Jacob the Wrestler
Genesis 32:22 – 32:32
Today we’re going to look at Abraham’s grandson, Jacob. Unlike Abraham, who has a reputation for being a Godly man and doing the right thing, we must use different words to describe Jacob;
words like shyster, liar, manipulator, cheater, schemer, con-artist. I guess you could say his character was revealed at birth.
He was the 2nd born of twins and came out holding his brother, Esau’s, heel and has been grabbing things ever since.
I like how one person put it…
“Jacob was the kind of person that could enter a revolving door behind you and come out ahead of you.”
Jacob cheated his brother, conned his father, and swindled his father-in-law. What he did wasn’t exactly illegal but they weren’t exactly moral or right either.
In all that he did, Jacob was his primary focus. And up to now Jacob had done fine on his own. And at the stream called Jabbok (which means pouring out or emptying), he empties himself of all his possessions and relationships to the other side.
Jacob Was A Fighter From Birth
1. Before born – wrestled with brother Esau in womb
2. Later when they were born
a. Esau came first, but Jacob grabbed brother by heel.
b. firstborn = position of prominence in Hebrew family.
c. Jacob was given his name because of this action.
d. his name = "cheater, one who grabs from behind"
C. Jacob’s Wrestling Continued As He Grew Up
1. Esau returns from hunt, Jacob boiling soup
a. Esau asked for soup because he was hungry.
b. that’s simple request – but nothing easy for Jacob
c. He’s looking to do business - to make a deal
d. not through with grabbing Esau by the heel.
e. I’ll sell you some soup for your birthright !
f. Jacob was a wrestler – wrestled for the birthright
2. Listen to what he does to his own Father
a. Isaac, his father is old – almost totally blind
b. Isaac wanting some of Esau’s venison
c. while Esau away, Jacob dresses like Esau, pretends
d. wrestled dad for blessing that belonged to his brother
3. His wrestling cost him dearly – now on the run
a. he had to leave – had put himself of being unsafe
b. would never see his dad again – he died
c. was close to his mother – but never see her again
4. Now 20 years later – wanting to return
a. everything was about to come full circle
b. (Genesis 32:7) Jacob knows he has to face brother
I. A Hard Day and Night!
I. . Jacob Came Face To Face With The Lord vv. 22-26 “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
1. Twenty years before, Jacob had met the Lord at
Bethel; now God came to him again in his hour of
need
a. God wants to meet us--at level He finds us at
b. To Abraham the pilgrim, God came as traveler (Gen
18)
c. To Joshua the general, He came as soldier (Josh
5:13)
d. To Jacob had spent most of his adult life
wrestling with people — so God came to him as a
wrestler
2. They “wrestled”
c. Jacob prevailed – not that he won – but he didn’t
stop short
1. God wants to know you’re serious about this
thing
2. Too many give up to easily on God – throw hands
up --God says – stay engaged with me, stay at it
ILLUSTRATION: Scientists studied a native tribe in South America whose people have been dying prematurely for generations. After thorough investigation, the cause of premature death was determined. The disease was transmitted by an insect that lived in the walls of their adobe homes. This new information presented several options. They could move to another area where such insects don’t exist, tear down their homes and rebuild them, use insecticide to rid their homes of the bugs, or, continue as they have and die early. Surprisingly, these people have opted to remain as they are and do nothing about their problem. Many people behave similarly. To save themselves, they know what they must do; instead, they opt to remain unchanged
4. At Bethel, God had promised to bless Jacob
a. from a material point of view, Jacob was
blessed – wealthy
There is more to blessing than flocks,
herds, and Servants--there’s also the
matter of godly character and spiritual
influence
Jacob refused to stop short, but held on for this
b. when you say “bless me, God” – what are you asking
for
-- flocks, herds, servants, material stuff
-- or true blessing – godly character
-- don’t stop short – to settle for second best!!!
4. Eventually Jacob had to surrender
a. Jacob discovered that he’d spent his life
fighting God and resisting His will, and that
the only way to victory was through surrender.
b. as A.W. Tozer said, "The Lord cannot fully bless a
man until He has first conquered him."
c. God conquered Jacob by weakening him.
II. Jacob Also Came Face To Face With Himself (vv. 27-
32)
1. More than anything else, Jacob wanted the
blessing of the Lord
a. before we can begin to be like the Lord –
b. we have to face ourselves and admit what we are
in ourselves.
2. That’s why the Lord asked him, "What is your
name?"
a. the last time Jacob was asked that question, he
told a lie!
b. His father asked, "Who are you, my son?" and
Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau your
firstborn" (27:18-19)
3. The Lord didn’t ask the question in order to get
information
a. God knew Jacob’s name and that Jacob’s reputation
of being a schemer and a deceiver
b. "What is your name?" meant, "Are you going to
continue living up to your name, deceiving
yourself and others; or will you admit what you
are and let Me change you?"
4. In the Bible, receiving a new name signifies
making new beginning Abraham & Sara Joshua -
Simon to Peter), and this was Jacob’s opportunity
to make a fresh start in life.
BACKDROP:
- It was the night before Jacob’s reunion with his brother Esau, across the stream.
- The last time Jacob saw Esau was when he had tricked him out of his birthright. Jacob wasn’t the eldest, but he wanted the blessing of his father just before he died. So he tricked him into blessing him rather than Esau.
- The result of all this is that Esau wanted to kill him - the last words he heard from Esau were “I’m going to kill you.”
- Now Esau and 400 of his men were on their way to meet him--he sent his servants up front to present gifts.
- And then he sent his wives, children and servants. He really does not know what his brother would do.
III IT WAS A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE
A Jacob gained a new name.
1. He was born with the name “Jacob” because he
came out grabbing onto his brother’s heel.
2. The name “Jacob” means “Grabber, or Usurper”.
It’s not a nice name but it was an accurate one.
3. But in one night, Jacob went from Deceiver to
Believer. He went from “Schemer” to ISRAEL which
means “A Prince With God”.
B Jacob gained a new life.
1. Jacob finally got to go HOME to his own country.
2. As it turned out, his brother was NOT angry with
them and they were happily reunited!
C Jacob gained a new walk.
1. He limped from that day forward.
2. It will cost you something to encounter God.
You’ll never walk the same way again!
D Jacob gained a new power with God.
1. God called him a “Prince”
2. God actually admired Jacob because he refused to
let go!
3. So, why don’t you do the same?
4. Consider this. JACOB WOULD NEVER HAVE FOUND THIS
NEW POWER WITH GOD HAD HE NOT HAD THIS
PERSONAL “WRESTLING MATCH”
IT IS NOW 20 YEARS...
20 years since Jacob had last set foot in his father’s land;
20 Yrs. since his flight from his brother’s wrath,
20 Yrs from that blessed encounter with the Lord at Bethel.
Now, 20 Urs. Later, Jacob was coming home.
He had left his home alone, with nothing but his walking stick, and now he was returning a greatly blessed man. Jacob returned with two wives, eleven sons, an abundance of sheep and servants.
Among the many lessons that might be drawn from this episode for our edification, three are most obvious.
First—The people of God’s family should love one
another as Christ has loved us.
Second—Peace with God and one another are closely
related. 1 John 4:20— ---20---“If someone
says, ‘I love God’, and hates his brother, he
is a liar; for the one who does not love his
brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom
he has not seen.”
Third—We are not to rely on our own strength and our
own ways, but to surrender to God’s direction.
