SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). The Stage is Set (vs 22-24A)
(2). The Match (vs 24B-25)
(3). The Result (vs 26-32)
THE TAKEAWAY.
#1: God Alone Determines Our Identity.
#2: God Alone Assures Our Victory
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• Hulk Hogan is probably the best-known wrestler in the world.
• Standing at 6 feet 7 inches and weighing over 300 pounds in his prime,
• Hogan's larger-than-life persona captivated fans worldwide
• He became a household name in the 1980s and 1990s.
• And Hogan's career spans over four decades,
• During which he won multiple championships.
• In 1993, Hogan left the WWF to pursue a career in film and television.
• And even music, solidifying his status as a pop culture icon.
• Aged 70 - along with his wife,
• He was baptized in a ceremony at Indian Rocks Baptist Church in Florida.
• He said afterwards, it was the 'Greatest Day of My Life.'
Now as a kid, I grew up with Saturday afternoon wrestling.
• It had very little glamour,
• But was very entertaining.
• The stars were….
• Big Daddy (Shirley Crabtree).
• Giant Haystacks (Martin Austin Ruane)
• Mick McManus.
• Jackie "Mr TV" Pallo
• My favourite the masked warrior,
• Kendo Nagasaki (real name Peter Thornley from Stoke!)
• I hate to spoil it for you, but WWE (formerly WWF) matches are scripted.
• The outcomes and many of the moves are planned in advance,
• And although the wrestlers improvise, and "call" moves during the match.
• The outcome is fixed - it is just a form of theatrical entertainment.
• TRANSITION:
• If you have been here the last few weeks and studied the previous chapters,
• You might expect the bout in this chapter,
• To be between Jacob and Esau, but you would be wrong.
• Surprisingly, shockingly, the bout is between Jacob and God.
• Yes, you heard me correct - Jacob wrestles with God.
• And there are no prizes for guessing who the winner is!
• I intend using the wrestling theme for my sermon outline.
• But I will try not to have to many wrestling puns.
• But can’t resist this one…
“My Lords, Ladies & Gentlemen,
Let's get reaaaaaaaady to rumble!”
(I mean let’s get ready to study!)
(1). THE STAGE IS SET (vs 22-24A)
“That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So, Jacob was left alone.”
THE BACKGROUND:
• Twenty years before this incident,
• Jacob and his twin brother Esau had a family bust up.
• Jacob tricked and deceived his own father and stole his brother Esau’s birthright.
• At that time and in this culture to steal the birthright was a big deal!
• It was so big that Esau wanted to kill his brother Jacob!
• They were now sworn enemies.
• And so, Jacob fled from his brother,
• He knew that Esau his brother meant business.
• This was no empty threat.
• And now we pick up the story some twenty years later,
• Jacob was now heading back home,
• And that meant encountering his brother Esau,
• And he has no idea what kind of reception he will receive.
So, Jacob is nervous, anticipating the worst and…
• If you look down at verse 6.
• Esau is coming to meet him and with him are four hundred men.
• That sounds like trouble to me!
Jacob may have been a deceiver, but he also seems to be the brains of the family.
• He is wise enough to prepare Esau with news of his return,
• Not only that, but he also tries to him up and repair some of the damage by sending presents.
• He sent him three waves of gifts to gain his favour.
Note:
• And as we pick up the story,
• Notice the questions you expect to be answered are not.
• Not in these verses.
• You might be wondering what happened next?
• How long did it take Esau and his men to get to Jacob?
• Did Esau still want to kill Jacob?
• Did they fight until the bitter end,
• Did one of them die or did one of them surrender?
• Well, I am not going to answer any of those questions,
• You need to go home and read the rest of the story for yourselves.
• Because I want to focus in on the fascinating verses (22-32),
• An actual man, a human being wrestling with the invisible, almighty God.
• It is one of the strangest incidents in the Bible.
Note: “That night…” (vs 22-23)
“That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.”
• Jacob could not sleep.
• He had an angry brother with an army of 400 men coming towards him.
