A. INTRODUCTION: GENESIS 32:22-32
What an encounter is not.
1. Not a greeting, i.e., when we talk to God.
2. Not a thought, i.e., when we meditate on God.
3. Not a meeting, i.e., our scheduled communion.
4. Not incidental, i.e., something we do every day.
5. Not an answer to prayer.
B. WHAT IS AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD?
An encounter with God is when (1)He intentionally meets
with us, (2) in a time of great need, (3) through unexpected circumstances,(4) to tell us something about Himself, (5) so we will, know Him more intimately and, (6) learn something about our self, (7) even though we do not understand all of the mysterious elements of the experience.
1. Intentional. God plans the encounter "Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I ,even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out" (Ezekiel 34:11).
2. Time of great need. "I said my strength and my hope is perished . . . This I recall . . . It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed . . . great is thy faithfulness" (Lam. 3:18, 22, 23).
3. Surprised. The experience was unexpected by you. "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law" (Deut. 29:29).
4. Message. God showed a new truth or direction for your life. "Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward" (Ps. 40:5).
5. Intimately. God wants you to worship Him and have fellowship with Him. "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart" (Jer. 29:13).
6. Change. You will be different after encountering God. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace . . . to give you an expected end" (Jer. 29:11).
7. Mystery. There will be unknown things about the experience you do not understand. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isa. 55:8,9).
C. JACOB: ENCOUNTERS GOD AT PENIEL
1. God had a plan for Jacob’s life.
a. Predicted. "Two nations are in thy womb . . . the elder shall serve the younger" (Gen. 25:23). "Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated" (Rom. 9:13).
b. Protected. God told Jacob, "Thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth . . . I am with thee and will keep thee in all places" (Gen. 28:14,15).
c. Guided. After 20 years, God told Jacob to go home. "Get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred" (Gen. 31:13).
2. Time of great need
a. Laban wanted revenge. "Jacob stole away, unawares to Laban (his uncle & father-in-law)" (Gen. 31:20).
b. Mizpah Benediction. "The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another" (Gen. 31:49).
c. Esau promised to kill Jacob. "Esau saith in his heart . . . then will I slay my brother Joseph" (Gen. 27:41).
d. Dangers. "Esau . . . cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him" (Gen. 32:6).
3. Unexpected meeting.
a. Trickster. "So went the present over before him . . . took his two wives . . . and his eleven sons, and passed over . . . Jabbok" (Gen. 32:21,22).
b. Alone. "Jacob was left alone" (Gen. 32:22).
4. God’s message. New Name. "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men" (Gen. 32:28).
5. To know God intimately.
a. Jacob’s faith. "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me" (Gen. 32:26).
b. Jacob’s persistence. "Jacob . . . there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day" (Gen. 32:24).
c. Jacob’s vision. "Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, for I have seen God face to face" (Gen. 32:30).
6. Encounter produced a change.
a. Physical. "As Jacob started walking, he was limping because of his hip" (Gen. 32:31 ELT).
b. Two Names. Jews are called "Children of Jacob" when they disobey, and called "Children of Israel" when obey.
c. Transformed. "But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (II Cor. 3:18).
7. Encounters are Mysterious.
a. Christ. Who wrestled with Jacob?
b. Jacob’s nature. Why did Jacob wrestle all night?
D. JACOB TEACHES US PRINCIPLES TO ENCOUNTER GOD.
1. Different motivations drives us to seek God. "What time I am afraid I will trust in thee" (Ps. 56:3).
2. Family arguments makes us seek God. "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up" (Ps. 27:10).
3. Give up precious things to know God intimately. "If a man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23).
4. We encounter God in the blackest experience.
5. God reveals Himself to those who absolutely seek Him. "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after . . . that I may behold the beauty of the Lord" (Ps. 27:4).
6. Seeking God must be done alone.
7. We are usually surprised by God’s encounters.
8. After the blackest experience at the lowest times of life, the dawn comes and we realize what God is doing. "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (Ps. 30:5).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.edu and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.
To get Dr. Towns home page for books, www.elmertowns.com.
