“Jacob – The Man Who Wrestled With God”
INTRODUCTION: It’s interesting to study the people of the Bible. We find out that they’re not much different than we are. They dressed different … ate different things … different culture … different times … BUT … the same in so many ways.
We can SEE OURSELVES in so many characters of the Bible. God has the SAME LESSONS for us … as He had for them. The WEAKNESSES and PROBLEMS we see in THEIR lives … we see in OUR lives. The GREAT THINGS God did in THEIR lives … God can do in OUR lives.
Let’s take a look at JACOB … the man who wrestled with God. Let’s see what God wants to wrestle from us today.
Isaac & Rebekah were expecting their first child … a difficult pregnancy … TWINS! This was before sonograms … SURPRISE! Genesis 25:22-23.
Jacob & Esau were to be born … Esau was born first. They were as different as night & day.
o ESAU was a man’s man … the outdoor type … an extrovert … a man of the world … the FAVORITE of his father. 25:28.
o JACOB was a Mama’s boy … clever … self-opinioned … spoiled … crooked.
DITTY – How can you tell if you are a Mama’s boy … or a man’s man? Some once said: A Mama’s boy will have a neatly folded handkerchief in your back pocket. A man’s man will have a crumpled up handkerchief. What if you don’t carry a handkerchief? Then you’re CRUDE!
God clearly said that the younger would receive the BIRTHRIGHT. This wasn’t the usual custom. The older son usually received the birthright. With the birthright came the HEADSHIP of the family … a double portion of inheritance. The promises of God were passed down to the one with the birthright … the Messiah!
Esau didn’t care about what MIGHT happen 1000 years later. He was interested in “eat, drink and be merry” NOW.
One day Esau came in from hunting … and he was hungry. You know how it is … eating beanie-weenies & sardines. He wasn’t starving … he was from a wealthy family and there was plenty to eat.
Jacob saw an opportunity … “Know that birthright that you don’t care about …?” Esau thought so little of it, that he sold it to Jacob for a bowl of his famous chili.
Jacob bought what God had already promised him. We are so much like Jacob, aren’t we? God has promised us so much … for FREE … but we ignore His promises:
o We SCHEME … when God has promised us WISDOM.
o We WORRY … when God has promised us PEACE.
o We WORK … when God says “you have not, because you ask not”.
We think that if it’s FREE … it must not be worth much. LIKE … pills. If we have to pay dearly for them, we will take them. If the Dr. GIVES them to us, we often won’t take them.
Jacob didn’t trust God for what God MIGHT DO. NOT when he could do something about it himself.
Isaac is now about to confer the blessing on Esau. Jacob and his mother PLOT to make sure Jacob gets the blessing. Once Isaac blesses Esau, it’s BINDING. They panic … they’re not willing to trust God to keep His Word.
They make Jacob up like Esau … and Jacob pretends to be Esau. Isaac is old and half-blind, so he doesn’t know he’s blessing Jacob. 27:27-29.
When Esau finds out, he’s FURIOUS. He promises to kill Jacob as soon as their father Isaac is dead – 27:41. Jacob has to flee for his life … “get out of Dodge” for a few days. – 27:43-44.
Jacob was supposed to be there for only a few days … BUT … he ends up spending 20 years there. Rebekah dies … and she never saw her son Jacob again.
The first night on the run, Jacob has a DREAM. He sees a LADDER … and sees ANGELS going UP the ladder to Heaven … and DOWN the ladder from Heaven. 28:12-15
This is a picture of PRAYER. God is telling Jacob that He will answer his prayers. BUT … Jacob has to trust God.
o The angel going UP … is prayer.
o The angel going DOWN … is the answer.
o The ladder … is Jesus.
Jacob thought that when he ran away from Esau, he had left God behind too. LESSON: You can’t run away from your problems … or God! WHY? Because YOU are still there! AND … if YOU are still there … GOD is still there.
Jacob’s MAD at God. God didn’t do things HIS way … the way Jacob wanted. The birthright didn’t bring him instant success.
Jacob is far from God SPIRITUALLY. He’s a schemer … a conniver … a trickster … trying to run from God. BUT … God is letting him know that:
o He’s the God of mercy, grace, and pardon. We experience this fact, as we go to God in the fellowship of PRAYER.
o God doesn’t love us in proportion to our love for Him. God’s love is everlasting. No matter what you do, God couldn’t love you any more … or less.
o We still have access to God … even though we forsake Him. He will never forsake you
This experience makes an impression on Jacob … BUT … he can’t help but make a bargain with God – 28:20-21.
