Sermons on Bereshis 32:31:

God The Adversary/ God The Advocate

Contributed by Michael Pahls on May 2, 2001

An exposition of the story of Jacob’s wrestling of the Angel/God that reveals the importance of prevailing faith through the suffering and temptation in our lives.

GOD THE ADVERSARY/ GOD THE ADVOCATE Genesis 32:22-32 INTRO. JACOB: THE USED CAR SALESMAN Now as you may or may not know, Jacob was the grandson of Abraham and the younger son of Isaac. Now the name Jacob, as Genesis 25:26 confirms, comes from the Hebrew word “heel” and was understood to mean ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Life Lessons Learned From A Wounded Wrestler

Contributed by Steven Dow on Jul 17, 2002

We’ve all wrestled with God and so we can learn some valuable lessons from Jacob, the Wounded Wrestler.

JACOB: LIFE LESSONS LEARNED FROM A WOUNDED WRESTLER Genesis 32:22-32 July 21, 2002 INTRODUCTION: Allow me to set the stage for you. Jacob had not seen his brother, Esau, in a long time and he was very apprehensive about their meeting. You see, many years earlier Jacob tricked his brother out ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Wrestling

Contributed by John Beehler on Aug 1, 2002

When you wrestle with God, you win by losing.

Wrestling We’ve talked recently about Abraham. Today we’re going to look at his 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, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-31

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Touched By God

Contributed by Ethan Sayler on Aug 5, 2002

This is a sermon on the importance of being persistent in prayer, and how God will change your life through prayer.

It had been over twenty years since Jacob had last set foot in his father’s land; twenty years since his flight from his brother’s wrath, twenty years from that blessed encounter with the Lord at Bethel. Now, after two decades, Jacob was coming home. He had left his home alone, with nothing but ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-31

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Wrestling With God Series

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Aug 18, 2001

This sermon embraces the uncomfortable ideas of wrestling with God, God self-limitation in the struggle, and change that occurs.

Genesis 32:22-32 Our Bible story needs a little prefacing this evening. Its kind of like the original Star Wars Triliogy - we’re coming in to the story at Episode VI. In recent days we’ve been taking a look at some Old Testament characters, and tonight we turn our attention towards Jacob - the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Denomination: Methodist

Wrestling For A Change Series

Contributed by Wayde Wilson on Nov 13, 2000

Spiritual Growth

“Wrestling For A Change” Genesis 32:22-32 Change can be a painful process, particularly in the area of spiritual maturity. I look back 20 years or so ago to my high school and college days and I realize God was working with some pretty “raw” material. I think of some of the things I did and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32, Ephesians 6:12-13

Denomination: Pentecostal

(Lesson 1) Jacob: Motivated By Fear

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Apr 10, 2003

Jacob wrestled all night with God and wouldn’t let Him go. Because of Jacob’s tenacity, God blessed him and changed his name to Israel, i.e., a Prince with God.

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 ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Be A Sore Loser

Contributed by Scott Carmer on Aug 28, 2005

When Jacob wrestled with the angel that night at the river, he was a good loser because he was willing to learn from his struggle.

Don’t Be a Sore Loser Genesis 32:22-31 Proverbs 3:12 August 28, 2005 My first and only foray into the world of coaching came during the summer that I coached my son’s baseball team. We were living in Morocco, Indiana at the time. Morocco is in Newton County and the North Newton High School ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-31

Denomination: Methodist

Jake The Snake Wrestles God

Contributed by Mike Turner on Sep 18, 2005

A message about Jacob’s wrestling match with God

Jake The Snake Wrestles God Gen 32:21-32 I grew up watching Pro Wrestling. It was fake way back then, and it’s even more fake now. But I would have never told my daddy that. Me and Daddy used to have a ringside seat beside our black and white t.v. set on Sat’s at ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:21-32

Denomination: Baptist

What Is Your Name

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Sep 23, 2005

Who of us have never known an experience that we’d sooner forget; an experience of theft or maybe deception; or recounting those times when we were selfishly motivated, yielding to sin’s tempting tug and losing to its hold and persuasion.

The unknown author of the following story captures the value of a name. “After the American Civil War the managers of the infamous Louisiana Lottery approached Robert E. Lee and asked if he’d let them use his name in their scheme. They promised that if he did he would become rich. Astounded, Lee ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Denomination: Salvation Army

Prevailing Prayer

Contributed by Colin Coombs on Oct 8, 2005

How to suceed in prayer

PREVAILING PRAYER I PREVAILING PRAYER PLEADS THE PROMISES V.9 Then Jacob prayed, "O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ a. GOD’S PROMISES ARE UNFAILING I Kings 8:56 "Praise be to ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:1-32

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Jacob's Final Transformation Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on May 20, 2005

After Jacob gave his heart to God, and saw the Lord change his character, there was a point where God needed to break Jacob so that he would be fully devoted. God does that in our lives as well - what does it mean?

You give your heart to the Lord - saying "I’m yours, be my Lord and Savior." Then the Father begins a process of transformation. The Apostle Paul put it this way: "being transformed into His image with ever increasing glory" (1 Cor 3:18). That transformation process often involves the tearing ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:1-31

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Showdown At Jabbok's Ford

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jul 27, 2005

The incident at Jabbok’s Ford was a watershed in Jacob’s life. For it was a time where Jacob drew aside from everyone else to spend time alone with God. And if you mean business with God, he will mean business with you.

The Showdown at Jabbok’s Ford – a watershed in Jacob’s life Story: Bruce and the spider After the Scottish defeat at the battle of Falkirk, and then the terrible news of Wallace’s execution - Robert the Bruce is said to have been inspired to continue the struggle against the English - by the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:21-31

Denomination: Anglican

Down And Dirty

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Jul 28, 2005

Jacob wrestles with God in the dust before he returns to his homeland to face his brother Esau.

Down and Dirty – Genesis 32: 22 - 31 Intro: “The young man, Jacob was the kind of person that could enter a revolving door behind you and come out ahead of you.” --- Ever known anybody like that? --- If you don’t and everybody is looking at you, it’s probably you! I. Jacob – means trickster, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-31

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

"A Dark Night Of The Soul"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jul 30, 2005

Only God can break the barriers of guilt, fear, anxiety and sin.

Genesis 32:22-31 “A Dark Night Of The Soul” By: Rev. Kenneth E. Sauer, Pastor of Parkview United Methodist Church, Newport News, VA www.parkview-umc.org Jacob had fled from his home after stealing his brother Esau’s birthright and blessing. He had gotten a safe distance away and had stayed ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-31

Denomination: United Methodist