[b]Power With God And Power With Men[/b][i]by Zac Poonen[/i]In Genesis 32:29, it is written that "God blessed Jacob there.The word "bless" is perhaps the most frequently used word inthe prayers of Christians. But few understand its real meaning.What is blessing? What was the blessing Jacob got? It isdescribed in Gen 32: 28 as "power with God and power with men.This is the blessing that we all need and that we should beseeking for. Nothing less than this is what God desires to give His people.Jesus referred to this blessing when He asked His disciplesto wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. He said,"When the Holy Spirit is come upon you, you shall receivepower" (Acts 1:8) - power with God and power with men.Jacobs would be transformed by the Spirits power into Israels.And this alone can provide the answer to the crookednessof our self-life. It is not a question of reformation or of goodresolutions or even of our determination. It is a questionof the Holy Spirit possessing us fully and governing and ruling our lives.But where does the Spirit lead us? Always to the cross. Itis only when we are crucified, that Christ can live in us inHis fullness, It was when Jesus was baptized, buried underthe waters - symbolically accepting death to Himself - thatthe Holy Spirit came upon Him (Matt. 3:16). It was whenJacob was broken that he was blessed. It was only afterMoses self-confidence had been shattered through 40 yearsof looking after sheep, that he was ready to deliver Israel.The rock had to be smitten before the living waters could flow.The Israelites had to go through the River Jordan (symbolizingdeath and burial) before they could enter Canaan (symbolizinglife in the fullness of the Spirit). Gideons army had tobreak their pitchers before the light inside was visible.The alabaster vial had to be broken before the odor of theointment could fill the house. Peters boastful self-confidencehad to be shattered before he was ready for Pentecost.We find this truth throughout Scripture.It would be dangerous for God to empower an unbroken man.It would be like giving a sharp knife to a 6-month old baby, orlike handling 20,000 volts of electricity without properinsulation. God is careful. He does not give the power ofHis Spirit to those in whom self is still unbroken. And Heremoves His power from a man when he ceases to be broken.Jacob was now blessed by God Himself. Earlier, Isaac hadlaid his hands on Jacob and blessed him, when Jacob broughthim the venison (Gen. 27:23). But that had brought no changein Jacob's life. The real blessing came at Peniel. And thisis the lesson we need to learn too. No man can ever give usthis blessing. A man - even a saintly man like Isaac - maylay his empty hands on our empty heads and pray for us. Yetwe may get nothing. Only God can really empower us. WhenIsaac put his hands on Jacob's head, the sun merely set onJacob's life. But when God blessed him, the sun rose! Powerbelongs to God and He is the only one who can ever give it to us.
_________________SI Moderator - Greg Gordon