The Most Urgent Commodity in Want (Luke 17:20-37)

The kingdom of God is the most urgent commodity in want for all humanity. We even unconsciously miss the invisible kingdom of heaven, yearningly desiring to know what it really is and to get hold of it. We don’t really satisfy and fulfill our lives unless we come to fully understand and grasp the kingdom of God. The fallen humanity has desperately been searching for the true kingdom but no avail. So, they have unwittingly been trying to build the earthly kingdom which is visible and tangible to their eyes and minds. In history, it was manifested by the people who built the tower of Babel in order to make a name for themselves and not to scatter over the face of the whole earth, which is recorded in Chapter 11 of Genesis. The people of Israel also longed for the kingdom of God which they believed the kingdom of David as the hope of nation. The kingdom of David is the shadow of the kingdom of God. The real kingdom is invisible and given to those who come to the Father through the Son Jesus Christ.

“Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There it is,” because the kingdom of God is in your midst.’” (Luke 17:20-21)

The Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come. They were told what our Lord Jesus said when he began his earthly ministry, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” The Jews believed that when the Messiah came he would build the earthly kingdom like the one King David built after destroying and conquering the Gentile kings and nations. They were eager to know whether Jesus was the one to come. That’s the reason they asked to him. In replying the question, Jesus says that the kingdom of God cannot be observed but is in our midst, which means within us. The visible universe is the manifestation of the invisible reality, Jesus Christ the Lord, who is the Creator of all things. Nothing was made that has been made without him, says Apostle John. Paul asserts that Christ is the supremacy of all things.

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” (Colossians 1:15-18)

Our mental faculty area is invisible and untouchable, but all kinds of psychological force like anger, frustration, resentment, protest, and happiness and enjoyment are visibly displayed and observed in our midst. Some say, “Here it is” or “There it is.” It may mean a particular group or organization, philosophy, politics, science and technology, arts, sports, material wealth, location, or lifestyle. That’s what the world says. They proudly present that they can offer the satisfaction of life with lofty and glittering ideas, but actually deliver nothing. The kingdom of God is in invisible realm and under the authority and rule of the Creator God. He owns and controls his kingdom according to his good will and plan. There is also in the kingdom of God the evil one who rebels against the Lordship of God and is called the devil. He is the liar and the murderer from the beginning and powerfully and cunningly deceiving people with invisible force, the demonic power. That's the kingdom of God where good and evil are fighting and clashing each other.  

Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. People will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them. For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other.” (Luke 17:22-24)

Jesus turned to his disciples and told them the mysterious and cryptic words, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you   will not see it.” Our Lord Jesus leaped up the time beyond his suffering and resurrection and mentioned of his second coming. People will say, "There he is!" or "Here he is!" But Jesus warns his disciples not go running off after them because the Son of Man in his day will be visibly seen and observed like the lightening, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. The Day of the Lord will be a global event that the whole world will see it. In the last days, many false prophets will come and say, "There he is!" or "Here he is!" They will try to deceive many, even the elect.

"At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time." (Matthew 24:23-25)

Then, our Lord Jesus added this phrase of strange rejection and opposition for the Son of Man by the people of the world. The kingdom of God never comes except through the Son Jesus Christ who came to the earth and went back to the Father through the way of cross. In order to give his kingdom, first Christ must suffer many things and be rejected by this wicked generation.

"But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation." (Luke 17:25)

The suffering of Christ includes the arrest, the trial in the Sanhedrin court, the bloody scourge by the Romans, the mocking, the cruel nailing down of his hands and feet on the cross, the bloodshed by the piercing, and the orphan cry of the Son, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!" As Prophet Isaiah prophesied he was pierced, wounded, smitten, and crushed and cut off in our place. He was rejected by his own people and even by the loving Father in heaven when he was made sin for the world. Although he came to the earth and to his people just as it was foretold and prophesied by Moses and the Prophets, the people of his own nailed him on the cross. Our Lord Jesus is still having been rejected by this warped and crooked generation as Apostle John says in the Book of Revelation.

“Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.” (Revelation 22:11)

In the meantime until the day of the Lord will be visibly seen and observed, we shall be watched and alert for no one knows the day of the Lord. It means no one knows when their last breath of life comes. The Scripture says that we are living in the last days. Apostle John said in the first century that it was the last hour (1 John 2:18). Apostle Paul said that in the last days perilous times shall come (2 Timothy 3:1). So, our Lord Jesus further explains what would be look like in the days of the Son of Man.

