Walking With a Limp!

As in Jacob's experience, there are other examples in Scripture of those who learned to accept and embrace a “limping” in their lives as a continual reminder of their need and total dependence upon God!

1. For Moses, it was “slow speech and tongue”. (Exodus 4:10-16)

v10 “ And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”

v11: “And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? Or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have Not I the Lord?”

v12: “Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.”

v13: “And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.”

v14: “And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.”

v15: “And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.”

v16: “And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: And he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.”

2. For Jacob, it was a “halting upon his thigh”. (Genesis 32:24-32)

v24 “When Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.”

v25 “And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrested with him”

v26 “And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh, And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.”

v27 “And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.”v28 “And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”

v28: “And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

v29 “And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.”

v30 “And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”

v31 “And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.”

v32 “Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.

3. For Jeremiah, it was his “weeping eyes”. (Jeremiah 9:1; 13:17)

9:1 “Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people.”

13:17 “But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord's flock is carried away captive.”

4. For Hosea, it was an “unfaithful wife”. (Hosea 3:1-5)

v1 “ Then said the Lord unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.”

v2 “So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:”

v3 “And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man; so will I also be for thee.”

v4 “For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:”

v5 “Afterward shall the children of Isaralereturn, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.”

5. For Paul, it was an “infirmity, thorn in the flesh”. (II Corinthians 12:5-10; Acts 9:8, 17-18; Galatians 4:15; 6:11)

II Corinthians 12:5-10

v5 “Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.”

v6 “For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.”

v7 “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.”

v8 “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.”

v9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

v10 “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, the am I strong.”

Acts 9:8

v8 “And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus;”

Acts 9:17-18

v17 “And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

v18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.”

Galatians 4:15

v15 “Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? For I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.”

Galatians 6:11

v11 “Ye see how large a letter (what large letters I make) I have written unto you with mine own hand (when I write to you with my own hands).”