• And that unsurprisingly causes him a sleepless night.
• And from what I understand about Jacob’s character,
• If he can’t sleep, then why should anyone else!
• His sleeplessness affects everyone else.
Ill:
• The Jabbok River is known today as Zarqa River,
• It flows through modern-day Jordan,
• This 65-kilometer waterway carved deep valleys,
• Through the ancient landscapes of Gilead
• The river's strategic position made it a crucial landmark for ancient civilizations,
• Marking borders and providing essential water resources.
• TRANSITION:
• For Jacob and his family (and servants),
• It was a barrier that needed to be crossed.
• If Jacob can’t sleep, then why should anyone else!
• His sleeplessness affects everyone else.
• In verses 21-22 he gets all his family, servants to cross the Jabbok River.
• He also sends across all his possessions across the Jabbok River,
• But for some reason Jacob didn’t go with them.
• i.e. Maybe the current had increased, and it was now too dangerous to cross,
• i.e. Maybe it had become too dark, and it was best to wait for the morning,
• i.e. It maybe he was just too tired and exhausted,
• Having gotten everyone else across.
• Regardless of why he stayed on the other side of the river,
• The main point was that he was alone at night, “left all alone.”
Ill:
• Are you comfortable with your own company?
• My wife loves a few days away, no phone, no Wi-Fi, just a book or two.
• And a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of life for a day or two.
• TRANSITION:
• I wonder if that was Jacob’s plan.
• A few hours of quiet reflection.
• If that was his plan, he is about to have everything spoilt!
(2). THE MATCH (vs 24-25)
“So, Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 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.”
Thuse verses leaves us with so many questions.
• Where did the man come from?
• Is he friend or foe?
• Did Jacob agree to the wrestling match or is he defending himself?
Three things to note:
• #1: The term for “wrestled” includes part of the Hebrew word for “dust”.
• That means these two men engaged in physical combat,
• To the point that they were rolling around in the dirt.
• The point is that this was not a metaphorical wrestling match or a dream,
• It was physical combat.
• This is also confirmed by the fact that Jacob still limped the next day (vs 31).
• #2: The “man” in these verses intended to remain anonymous.
• We see that in the text,
• i.e. The wrestling match was at night “till daybreak.”
• i.e. The next verse where the “man” asks to be released because “it is daybreak.”
• i.e. And verse 29 where the man refused to give Jacob his name.
• Whoever this man was he wanted to remain unidentified.
• #3: Note the word “touched” (vs 25).
• It is meant to highlight the supernatural nature of Jacob’s opponent.
• “Touched,” is a gentle, a soft, a tender word.
• Ordinarily, to achieve a dislocated hip,
• You would expect to read that the “man” was more violent,
• That he “punched” or “kicked” or “bashed” or “smashed”, his hip socket.
• But not “touched” his hip socket!
• But that is the point,
• This man can simply “touch” the hip of another man and dislocate it.
• We’re not told exactly what this means,
• But it’s already clear that Jacob wasn’t wrestling an ordinary man.
(3). THE RESULT (vs 26-32)
“Then the man said, ‘Let me go, for it is daybreak.’
But Jacob replied, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’
27 The man asked him, ‘What is your name?’
‘Jacob,’ he answered.
28 Then the man said, ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.’
29 Jacob said, ‘Please tell me your name.’
But he replied, ‘Why do you ask my name?’ Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, ‘It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.’
31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.”
Ill:
• From my memory as a child.
• In British wrestling you won by, a pinfall (pin), a submission, or a knockout.
• TRANSITION:
• The result of this match is curious.
• The “man” is the winner,
• Jacob’s hip was dislocated at the joint socket. (vs 25),
• And he cannot wrestle anymore.
• We must understand that Jacob didn’t prevail,
• In the sense that he overpowered or out maneuverer the “man.”
• Once we discover who the “man” is we know that would be impossible.
• Instead, Jacob would prevail in the sense,
• That he sought a blessing from God granted him his wish.
