This is an encouragement from the story of a man who got "the blessing of the first born" by being a  trickster,  or from another perspective, as it is written, "according to election" (Romans 9: 11). This is about man who had an encounter with God,  yea two,  and had his name (Character and Authority) changed from Jacob i.e Supplanter, to Israel i.e "prevails with God" or "God prevails".

Jacob had 3 major encounters with God.

1-When he fled  from Esau to his Uncle Laban's house and named the place of encounter Bethel (House of God). (Genesis 28:10-22)

2-When he was about to meet with his brother, Esau, and on his way, wrestled with a "Man" who dislocated Jacob's hip and later blessed him and  changed his Name,  thus changing his identity and  mindset, realigning Him to a life of Purpose. He named this place Penuel (Face of God). (Genesis 32:22-32)

3-When God had him return to Bethel to be blessed again, and reminded of his name Israel. He built an altar there and called the place El Bethel (God of the House of God). (Genesis 35:1-15)

Before Jacob's 3rd encounter, something happened, for God had His reason for sending him back to Bethel.

What happened?

See,  Israel had forgotten that he was Israel i.e God prevails... and was now fearful. Selah!

Fear that other nations would destroy him and his household had set in, following the incident of Dinah's rape and his sons (Simeon and Levi's) menslaughter.

Its quite funny that the nations this man was fearful of were all fearful of him because God had promised to prevail on his behalf. (Genesis 34:30 and 35:5)

This article  isn't just to remind you of Israel's encounters, but also to encourage you, if you're in his shoes.

Perhaps you started off well, being fully convinced of God's Promises, full of faith (divine convictions) and the Spirit,  but life rained lemons  on you, and the juice even got in your eyes. Or maybe someone you're involved with has taken a detour in the wrong direction and youre on your way to suffering for it.

Hey,  it's time to go back to Bethel. It's time to go back to the place where you had a personal encounter, the secret place.

Oh how Jesus loved his secret place,  his place of fellowship with Trinity; His place of drawing from within to give an expression of Divinity to all humanity .

For some it might be a physical location,  for some it might be the place of prayer,  and for some it might be  That Word which God breathed life upon and opened your eyes to see, His Promise.

This was Israel's case, his circumstances were contrary to God's promises, and gradually he beheld them and fear (False Evidence Appearing Real) took roots in his heart.

This reminds me of Peter when he was walking on water, and guess what,  our Lifeguard, Jesus, walks on water and controls the storm. (Avatar is nothing compared to Him, for He even sustains all of creation by the Word of his Power).

So hey, return to  Bethel, the house of God; return to your First Love.  Return to that Word God spoke to you which seems to be deferred. Don't lose hope, If  God couldn't bring it to pass, He wouldn't have spoken/ revealed it to you by His Spirit in the first place. Every encounter plants the seed,  but you have to make sure (by the Strength God supplies ) that there is a birthing,  a bringing forth,  a bountiful harvest.

I write again, "hold on to your Identity, ISRAEL", for faithful is He who promised,  who will also bring it to pass and cause you to prevail for HE has prevailed

Go back to Bethel, and find rest in Him. 

Don't forget El Bethel,  that place where God is Lord over your life.

God bless you, and His Grace be with you In Jesus Name. Amen

#SHALOM