million dollars in small bills. 5 Paper Management Tips for Christians My favorite scripture is Roman's 8:28. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. Discipline of Prayer: Always Connected Every workday, five days a week, I take the light rail into downtown Dallas. Only last week, this routine finally taught me a lesson about prayer. People Fail in Life Because They Do Not Plan Life is growth. For many people life is like a merry go round. ![]() |
home | site map |
© 2006 |