• Jacob realizing that his opponent was no mere man,
• Jacob refuses to let go until the “man” blesses him (vs 26).
Note: The blessing.
• The “man” asked Jacob, a question,
• “What is your name?” (vs 27).
• They have been wrestling all night,
• Jacob does not know who the man is,
• On first reading it appears the “man” also does not know the name of his opponent.
FIRST: The “man” is going to teach Jacob through this name change.
• First, in asking Jacob to state his name,
• The man was also getting Jacob to acknowledge his inferiority,
• And state his true nature.
Ill:
• You might remember from previous studies that “Jacob,”
• Means, “cheater” or "holder of the heel" or "supplanter."
• And Jacob lived up to the meaning of his name.
• That is why he is in the situation he is in.
• He cheated, he supplanted his brother and is now in fear for his life.
SECOND: The “man” is going to change Jacob’s name forever.
• In the ancient Near Eastern culture,
• Names were not just labels that identified a person.
• They carried a much deeper significance,
• Often reflecting a person’s character or destiny.
• i.e. “give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
• (Matthew chapter 1 verse 21).
• i.e. “And she named the child Ichabod, saying, ‘The glory has departed from Israel!’”
• (1 Samuel chapter 4 verse 21 and chapter 14 verse 3).
• So, a new name was to symbolise a new nature.
• From now on he would be called, “Israel,”
• No longer a “cheater” or "supplanter,"
• Instead, “Israel,” means, “One who struggles with God” and prevailed.
• Note that: “the one who overcomes,” rather than “the one who struggles.”
Note: In the blessing we get to see who the “man” is.
• In renaming and re-identifying Jacob,
• The man revealed himself to have the highest authority,
• Not just anyone can name or rename a person.
The man then declares who he is in the blessing (vs 28b).
• “You have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
• And if you are not convinced who the man was.
• Jacob knew (vs 30).
• “So, Jacob called the place Peniel, saying,
• “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.””
• Jacob wrestled with God!
Ill:
• If you look at Hosea chapter 12 “the man” is called, “The Angel of the Lord.”
• In the Old Testament we read of the “angel of the Lord.” Appearing at times.
• The Hebrew word translated as “angel” is malak, which means “messenger.”
• But this particular messenger is not just an angel, but the “angel of the Lord.”
• The messenger of the Lord (or Yahweh),
• This angel is the only messenger who bears the name of the Lord (or Yahweh),
• And sometimes the angel of the Lord speaks,
• As if he is a messenger from the Lord (or Yahweh),
• And other times he speaks as if he is the Lord (or Yahweh),
Ill:
• i.e. In Genesis chapter 16 verses 8–14.
• Hagar and the angel of the Lord
• i.e. In Genesis chapter 18,
• When the Lord appeared to Abraham with two other angels.
• i.e. In Exodus chapter 3.
• We read about Moses and the angel of the Lord.
• The angel of the Lord is an enigmatic figure,
• He appears in numerous passages throughout the Old Testament.
• In the Old Testament,
• The Bible often blurs the line between the angel of the Lord and God,
• Sometimes calling the angel God outright.
• At other times, the angel of the Lord is clearly distinct from God.
• It would seem to be that God takes on a physical form at times in the Old Testament.
• And most scholars called it a Christophany or, a Theophany.
• That is Christ appears in a preincarnate form in the Old Testament.
• This is different to the incarnation (what we celebrate at Christmas),
• Then God the Son took on flesh, and was born of a woman (Mary),
• Born after a 9month pregnancy, when he became truly human.
• But in the Old Testament.
• At certain times, the Son of God temporarily appeared in a physical form.
• And he is often called, “The Angel of the Lord.”
• Confused? Join the club!
• Ok, let’s move on.
Now when the new day kicked in, God departed (vs 31).
“The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.”
Jacob/Israel had been changed ontologically, spiritually, physically, and dietarily.
• Ontologically.
• He was now Israel – “one who overcomes,”
• Spiritually
• He was now humbled.