God had already promised it to him … BUT … Jacob is always depending on himself to deal the cards … to be in control. It’s a CONTROL thing.
Jacob goes to Haran, where his mother sent him … to Uncle Laban. The conceited, self-sufficient, egotistical Jacob meets his match in Uncle Laban.
Jacab meets and falls in love with his cousin Rachel … love at first sight. He’s hit HARD! – 29:11. This is some kiss! (he was either a lousy or terrific kisser!).
Jacob stays with Uncle Laban for a month, living high off the hog – 29:14. THEN … Uncle Laban hts Jacob with a proposition – 29:15.
Jacob never said anything about WORKING! He’s been living the “Life of Riley”! Uncle Laban saw Jacob eyeing Rachel, and knew what Jacob wanted. He told Jacob that he could work 7 years for the hand of his daughter. 29:20 – Jacob really loved her!
It’s time for the wedding … a NIGHT wedding – 29:23. His bride has a veil on. Jacob wakes up the next morning … AND … he has married Rachel’s older sister Leah – 29:25. Leah had an eye problem … she was harder to marry off – 29:17. “Oops, I forgot to tell you … it’s our custom that the OLDER daughter has to get married FIRST!”
Jacob is getting a lesson in SUBMISSION. He refused to submit to God at home … NOW … he has to submit to his Uncle Laban. LESSON: You are GOING TO SUBMIT. EITHER to GOD … or to SATAN. Jacob deceived his father in stealing the blessing of the first-born … NOW … he’s deceived into marrying the first-born of Uncle Laban. “The chickens always come home to roost” … OR, theologically, “Whatever a man sows, that will he also reap.”
Jacob serves an additional 7 years to marry his beloved Rachel. THEN … 6 more years to get his sheep. What startd out as a visit for just a few days, ends up as a 20 year stay.
Jacob leaves with his wives, children, and sheep … and heads home. He’s tired of being on the wrong end of Uncle Laban’s schemes and tricks. BUT … God’s not finished with Jacob. His spirit’s not tamed yet. He still thinks he’s self-sufficient. He’s got too much pride.
Jacob gets closer to home, and sends his servants on up ahead, to let Esau know he’s coming. BUT … NOTE the change of tune. Jacob’s been humbled a little. 32:3-5. “my lord Esau” … “your servant Jacob”. The last time he saw Esau, Esau threatened to kill him.
The messengers return to Jacob with some BAD NEWS – 32:6. Jacob knows that Esau is out for REVENGE – 32:7. If one group is attacked, the other group can run and escape.
What to do? WHY did God bring him into this situation? The same reason God often brings US into trying situations … TO CRY OUT TO HIM! – 32:9-10.
For the first time, Jacob acknowledges himself as a sinner … that he’s not self-sufficient. He sends his family away, so he can meet up with his brother Esau first. MAYBE … Esau will kill Jacob and spare his family. Jacob’s ALONE – 32:24
NOTICE: Jacob didn’t do the wrestling … he’s in no mood. He can’t go back to Uncle Laban. He can’t go forward to Esau. He’s caught between a rock and a hard place. He SURELY doesn’t need a 3rd opponent!
WHO was it that wrestled with Jacob that night? It was the pre-incarnate Christ. He is ETERNAL – 32:30. God took on the form of a man, to wrestle with Jacob.
32:25 – BUT … Jacob doesn’t give up easily. He fights until nearly daylight – 32:26.
Jacob realizes that it’s really GOD that he’s wrestling. Jacob is now just holding on … he’s no longer wrestling. Jacob is learning an important LESSON: You don’t get anywhere by resisting, and struggling, and wrestling with God. The only way you can get anywhere with God, is by yielding, surrendering, and holding on to God. When you get to this place, you’re ready to trust God.
IT’S LIKE … when a lifeguard tries to save a drowning man. If he tries to grab him, the drowning victim will pull the lifeguard under … try to climb on top of him … both will drown. The lifeguard waits until he’s tired out … about to go under. THEN, he grabs him when his strength is all gone.
When we get to the place that we realize that we have no strength in ourselves … that we are weak, and have to depend totally on God … THEN … God can begin to use us.
32:27-28 – JACOB means ‘trickster, conniver’. ISRAEL means ‘he will rule as God’. NOW, God will rule in Jacob’s life … instead of Jacob.
32:31 – God had to cripple Jacob to get him to the place where God could use him.
