Taking His Brother By the Heel - Hosea 12:3

In the book of Hosea, Hosea said, “the LORD has also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him”, and in chapter twelve and verse three of Hosea, Hosea said about Jacob, “he took his brother by the heel in the womb” where we read,

He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:

The verse begins, “He took his brother by the heel in the womb, ...” Hosea began with the words, “he took his brother” or “he, Jacob, assailed, followed, grasped and supplanted his male sibling” “by the heel” which means “by the means of the heel of the foot” “in the womb” or “within the belly or abdomen”. Hosea referred to the way “Jacob” grasped the “heel”of his brother Esau as they were being born. (See Genesis 25:26) 

The verse goes on to say, “... and by his strength he had power with God:” Hosea continued with the words, “and by his strength” or “and through the means of his, Jacob's, power, might and ability of manhood” “he had power with God”which means “he, Jacob, strove and struggled with the Supreme Deity and True God”. (See Genesis 32:24-32) Hosea referred to the time when “Jacob” wrestled with God after he became a man. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Hosea began to recall the origin of “Jacob” who came into alignment with God. God was responsible for the birth and development of “Jacob”, and God's creative power and knowledge allowed us to be birthed and developed as well. God knows us, loves us and has an eternal plan for us. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins so we can be forgiven, given everlasting life and live according to His plan and purpose for our lives in His Kingdom. We need only to believe and trust in Him with all our hearts souls and minds, and He will be with us by His Holy Spirit all the days of our lives.

Next time Hosea says about Jacob, “he had power over the angel, and prevailed”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".