• Physically
• He was now “limping because of his hip.”
• Dietarily:
• And his diet (vs 32), along with that of his offspring,
• Was forever changed,
“Therefore, to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.”
• Me thinks it is an understatement to say,
• What a night!
THE TAKEAWAY (APPLICATION).
• Well, it’s a great story,
• So, what are we to do with all of this?
• Two things to take-away!
#1: God Alone Determines Our Identity
• Twice in his lifetime,
• Jacob was named by God.
• FIRST: As a baby he was called, “Cheater,” the “heal-grabber” the “Supplanter.”
• And that name summarised his life up to this point.
• SECOND: As a man he is called, “Israel” - “one who overcomes,”
• God gives him a new identity as one who will fight vigorously).
• These verses are about transformation.
• God transformed this man’s name and identity,
• From Jacob to Israel, and from cheater to overcomer.
• God alone defined who he was and would be.
• God alone determined his identity.
APPLICATION: Our identity is in Christ.
Ill:
• Our culture keeps pushing the message,
• You are who you feel you are.
• For some people their feelings try to usurp the facts.
• We live in times when biological men claim to be women and vice-versa.
Ill:
• Many people are defined by what they do or don’t do.
• i.e. How often when we meet someone do we ask them what their job is?
• If we are honest, we think more of that person if they say,
• They are a doctor than a road sweeper.
Ill:
Other people get defined by their successes or failures.
• i.e. Sir Richard Branson – success.
• is a British entrepreneur and adventurer, head of Virgin Group Ltd.,
• Started with nothing and became one of the great successful entrepreneurs.
• i.e. Gerald Ratner, CEO of The Ratner Group,
• Operated a popular and successful jewellery business in the UK in the 1980s.
• He managed to sink his entire business enterprise in under ten seconds,
• When he made a public TV appearance and joked,
• That his company’s products were “total c**p”.
• He killed the business and became a total failure.
Question: Do you want to know who you are?
(a).
• In simplest terms, you are a man or a woman.
• (Genesis chapter 1 verse 27),
• You are not a mistake; you are what God intended you to be.
(b).
• You are created in God’s image.
• (Genesis chapter 1 verses 26-27),
• I love Psalm 8 we have not evolved to be higher than a monkey.
• But rather, “a little lower than the angels.” (Psalm 8 verse 5b).
(c).
• The Bible emphasizes believers' identity in Christ as a central theme.
• The New Testament, particularly in the writings of the apostles Paul and Peter,
• Underscores that those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour,
• Are transformed and redefined by their relationship with him.
Quote: 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 17.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
In Christ:
• You are a child of God; you belong to the King.
• You have a purpose – you were created to do good works.
• You are valued and loved.
#2: God Alone Assures Our Victory
Jacob prevailed,
• God blessed him and changed him.
• Even his older brother would submit to him.
• Even as the nation bearing his name, Israel, would prevail over her enemies.
Ill:
• "Without me you can do nothing"
• (John chapter 15 verse 5)
• We were invited to a wedding reception at the Solent Hotel in Whiteley.
• We arrived early as the bride and groom went off to have additional photos taken.
• When they drove down the driveway to the front of the hotel,
• There was a crowd of guests ready to greet them.
• The car they came in was a vintage white Rolls Royce,
• And as the couple stood next to the car while more photos were taken,
• All the ladies’ presents were saying, “Wow! Doesn’t the bride look fantastic?”
• While all the men were saying, “Wow! Doesn’t the car look fantastic?”
• TRANSITION: Somebody had missed the point!
• We need to stay focused on the main thing!
• And victorious living only happens,
• When we stay focussed on Jesus!
• No short cuts…because…
• "Without me you can do nothing"
• (John chapter 15 verse 5)
CONCLUSION
• Jacob wrestled with God and prevailed.
• In the process God transformed him and therein the entire nation of Israel.
• In these things we see that God alone determines our identity and victory.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=AeL6BqeAFxSNSq99WRltn4kWKman9Qr5
