We have friends who are active in mixed martial arts (MMA). They love the skill and discipline of grappling, boxing and mastering submission holds. One thing that can often occur with boxers, wrestlers and MMA fighters is that they can get “cauliflower ear.” This condition occurs when the ear is repeatedly hit. The cartilage separates and the blood clots up. The ear becomes permanently swollen and deformed, often resembling a cauliflower.

If you see someone with cauliflower ear, you can assume that they were pretty serious in activities like martial arts, boxing or wrestling. There is a permanent mark left on their body that shows their love, commitment and dedication to their sport. When you see them, you see a lasting imprint of their commitment to their sport.  

In Scripture, there is a story about a man who wrestles with God. The story, in Genesis 32:22-32, is about a man named Jacob. One thing we need to know about Jacob is that he is a pretty deceitful guy. Up to this point in Scripture, he is not known as a person of integrity. He tricked his brother out of his birthright, deceived his dad and cheated his father-in-law out of a bunch of sheep. He was kind of a rotten guy.

But in Genesis 32, we see that he decides to turn over a new leaf. He chooses to start over and humbles himself before God. Then we read in verse 24 that a “man” (God) wrestled with him until daybreak. Jacob tells God that he won’t let go until he is blessed, but then God touches his hip and it dislocates. In the midst of pain, Jacob refuses to let go until he is blessed.

“Each and every day, as Jacob walked with a limp, he could remember the things God had done in his life. Each step could have reminded him of his changed life.”

After this interaction with God, we see that Jacob is forever changed. First of all, his name changes from Jacob (the “deceiver”) to Israel (the “one who struggles with God”). We see that his back-and-forth with God is honored, and he is blessed with a new and powerful name. Secondly, his attitude is changed. He now has the courage to face his brother head-on and no longer looks for the deceitful or easy way out. Lastly, he is changed because he now has a limp.

Verse 31 tells us that Jacob was limping after he left that place (Penuel). In the next chapter, as he prepares to meet with his brother Esau, we can imagine Jacob slowly limping towards his brother on his newly damaged leg. Some scholars suggest that perhaps Jacob limped for the rest of his life due to the injury he received that day.

Each and every day, as Jacob walked with a limp, he could remember the things God had done in his life. Each step could have reminded him of his changed life. As he felt the pain in his hip, he could be reminded to work things out with God and others rather than being dishonest and deceitful. 

Have you considered the things God has done in our lives that leave “spiritual marks” on us? Instead of hiding from these things, may we live in to the “limp” God has given us. It is an example of God’s grace, reminding us of who we were before God’s work in our lives and who we are now. It is a spiritual marker to remind us of our love, commitment and dedication to our God.

Daily Readings:

• June 1:  Genesis 32:22-32
• June 3:  John 1:35-42
• June 4:  Genesis 27:1-29
• June 5:  Isaiah 64:8-12
• June 6:  1 John 4:7-12
• June 7:  1 Peter 2:1-3
• June 8:  Genesis 30:25-43
• June 9:  Psalm 34:1-7
• June 10:  Hosea 12:1-6
• June 11:  2 Corinthians 3:12-18
• June 12:  Genesis 25:29-34
• June 13:  Job 42:1-6
• June 14:  Colossians 3:1-17
• June 15:  Psalm 51:10-17
• June 16:  Genesis 17:1-8
• June 17:  Ephesians 6:10-20
• June 18:  Psalm 46
• June 19:  Ezekiel 36:24-32
• June 20:  Genesis 17:15-16
• June 21:  Acts 3:17-26
• June 22:  Mathew 5:3-12
• June 24:  2 Corinthians 5:16-21
• June 25:  Hosea 11:1-11
• June 26:  Isaiah 46:8-13
• June 27:  Romans 12:1-2
• June 28:  Psalm 77:10-15
• June 29:  Joel 2:12-17
• June 30:  Deuteronomy 6:1-12