“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.” (Luke 17:26-29)

It will be in the days of Noah. The people were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered ark. Eating, drinking, and marrying indicate that they had just been living as usual as any other day in life. Those activities are the essential elements of everyday lives. It doesn’t condemn the daily activities of people’s lives but indicates the stealth of the coming of the Son of Man. No one knows of his coming because he will be coming like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2). Another example was given in Sodom and Gomorrah. It will be the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, trading, and planting trees and building houses. But the day Lot left Sodom led by the angels, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. While they were busy in daily and routine business in living, the day of the Son of Man suddenly came upon them. It indicates that the day of the Lord is the day of God’s judgment.

“It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left. ‘Where, Lord?’ they asked. He replied, ‘Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.’” (Luke 17:30-37)

On that day no one should go back to get anything for Lot’s wife looked back and became a pillar of salt. It is significant for us not to hold on the transient things of the world. Otherwise, we will lose our life. It is indeed the last hour if it was so in the first century. How closer we are to the day of the Lord since the building of the church has begun in the first century! What we ought to do is to praise God with thanks as the unworthy servants. That’s our duty before the living God who loved us first by giving the Son Jesus Christ for our sins.

“Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it,” says our Lord Jesus. This is the greatest principle of life in Christ Jesus. In fact, that’s what Jesus demonstrated in public by giving his life for the sin of the world. By not saving himself up, he saved the lost humanity with his blood of atonement. He did not live for himself but for the Father God and for us. Jesus Christ obeyed the will of the Father, the redemption of the race, to the point of death.

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-15)

We have been made alive by faith in the death of Jesus Christ who has taken away the wages of sin, nailing it to the cross. Jesus conquered the death by the cross. Since we are made cleansed by faith in Christ, we shall continue to live in him, following the way of the cross. Again, no one knows the hour of his coming (Matthew 24:36). So, we shall continue to deny ourselves, take up the cross, and follow our Master Jesus Christ. On that night, two people will be on bed, one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together, one will be taken and the other left. It indicates this will be a global event which happens all over the places of the earth. People are working in one side of the earth and sleeping in the other side.

The disciples asked, “Where, Lord?” Jesus replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.” After everything has been accomplished according to the good will and plan of God made before the creation of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ will appear on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. All peoples on earth will see him just as lighting that comes from the east is visible from the west. That’s the meaning of Jesus’ answer to his disciples.

Prayer: Thank our Father in heaven for letting us know the mystery of life, Jesus Christ the Lord who is the beginning and the end and holds the keys of life and Hades. Thank you Father for enabling us to enter the kingdom of heaven through the faith in the death of our Lord Jesus Christ and to have eternal life now and forevermore. Help us Father to be watchful and alert for the day of the Lord Jesus Christ and not to dare to try to save ourselves but always to lose our life, following him. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

February 13, 2016 

© 2015-2016 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.

God Is Forever Praised and Thanked (Luke 17:11-19)

Leprosy is a skin disease and used in the Scriptures to indicate what sin is. Leprosy has been eliminated from 119 out of the 122 countries where the disease was considered a public health problem in 1985 (WHO Factsheets). But the symbolism still remains to show how much sin terribly disfigures humanity. In the Book of Leviticus, leprosy was pronounced unclean and defiled and anyone who was infected by the skin disease was unclean. So, they couldn’t participate the commonwealth of temple life at all but must be separated and isolated from the community.

"Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, 'Unclean! Unclean!' As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.” (Leviticus 13:45-46)

They were socially forced to be outcast and cut off from the society and even families because of uncleanness and defilement. That’s exactly what sin causes humanity to be isolated and separated from all the resources available in God. Sin is diabolically rebelling and opposing to the Lordship of God. Sin makes man think that he is God, knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:5). It never be true. It’s the lie which is originated from the devil. God used leprosy as the symbol of sin because it deadly disfigures humanity. Sin hurts and injures humanity fatally until it destroys it permanently. Here is a desperate and urgent help wanted for the humanity under the deadly influence of the lie. So, God sent the mediator to rescue the perishing before it gets too late.

“Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” (Luke 17:11-13)

Our Lord Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem and traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. There he was met by ten men who had leprosy as he was going into a village. These lepers couldn’t get into the village according to the law, so they lived outside. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” They were supposed to shout, “Unclean, unclean!” It may be thought as a violation of the law but is not because it is the same language. They shouted, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” They were crying out, “We’ve been unclean and defiled, Lord. Please have pity on us!” Our God is the God of compassion and pity forever. He is compassionate and merciful that he gave his Son for the sin of the world. Those who admit their uncleanness like the ten lepers and ask Jesus for pity, Master, will be outpoured with his mercy and compassion in full and more abundantly.

