Posted on June 21, 2009 - by Admin

Wrestling with God

“And Jacob called the name of the place ‘Peniel’: “for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” (Genesis 32:30)

Jacob finally understands how gracious God is – He could destroy Jacob at any time with the intensity of His power and holiness, yet allows Jacob to wrestle with Him in order to break him and teach him the power of His mercy. Jacob had left home at Beersheba and headed for Haran, and in the next twenty years, God blessed him with a very large family. They were often disobedient and dysfunctional, but they were a family. At this critical time in Jacob’s life God wrestles with Jacob in order to transform him so that he may face his brother Esau and discover the deeper blessing of knowing God and being part of His plan. There are 65 million fathers in our country today – and we each are in a battle to protect our families and leave a Godly legacy. Like Jacob, each of us must face God. May we learn that ultimately the battle is with God and the soul, and whether or not we are going to be honest, broken and surrendered to His will so that we may be transformed to become the new man He desires us to be. God made Jacob (deceiver, one who takes the heel) into an Israel (one who strives with God). God can make you a new creation as well. The blessing Jacob received was a new name with a global promise with Kingdom impact and destiny. Such is the blessing of knowing Christ and the Gospel.

“The old Adam has been shaken off, ‘Jakob’ stays behind on one bank of the river. A new man, steeled and marked, Israel, has developed and he continues the journey on the other bank.” (J.P. Fokkelman)

“Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?” (Proverbs 20:6)

“We do not see, but God always does, and, as our heavenly Father, He sees the need and He prescribes the appropriate trial which is destined for our good.” (M. Lloyd- Jones)

This week’s prayer requests: 19 members of mission team traveling to Ohio this Sunday; Childeren going to Rockridge and Word of Life camp; SA Carroll; family of Hudson Thomaston (Sue Presley’s brother) ; Margaret Davis; Nick Washburn; Praise for awesome youth camp week.

This week’s message:

Wrestling with God Genesis         32:22-32

Jacob’s desire is to protect his family and leave a legacy – yet in the process he discovers the living God. Though he has seen Him and wrestled with Him, Jacob lives by the grace of God. What does Jacob learn from his wrestling with God?

1. The Value of Solitude.
a. Why does Jacob stay behind and send his family forward without him?
b. While alone, a Man (a Christophany) wrestles with Jacob until daybreak.
c. “Solitude is the furnace for transformation” (Henri Nouwen)
d. “Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation.” (Psalm 62:1)

2. The Blessing of Surrender
a. This mysterious being is so powerful he dislocates Jacob’s hip with just a touch.
b. Why is important to remember that God could “take us out” at any time? How might this change your life perspective?
c. The blessing comes only after Jacob is humbled and admits who he is: deceiver, supplanter.
d. “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts. And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom” (Psalm 51:6)

3. The Necessity of Striving.
a. Jacob clings and refuses to let go of God once he realizes that God himself is the ultimate source of blessing.
b. The surprise? Jacob gets a new name, Israel, “one who strives with God”
c. The sun rises, and a new day for Israel has begun.
d. “But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13-14)
e. “Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning.” (Hosea 6:3)

Jacob walked away with a limp, but everyone knew that he had encountered God. He had seen God face to face, and his life had been preserved. God’s amazing grace was victorious again.