Let the Other Not Go Without Blessing You

Finding favour with your kind is easy, and it is cheap grace. True blessing and transformative change often arise from engaging in a "wrestle" with "the other" – be it a challenging thought, a person different from oneself, or ultimately, God.

Jacob's encounter (Genesis 32: 22–32) is a quintessential example of wrestling with the "ultimate other" – God. Alone in the night, Jacob physically struggles with a mysterious man until dawn. Despite realising his powerlessness, symbolised by the dislocation of his thigh, Jacob refuses to let go until he receives a blessing. His resolute demand, "I will not release you, except if you bless me," demonstrates a profound determination to extract a blessing from a challenging, divine encounter. This "wrestle" leaves Jacob physically marked, limping, but also spiritually transformed and blessed. The blessing comes not from passive acceptance, but from active, persistent engagement with the divine "other," forcing a confrontation that redefines his identity and purpose.

The Canaanite Woman Wrestling with Jesus (Matthew 15: 21-28) highlights wrestling with a "person different than you" and, by extension, confronting preconceived notions or societal boundaries. The Canaanite woman approaches Jesus seeking healing for her demon-possessed daughter, facing initial silence and even dismissal from Jesus, who states He was sent only to the "lost sheep of Israel". His seemingly harsh response, comparing her to a "dog," is met not with resignation, but with an audacious and faith-filled retort: "Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table".

This woman, an "other" due to her ethnicity and perceived outsider status, engages in a verbal "wrestle" with Jesus, pushing past conventional boundaries. Her persistence and profound faith, born from this challenging interaction, compel Jesus to grant her request, leading to her daughter's immediate healing. She refused to give up until her request was granted. This narrative powerfully illustrates how engaging with "the other" – even when it means challenging established norms or overcoming perceived rejection – can lead to unexpected blessings and miraculous change, precisely because it forces a breakthrough in understanding and compassion.

In both instances, the "wrestle" is not about hostility but about a determined engagement that seeks profound connection and blessing. It suggests that growth and transformation are often found not in comfort zones or among those who simply affirm us, but in the challenging, yet ultimately enriching, interactions with difference and with the divine. By allowing "the other" to be a catalyst for such struggles, we open ourselves to blessings and changes that would otherwise remain unattainable.

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