TND: BEFORE THE BREAK OF DAWN
Last week, we talked about the night time and how it is a phase before the dawn.
The night time can be frustrating for the believer because he has seen the dawn before, but now, is in the dark.
For the unsaved, the dark is his reality but the new dawn can be, too. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
If the night time is attached to darkness, confusion, etc, the dawn must be something to hope for then.
So, what really is the dawn?
The dawn is the beginning of a new day and a new phase for the living. It is the reality of something new which results in a change of the usual.
It is a pathway between the night and the day. The dawn is usually called daybreak.
Just before the dawn breaks, little sparks of light begin to penetrate in the darkness which signifies a new day is breaking forth.
The daybreak may be associated with some form of violence.
Jacob is one guy who experienced darkness and also broke into the new dawn. He had his own share of violence and we'll examine his story critically today. (Genesis 32:24-30)
You may be curious. Why did Jacob have to wrestle? Who started the fight? Please, follow me with an open heart.
Again, the break of dawn can be associated with violence. Wrestling - violence.
Jacob had been in darkness, he had had to run away from his brother all his life, he wasn't settled.
His name was making the best out of his destiny - a supplanter, a cheater, a deceiver, a thief.
His nighttime was filled with insecurity, worry, fear, etc. He was tired and wanted a change. He wanted to live in a new phase; a new dawn.
I don't know if you're ready, but I am ready and I'll say it loud enough for the devil to hear.
"I am ready to live in the new dawn."
Jacob had to wrestle and if we (you&I) are ever going to live in the new dawn, we have to wrestle and be violent— wrestle in choosing faith over fear, wrestle on our knees in prayer.
Another thing was that Jacob knew what he wanted. Had he not known it, he wouldn't have wasted time wrestling.
Jacob was tired of living in the nighttime of fear, he was tired of living in the nighttime of another man's riches that wasn't rightfully his. He wanted to be indeed blessed by God and that was why he wrestled.
What kind of dawn do you expect to have? A new dawn in health? What situation concerning you needs a new dawn? Know it before you wrestle.
PREPARATION FOR THE NEW DAWN
Jacob had suffered so much, trust me. He had lost so many opportunities to enter into a new dawn.
In Genesis 28:12&16, he slept at the gateway of Heaven and he didn't know. He woke up and he made a sour statement, "Surely, the Lord was here and I didn't know."
Terrible. May this statement never be your reality. Amen.
I'm not surprised that Jacob lost that opportunity because the dawn does not come by chance, it has to break.
Many a time, there has to be a form of violence and intentionality; some form of preparation must be in place to receive the dawn.
However, in Genesis 32:24-28, something interesting happened. I'd have assumed Jacob went to fight with the man-angel but God's Word records it as the opposite.
"This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break." Genesis 32:24 NLT
How then did he see a man and knew he was an angel enough to wrestle all night with Him?
Simple. He was discerning and he learned that in his nighttime. He learnt that even in darkness, you've got to shine your eyes in case help comes like a thief.
Prior to the dawn, he had built the capacity to discern. He saw a man and yet, he wrestled.
What really must have caused the fight? Well, I am not sure I know.
The fact only remains that Jacob could recognize Him. It seems to me as though whenever angels get to the tail of the ladder and step on land, they change into a man stature (Gen 18:1-8).
Still, Jacob just knew this one was not a man -- He was God. In the end, Jacob got what he wanted: a real blessing he could hold on to as his own.
In summary, dear believer, just before the break of dawn, so many things happen.
You need to have built capacity, really known what you want, discerned it & wrestle if you'll ever break into the new dawn.
Before the story changes, there has to be some violence from your side & on my side. Violence in prayers, violence in faith etc (Matthew 11:12).
You must also remember that it's not going to be easy contending for the new dawn. You'd have to wrestle against different things, especially strong men (Ephesians 6:12).
It's not easy, but you have grace and sufficient help.
Dear Believer, the dawn is almost here, hang on.
See you next week! God bless you.
Suggested Activity: At least for 30 minutes, wrestle for the kind of dawn you want tonight.
Did you miss reading the night time fall? Read here.
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