This is a significant truth that that’s all what humans can say to God, “Have pity on us!” Ironically, history proves that it has been one of the most difficult things for the fallen race to ask for pity to God because being deceived by the mastermind of the lie they ignorantly and unwittingly believe that they don’t need his pity. The wisdom of the world says that we have what it takes and can sort things out. The proud mind of humanity has been deceived and says that they can handle the lives without God’s pity. They also say that it may take a while but somehow they can make it work all like peace on earth. That’s human pride which has no ground and is against God. It is the worst thing for anyone to stubbornly and proudly reject God’s pity.

But if anyone asks for his pity in any circumstance, God never questions back why we have been infected such a horrible disease like leprosy because he knows everything even before we ask. The compassionate and merciful Father to those who repent is so beautifully demonstrated in the parable of the lost son recorded in Luke’s Gospel Chapter 15. The younger son in the parable squandered the wealth and completely broke and ended in as a pig herder. In the deepest discontent and thirst he remembered the father’s house where even a servant was well treated and fed and returned home with a repentant heart. The father recognized his son in a distance and ran to him and embraced even before the prodigal son uttered a word, not to mention the prepared statement. The Father fully restored him as the son, wearing him a robe and ring and sandals. Our God is compassionate and merciful unconditionally to anyone who comes to repent and ask for his pity.

“When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed.” (Luke 17:14)

There was no moment of hesitation for our Lord of mercy to help them out. God’s help is always immediate and prompt but mostly answered in an unexpected way. Jesus saw them and said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” Jesus said them to go and show to the priests because according to the Moses’ Law they were the right office to diagnose the disease. It was most likely that they were told unclean by the priests when the skin sores had been found in them. The priests must examine carefully each case in due process according to the Law before they finally declare them ‘unclean.’ In order to be eligible for reevaluation, they must prove that they were healed and be shown to the priests.

Surprisingly enough, Jesus didn’t even take a look at the sores but simply told them to go and show to the priests. They might have been puzzled by that, doubting their ears, maybe looking each other and saying “What?” Remarkably though, they obeyed and went. But while on their way they might have regretted that they didn’t push Jesus hard enough to heal them on the spot. They might have been worried about how the priests would react when they were presented with all those ugly outfits and the smelly sores. They had to walk on the streets and roads and must have encountered many people, every time shouting, “Unclean, unclean!”

It is obviously a test for them whether they continued to trust in the words of the Lord Jesus, Master. It had happened to the nation Israel under the leadership of Joshua before the invincible city, Jericho, who were told to walk around the fortified city once six days and seven times on the seventh day. Why did God command them to walk seven days? It’s not because God couldn’t do on the first day but because he wanted this people to believe in him. It could have been on the first day or any day if they had believed in him. After the first day of walk around Jericho, nothing happened and the city may have looked more invincible. No changes occurred at on the second, the third, and the fourth, and the fifth day, not even a slightest sign displayed. Nothing happened until they fulfilled the seventh walk around the city on the seventh day. But something happened in them that the faith in God who delivered them from Pharaoh and let them cross the Red Sea and the Jordan River on foot had been growing and blossoming in their heart. At the shout of their faith, the city was crumbled and the men of Israel just took it.

The people of Israel didn’t have to wonder around in the wilderness forty years but actually did because they didn’t believe in God who brought them out of Egypt and all perished (Numbers 14:32-35). They could have entered and possessed the land just forty days after the Red Sea experience. After those long forty years, the new generation of Israel entered the Promised Land because they believed in God Almighty. For those who didn’t believe in God were all perished in the wilderness except Joshua and Caleb. Likewise, many a Christians doesn’t have to go through the wilderness experience in the pilgrimage journey in Christ but they do almost inevitably. The wilderness wondering could be avoided only if they believe in God. The forty years of wilderness wondering of the people of Israel stood as a warning to all Christians that if they do make their heart stubborn and disobey God they too shall perish. Only those who believe and obey God shall enter his rest in Christ Jesus.

