until the breaking of the day

24And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” 31The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. 32Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip on the sinew of the thigh.

-Genesis 32:24-32 (ESV)


The significance? Here is a picture of How God deals with His children. This is how God makes an Israel (verse 28) out of a Jacob (in the Hebrew language means deceiver). This is how God makes a prince out of a con man. This is how God takes us as we are and make us what we should be.

After the struggle, Jacob was limping because of his hip. We also, as Christians, limp because of our struggles with God to bless us. The limp itself, which the world sees as weakness, showed how Jacob was blessed by God. So are we, limping but blessed.

And - are you ready for this? - It is a struggle until the breaking of the day.