DavidHamner (@DavidHamner)

Angel Wrestling Being changed by a message/messenger Genesis 32 Jacob was fleeing from Esau, laid down in a solitary place exhausted, and during the night wrestled with a messenger/angel from God. That night he prevailed, that is, he was not overcome or pinned (mastered/controlled), he "held his own" until dawn. That night he was renamed Israel which means prince of God or prince belonging to God or prince from God. He was also finally overcome by being crippled in his hip for the rest of his life. A branding, if you will. His new name came with a new position recognizing his tenacity: royalty in the administration of heaven. A prince is a son and an apprentice to the king, appointed to a subordinate position serving the king - in this case, God - with corresponding authority and duties. In a human kingdom the primary responsibility of a prince is to administer part of the kingdom and prepare to possibly become king, because of human mortality. In the kingdom of heaven, God remains king absolutely and forever, and a prince remains his son and part of God's government forever. When the King lives forever and there is no succession, how does a son-prince relate to him? Perpetually submitted, obedient and accountable, growing continually in wisdom, skill and character. An eternal prince grows INSIDE. Inside a prince, he is unbounded in potential and opportunity. He rules over himself first while carrying out and growing to fill his assigned role from the Divine Triarch. An eternal son/prince is shaped and prepared by a great effort to subjugate and control. A prince of God must resist being mastered by outside forces to be prepared to administer the king's realm serving the king's interests. Princes must be powerful servants.