“So, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” (Hebrews 3:7-11)

Take another example. Why did God bless Jacob, not Esau though they were twins? It’s hard to believe that God loved Jacob whose name means ‘holder of the heel.’ There is no favoritism in God based on race, blood, color, status, and whatever. Only reason God loved Jacob is because he is love. He is love forever. He never changes, bends, compromises in any circumstance. At the same time he is just and faithful because his love is truthful and honest. Our God is lovingly kind, lovingly truthful, and lovingly just forever. So, God hated Esau because he was love. Not a slight untruth can be tolerable before God. Jesus loved his disciples to the end including Judas Iscariot who betrayed him (John 13:1). Jesus knew him from the beginning that he would sell the Master. But our Lord showed him the true love by being the Son of Man who was God and yet emptied himself and became a servant in the likeness of man. God sent the Son Jesus Christ just as he promised in the Law and the Prophets, so that anyone who believes in him shall have eternal life.

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)

God loved Jacob because he believed in him. It took him years and years to come to believe in the God of the fathers. He refused to believe in him despite of the manifestation and revelation of visions and dreams. He wanted to fulfill his life on his own, mustering all the wits and schemes. He is truly the representative of the fallen race. Even after he struggled with a man at the Jabbok River and was named newly as Israel and called the place Peniel, he skillfully and cleverly organized his families and possessions into several groups to avoid the loss as minimum as possible from the possible attack of his brother Esau. That was the kind of man Jacob was. But God loved him truthfully and bluntly that whenever he used his wits and skills all turned out the frustrations and failures. In the end, he fully surrendered to the God of the fathers and accepted him as the true God.

“And Jacob said to Pharaoh, ‘The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty. My years have been few and difficult, and they do not equal the years of the pilgrimage of my fathers.’” (Genesis 47:9)

As the ten lepers was on the way to the priests, they were healed and cleansed. It’s because they remarkably obeyed Jesus and went to the priests. As they went, probably two thirds a way or much more, they were healed and cleansed. They couldn’t believe it. All rejoiced at the miraculous healing and cleansing. All rushed to each home to share the joy of healing and freedom with their families except one person.

“One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’” (Luke 17:15-19)

One man, a Samaritan, when he saw he was healed and came back to Jesus, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. All ten of them were cleansed but no one returned to give praise to God except the Samaritan. Why is it so significant to praise God and thank him? First of all, God is forever praised and honored and glorified as he is. Without him nothing was made that has been made. Without him nothing can exist at all. He made all things and nothing can come out without him. He is the Lord and Father of glory, the author of all glory, honor, praise, and power forever. Praising God as he is in glory forever is the first and last thing for humanity to do.

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

Giving thanks to God is not optional but mandatory as our duty because it is the reminder of God’s abundant provisions. It is not possible to force someone to thank. Nevertheless, God commanded his children to give thanks to him. It’s not for him but for us. If we do not keep on giving thanks, then we might think that we have done or achieved things which have originally come from God. Not giving thanks to God is the same as robbing and stealing someone else’s property. Our Lord Jesus kept on thanking the Father for he knew everything came from him. He thanked the Father before he fed five thousands with five loaves and two fish (Luke 9:16). Jesus thanked the Father before he raised Lazarus from the dead.

“So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.’” (John 11:40-41)

Our Lord Jesus praised and thanked the Father who hid the mysteries of God from the wise and learned but revealed them to little children. The Father in heaven was willing and pleased to reveal and do all things the Son asked. The Father in heaven is forever giving and his children is forever receiving. God is forever praised and thanked no matter what. Humanity shall forever praise and thank God in Christ no matter what.

“At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.’” (Luke 10:21)

Prayer: Thank you once again Father in heaven for your unfailing and faithful love and revelation that we shall keep on praising and thanking you in all circumstance. Help us Lord to praise and thank you forever. In Christ’s name. Amen.

February 5, 2016

© 2015-2016 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.

Moment of Sheer Reality (Genesis 32:22-32)

For Jacob, this is the moment of sheer bankruptcy before God. He couldn’t put even one step further to cross the Jabbok River. All else including his wives, children, servants, and livestock passed the river. But he himself remained the other side alone. This is the moment Jacob was afraid the most in his life because he had to face his brother Esau whom he deceived twice, stealing the birthright. He was a man of wit and scheme as his name indicates. After all those years of difficulties and struggles with his brother and uncle Laban, he was much blessed and protected by the Lord God although he didn’t know. But now his time came to encounter his brother face to face. He wanted to avoid it if he could thousand times but he couldn’t because that’s the way it was designed and made by none other than God before the time began. Likewise, everyone will face or has already faced the moment of truth before God that they may truly accept their sheer bankruptcy and nakedness and thus they have nothing to present to God. This is the moment of true discovery of man himself. This is the moment into which God wants everyone to bring to face honestly the truth of life.

