Obey or Wrestle?

Noah obeying God:

“And Noah did according to all that the Lord had commanded him.
Now Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of water came upon
the earth.”
(Gen. 7:5-6)

Jacob wrestling with God:

“Then Jacob was left alone,
and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
And when he saw that he had not prevailed against him,
he touched the socket of his thigh;
so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated
while he wrestled with him. . . .
‘Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel;
for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.”
(Gen 32:24-28)

Abraham wrestling with God:

“Far be it from Thee to do such a thing,
to slay the righteous with the wicked,
so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike.
Far be it from Thee!
Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?”
(Gen. 18:25)

Moses wrestling with God:

“Then Moses entreated the Lord his God, and said,
‘O Lord, why doth Thine anger burn against Thy people
whom Thou hast brought out from the land of Egypt
with great power and with a mighty hand? . . .
Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel . . .
So the Lord changed His mind about the harm
which He said He would do to His people.”
(Ex. 32:11-14)

Which takes more courage: to obey God or to wrestle with Him?

Which best demonstrates that we love God with all of our heart, with all
of our soul, and with all of our strength?
Which best demonstrates that we love our neighbor?
Which takes more love? Which takes more compassion?
 Perhaps God tests our love for Him and for our neighbor by
appearing to command the opposite of His character. If we truly love
Him, will we not “wrestle” with Him and call upon Him to live into His
merciful promises? Such an act takes great courage. Consider the
courage of Abraham: “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord,
although I am but dust and ashes” (Gen 18:27); and again, “Oh may the
Lord not be angry, and I shall speak” (v. 30); and yet again, “Oh may the
Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once” (v. 32).

Given the courage it takes to wrestle with God, we must trust

passionately in His mercy, His love, and His promises. Only with this
deep level trust in the character of God can we put on the boldness to
confront the Lord. This boldness demonstrates our love for Him -- His
true self – and His promises. When we come out boldly and wrestle with
God, we pass a test. We demonstrate our love.

And if we “obey” rather than “wrestle” when the Lord “commands”

us into an act contrary to His character?

He “saves” us, but we may end our life here on earth drunk and
naked:

Noah, toward the end of his life:

“And he drank of the wine and became drunk,
and uncovered himself inside his tent.”
(Gen 9:21)

Having learned obedience, may we now enter into the heart of God
and show our willingness to wrestle with Him.