“Wrestling with God” Genesis 32:22-32
1. Wrestling is a tough sport it not for the faint at heart
• One needs upper body strength
• One needs a strong determination
• One needs a strong work ethic
• One needs to be courageous you must fight
2. Today’s text tells us that Jacob wrestled all his life
• Wrestling began early for Jacob. Genesis tells us that Jacob and his older twin brother Esau wrestled together in the womb,
• Jacob wrestled with Esau forcing Esau who sold his birthright to his younger brother to escape death from hunger.
• Jacob wrestled with his father over the blessing he made an illegal move fooling Isaac into giving him the blessing that belonged to Esau.
• Jacob wrestled with Laban before finally getting the his wife Rachel as his wife
• Now, Esau is after a rematch is a matter of fact. Esau hated his brother Jacob for stealing his birth right and declared his intention to kill him in the ring.
• Think about that ring once you enter it’s blood, sweat, and tears you got to fight
3. Wrestling is something we need in order to succeed
• We must wrestle in life it’s not easy to get an education; it’s a struggle to get that paycheck 40 hours a week of work! The education does pay off. The pay check at the end of the week after working 40 hours it to pays off payments allows us to have groceries in the house
• Real growth experiences always involve struggle and pain. And so Jacob, at the turning point of his life, wrestles all night with a figure.
• Jacob struggles with God or some divine being Disciples struggle with following Jesus
• Jacob fights. Hours pass Jacob fights. You fight for the faith
• Jacob is wounded. Hurt from wrestling with God
• But in the end of the final round He is blessed.
• In the morning he limps away from this violent spiritual encounter as a new man with a new name, saying, "I have encountered God face to face, and have survived."
4. Wrestling with God means we must wrestle with-our self
• Jacob was guilty of what he did to Esau—and he knew it.
• Jacob wanted forgiveness of his wrongdoings. Jacob had no control over his brother’s heart, but there was One who did.
• Jacob not only wrestled with God but he wrestled with his sins. He recognized his wrongs “So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak” (Gen. 32:24).
5. Wrestling for the faith will take our perseverance
• “When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, ‘Let me go, for it is daybreak.’ But Jacob replied, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me’” (Genesis 32:25-26).
• Wrestlers have this quality determination.
• Jacob was not a quitter. His perseverance is highlighted in his pursuit of Rachel and his patience in serving Laban to have her hand in marriage. Jacob exemplifies both qualities in his wrestling with the mysterious man.
• Jacob refused to give up until God blessed him.
• Jacob never gave up The wrestling match left him lame, but Jacob had his blessing.
6. We all wrestle with who God is Jacob did.
• “Jacob said, ‘Please tell me your name.’ But he replied, ‘Why do you ask my name?’ Then he blessed him there” (Genesis 32:29).
• Jacob knew who God was. He knew God was the God of his father and grandfather.
• During Jacob’s wrestling match, God became the God of Jacob’s heart.
• Many people know about God, but never have a true, life-changing encounter with Him.
• The biggest obstacle to spending time with God is ourselves. Our priorities get mixed up.
7. Wrestling with God means we may get hurt or wounded
• The Bible says “The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip” (Genesis 32:31).
• Jacob was made lame by his wrestling match with God.
• Our pride may be wounded God says humble yourself and god will exalt you in due time
• Our service maybe changed remember Jacob was all about serving Jacob. Now Jacob changes
• Finally notice Jacob was alone with God
• Jacob would not let go of God until God blessed him Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not until you bless me”
• Jacob saw God and his life is delivered the text says 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel,7 saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.”
• Jacob got a new name after wrestling Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel,
• We to get a new name: I am Redeemed, I am Born Again, I am Christian, I am a Flowerer, Ia m a Believer, I am a Child of the King, I am washed in the blood of the Lamb in the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb.