“That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 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. 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 said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.” (Genesis 32:22-32)

The whole humanity is under the lie and deception of the devil since the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden. We can’t help at all to get out of the fall no matter what. Human civilization has been trying to achieve to peace among the nations, race, class, but there is no progress but complete failure. Notwithstanding the technological and scientific advancements, human morality remains exactly the same throughout the history of mankind. Murder, immorality, rape, slavery, drugs, prostitutions are everywhere rampant. Injustice, unrighteousness, lawlessness are deeply smeared into the humanity and nothing can stop it.

Jacob was one of humanity who was lost and desperately in search of the fulfillment of life but didn’t know how. Even though there were some revelations and visions given to him to show there was a way out in God, he couldn’t get to the point. When he was heading to the father’s land, the angels of God met him and he said, “This is the camp of God.” (Genesis 32:1-2) He was so obsessed with his wit and scheme that he would find a way out some day if he continued to pursue. That’s exactly the picture of race. Jacob didn’t get any help out of the presence of God in his life, so are we either. But Prophet Hosea tells that God is persistently and relentlessly after the fallen race until he finds them.

When Jacob was left utterly alone, he wasn’t alone but with a man who wrestled with him. This man is none other than Jesus himself. Right at the very moment a desperate human needed the help, the right person was helping out Jacob, wrestling together with him. Our God promised that he never leaves us alone ever (Hebrews 13:5). When the angel, Gabriel delivered the good tidings of the birth of the Messiah, he told that people would call him Immanuel which means “God with us!” (Matthew 1:23) In fact, God wants everyone to reach to the point like Jacob faced that they may see clearly what they are in the light of Creator God. He is pleased to reveal the truth that there is a God who made all things and is running the course of universe according to his love forever. He is pleased to give eternal life through Jesus Christ to those who have reached to the point of total bankruptcy that they can do nothing to fulfill life. That’s the deepest cry of Apostle Paul in Romans Chapter 7, saying “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” (Romans 7:24). This cry is ours too in Christ Jesus. Antoinette Wilson beautifully captured it in poetic language.

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner” Christian, with troubled brow'
Are you thinking of what is before you, And all you are bearing now'
Does all the world seem against you, And you in the battle alone'
Remember at Wits End Corner Is where God’s power is shown.

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner” Blinded with wearying pain
Feeling you cannot endure it, You cannot bear the strain.
Bruised through the constant suffering Dizzy and dazed, and numb
Remember at Wits End Corner, Is where Jesus loves to come.

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner” Your work before you spread.
Or lying begun, unfinished And pressing on heart and head.
Longing for strength to do it. Stretching out trembling hands
Remember at “Wits End Corner” The burden bearer stand.

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner” Yearning for those you love,
Longing and praying and watching, Pleading their cause above,
Trying to lead them to Jesus Wondering if you’ve been true'
He whispers at “Wits End Corner” “I’ll win them as I won you.”

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner” Then you’re just in the very spot.
To learn the wondrous resources Of Him who faileth not!
No doubt to a brighter pathway Your footsteps will soon be moved
But only at Wits End Corner Is the God who is able, “proved.”

Jacob didn’t begin wrestling with God but the other way around. God initiated wrestling with him out of love. It’s always true just as God made the visitation to Adam who ate the forbidden fruit and hid in the bushes. Jesus says that no one comes him unless the Father who sent him draws them (John 6:44). The fallen race has been bounded and locked in darkness and confusion. Unless God draws, no one can come out of the darkness of sin and death. That’s what our God has been doing from the beginning to rescue his children from the devil’s dungeon. Apostle Paul has revealed the mystery of the work of the Holy Spirit for the children of God in the Epistle of Romans Chapter 8.

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:26-28)

Jacob couldn’t let the man go until he was blessed by him. He was still struggling with his wit and strength. So, God touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with him. Then, God changed his name to Israel which means ‘God strives.’ What Jacob learned was that there was a God who had personally known him all the days of struggle and difficulty in over ninety years of rough life. He also deeply recognized and realized the touch of the hand of God face to face. What a beautiful language in telling a man who is filled with the unfailing love of God! In the heart of Jacob, the God of Peniel has been implanted when he truly reached to his wit’s end corner.

“The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.” (Genesis 32:31)

Prayer: Thank you Father for your relentless drawings of the fallen race to show a way out in the Son Jesus Christ. Thank you for Immanuel God who has been with us all the days of our struggles and difficulties and wrestling together with us until we come to the wits end corner. Thank you Father once again for your loving touch and kindness in Jesus Christ. In Christ’s name. Amen.  

February 2, 2016 

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