Weapons Of Wisdom
By Christopher J Hardwick
“Healing The Joints”
Gen 32:30-32 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: "For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." 31 Just
as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat
the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob's hip in the muscle that shrank.
NKJV
Jacob was at the place of desperation when he had an encounter with the Lord. He had become very afraid because he knew
that his brother Esau was coming for him. He had cheated his brother out of his inheritance and birthright. He had good reason
to fear because of his deceiving ways. He had just come through many years of being deceived himself by others. He in his
natural strength tried to obtain blessing that only God could grant. Now he has this encounter with the angel. He grabs a hold of
him and says out of desperation: “I’m not letting go of you until you bless me.” The angel of the Lord says let me go for day is
coming and then knocks Jacobs hip out of joint. The angel then tells him he is going to bless him but it’s going to require a
name change. Jacob’s name means: deceiver, trickster, heel catcher and supplanter. His new name was going to be changed
to Israel which means: to rule as God or to have the power of God. This very interesting because Jacob had been relying on his
own strength , understandings and natural abilities to get what God wanted to freely give him! However Jacob was burdened
down with fear because he was living out the consequences of past choices. The name change represents a character and
nature change. When we become born again, we become a new creation, old things are passed away, behold all things have
become new! Jacob was ready for change and blessing because he knew that the way he had been doing things was not
working. He calls the place where he had this encounter Penuel. That means face of God. This encounter that he had was really
with God. You cannot look into the face of God and live! That is in your flesh. Your flesh and all of its attitudes will die when you
have a face to face with God. Now I want to shift gears and talk about Jacobs hip being out of joint. The meaning of joint is
latterly when things come together and are joined by a ligament or muscle. Because of his hip or thigh being dislocated or out of
joint he was going to have to walk with a limp and be crippled the rest of his life. This is an important prophetic picture of the
Body of Christ being crippled because of broken relationships at the joints. Now let’s look at the rest of the story with Jacob and
Esau.
Gen 33:3-4 Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. NKJV
This story is about reconciliation, restoration and forgiveness! Perfect Love cast out all fear! Suddenly everything had changed
as both of them had changed and suddenly came into reconciliation and unity!.....Cont. next week
By Christopher J Hardwick
“Healing The Joints”
Gen 32:30-32 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: "For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." 31 Just
as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat
the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob's hip in the muscle that shrank.
NKJV
Jacob was at the place of desperation when he had an encounter with the Lord. He had become very afraid because he knew
that his brother Esau was coming for him. He had cheated his brother out of his inheritance and birthright. He had good reason
to fear because of his deceiving ways. He had just come through many years of being deceived himself by others. He in his
natural strength tried to obtain blessing that only God could grant. Now he has this encounter with the angel. He grabs a hold of
him and says out of desperation: “I’m not letting go of you until you bless me.” The angel of the Lord says let me go for day is
coming and then knocks Jacobs hip out of joint. The angel then tells him he is going to bless him but it’s going to require a
name change. Jacob’s name means: deceiver, trickster, heel catcher and supplanter. His new name was going to be changed
to Israel which means: to rule as God or to have the power of God. This very interesting because Jacob had been relying on his
own strength , understandings and natural abilities to get what God wanted to freely give him! However Jacob was burdened
down with fear because he was living out the consequences of past choices. The name change represents a character and
nature change. When we become born again, we become a new creation, old things are passed away, behold all things have
become new! Jacob was ready for change and blessing because he knew that the way he had been doing things was not
working. He calls the place where he had this encounter Penuel. That means face of God. This encounter that he had was really
with God. You cannot look into the face of God and live! That is in your flesh. Your flesh and all of its attitudes will die when you
have a face to face with God. Now I want to shift gears and talk about Jacobs hip being out of joint. The meaning of joint is
latterly when things come together and are joined by a ligament or muscle. Because of his hip or thigh being dislocated or out of
joint he was going to have to walk with a limp and be crippled the rest of his life. This is an important prophetic picture of the
Body of Christ being crippled because of broken relationships at the joints. Now let’s look at the rest of the story with Jacob and
Esau.
Gen 33:3-4 Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. NKJV
This story is about reconciliation, restoration and forgiveness! Perfect Love cast out all fear! Suddenly everything had changed
as both of them had changed and suddenly came into reconciliation and unity!.....Cont. next week
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