At first, Jacob refused to give in. AFTER ALL, he knew a few holds! He was no wimp. 20 years with Uncle Laban had toughened him up. He wasn’t going to give up easily. He thought that, after awhile, he might overcome. BUT … after awhile, he saw that he couldn’t win. SO … he just held on … he wouldn’t surrender.
Why don’t we surrender? Why do we fight God in our lives?
o Maybe there’s a SIN we refuse to give up.
o Maybe there’s a PATH we refuse to take.
o Maybe there’s a WILL we know to be God’s … but we won’t surrender to it.
God could have pinned Jacob’s shoulders to the ground the 1st second. BUT … He wouldn’t have pinned down Jacob’s WILL. It’s LIKE … the little boy whose Mama made him sit in the corner in another room. After awhile, his mother yelled out, “Are you still sitting down?” The boy replied, “Yea, I’m sitting down on the outside, but I’m standing up on the inside!”
Jacob wasn’t ready to yield … UNTIL God crippled him. NOTICE: It only took a touch of the finger of God. 32:25 – Jacob becomes helpless.
Jacob wants God’s blessing. He’s going to cling to God until he gets it – 32:26. The struggle is over. From here on out, Jacob is going to depend on God. Not over-night … BUT … this is the beginning of TRUST.
CONCLUSION:
Where are YOU in your relationship with God?
o ARE YOU AN EARLY JACOB? Trying to get your way … trusting in your own ability … living by your own wits? Doing the best you can … BUT … failing miserably? WHY? BECAUSE … you’re like young Jacob. You think that you don’t NEED God … EXCEPT … in emergency situations. Life can be very frustrating … WHEN … you leave God out!
o ARE YOU A JACOB LIVING WITH UNCLE LABAN? God is putting you through trials and testings to get you in shape. He’s got lessons to teach you about WHO’S IN CHARGE. Life is difficult … BECAUSE … God is pruning away all the dead wood. He’s chipping away excess stone.
o ARE YOU THE JACOB WHO’S STRUGGLING WITH GOD? Are you fighting with Him about something in your life? God wants to be in control of your will. He can fight you, a lot longer than you can fight Him!
God wants you to say with Jacob, “I’m tired of fighting You, Lord … BUT … I won’t let go of You. I surrender … just bless me. AND … I’ll walk in Your will and way.”
Jacob walked with a limp the rest of his life … as a REMINDER of his dependence on God.
What’s it going to take for God to get your attention? What’s it going to take for God to show you that HE is your strength … your might … your victory?
STAND - PRAY
Outline for handout:
“Jacob – The Man Who Wrestled With God”
INTRODUCTION: We see ourselves in Bible characters.
Genesis 25:22-23 –Isaac & Rebekah are expecting twins.
25:28 – Esau was the oldest … the favorite of Isaac.
- The birthright belonged to the oldest son … but Esau didn’t really care about the birthright.
- Esau sold his birthright to Jacob … BUT … God had already promised it to him!
- We ignore God’s great promises in our life.
27:27-29 – Isaac is deceived by Jacob & Rebekah.
27:41 – Esau is furious, and promises to kill Jacob.
27:43-44 – Jacob has to run for his life.
29:11 – Jacob falls in love with his cousin, Rachel.
29:14 – Jacob lives with his Uncle Laban – 29:15
29:20 – Jacob really loved Rachel.
29:23 – Jacob gets married … to Rachel’s sister Leah – 29:25
- Jacob is learning a lesson in SUBMISSION.
- You will submit to God … or to Satan.
- Jacob is reaping what he has sown.
- After 20 years, Jacob leaves Uncle Laban and heads home.
- He still has too much pride … self-sufficiency.
32:3-5 – Jacob has been humbled a bit.
32:6-7 – Jacob thinks Esau is out for revenge.
32:9-10 – God brought him to this situation so Jacob would cry out to Him.
32:24 – Jacob is alone … so God can deal with him.
32:30 – Christ … God in human form … wrestles with Jacob.
32:25-26 – God wrestles with Jacob until daylight.
- You don’t get anywhere by resisting & struggling with God.
32:27-28 – God will rule in Jacob’s life … not Jacob.
32:31,25 – God had to cripple Jacob to be able to use him.
- Why do we fight God? Why don’t we surrender to Him?
CONCLUSION:
o Are you an early Jacob … running from & living without God?
o Are you a Jacob living with Uncle Laban … going through trials … God is pruning you?
o Are you a Jacob who’s struggling with God … fighting with God about something in your life?
God is your strength, your victory.
PRISCILLA BAPTIST CHURCH – Ray Scott, Pastor
