2. Week 3: Wrestling with God Genesis 32:22-32

3. Genesis 32:22-32

4. Context Jacob was coming home God had blessed him greatly
Jacob was very worried about his reunion with Esau
He sent his wives, children and posessions across the river and stayed behind

5. Genesis 32:9-12
12 Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, Lord, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper’, I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now, I have become two camps. Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make you descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’”

6. Who was Jacob? God keeps his promises Jacob was obeying God
A Twin – Older brother was Esau
Name – Means ‘Supplanter’ or literally, ‘He Who Grasps a Heel’
Momma’s boy (Genesis 25:27)
Cunning and Manipulative
Cheated his brother out of his birthright and the first born blessing
Creative breeding techniques to increase his herd while serving Laban
97 Years Old at the time of this encounter
God keeps his promises
Jacob was obeying God

7. Jacob Stayed Back
Jacob stayed on the other side of the river
Praying – He was DESPERATE
Psalm 18:6 – In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From His temple he heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears.
It is at our most desperate times when we have no way out that God finally gets our undivided attention.

8. God Started It! God came to Jacob and began the wrestling match
God knew exactly how He was going to have to deal with Jacob to change him permanently.
Because God knows us so well He knows what must happen to us before we will not only listen to Him but surrender our lives to Him.

9. Passionately seeking God changes us in ways that nothing else can.
Jacob Would Not Give In
Wrestling is hard! Jacob was 97!
Even though Jacob came to realize he was wrestling with God he still did not quit.
God already knew what Jacob would do. God wanted Jacob to experience the intense seeking himself. It changed him.
Jeremiah 29:12-13 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Passionately seeking God changes us in ways that nothing else can.

10. A desperate and consistent seeking of God will impact us forever.
Jacob Was Changed
God changed his name to ‘Israel’
Several Interpretations: ‘God Rules’, ‘Triumphant with God’ or ‘The Prince of God’
Walked with a limp – A reminder
A desperate and consistent seeking of God will impact us forever.
We Learn Surrender
We Learn Reliance
We Gain a New Identity

11. 1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light