Gen 32:26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless You bless me!”
Jacob deceived his brother and took away his birthright. He then deceived his father to take away his brother’s intended blessing. Furthermore, he deceived his father in-law and made the best for himself, the only one he could not deceive was God. Alone in His presence, his former life would not dictate what God would do presently, and his former tactics of manipulation would not work with God.
Gen 32:26 “… “I will not let you go unless You bless me!” vs. 29, “…And He blessed Him”. We are accustomed to doing things our way by different tactics and often we think such strategies will work with God. All we need is ask (pray) for a blessing and all He desires is to bless us. Are you afraid of asking for a blessing because you failed yesterday, last week or long time ago? Jacob had his past failures but that did not stop him from finally asking for a blessing. To show that he really needed blessing, he held on to God until He blessed him. He did not specify the kind of blessings he desired, he let God bless Him with what God had reserved for him. Eph 1:3-14 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ….” The way to be blessed, “Ask, and it will be given to you…”(Mat 7:7)