Sermons on Genesis 32:23:

Wrestling With God Series

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Mar 23, 2018

In the darkness, which we all feel at times, Jacob wrestles with God. He asks for assurances of blessing (which he already had), but instead, he gets God! Jesus also wrestles in the garden, giving up control, and God raises him from the dead.

WRESTLING WITH GOD—Genesis 32 (Children’s Message: afraid of the dark?) Are you afraid of the dark—or the darkness? Maybe the darkness is in the hospital, or a war zone, or you found yourself jobless or on the edge of bankruptcy. Maybe the darkness was anguish over children, or marital ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:1-32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How To Have Power With God

Contributed by John Gaston on Feb 18, 2016

Of Jacob it was said, "As a Prince you have power with God." Why? Because he wrestled in prayer and prevailed. Do we wish to have "power with God?" Here's your chance to find out how.

HOW TO HAVE POWER WITH GOD Gen. 32:22-30 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. JOKE. Two convicts were working on a chain gang. "I heard the warden's daughter up and married a guy down on cellblock D," the first con says to the other. "The warden's mighty upset about it too." "Why?" asks the second prisoner. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-30

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Jacob Wrestles With God Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Jun 8, 2022

Peniel was a place where Jacob reached brokenness. He lost all self-sufficiency and depended completely on God. This was a time for Jacob of genuine soul searching and spiritual struggle. It was also a significant time of knowing God’s grace.

A profession of faith in Christ is not an end in itself. It is the beginning of a pilgrimage. Along the way there will be defining moments and spiritual highlights. For Jacob his defining moment was at Peniel. The meaning of Peniel is the face of God. Peniel was a place where Jacob reached ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Denomination: Baptist

What Is Dangerous Prayer? Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Feb 14, 2022

Dangerous prayers ask God to bless us by first breaking us.

NOTE: This is a manuscript, and not a transcript of this message. The actual presentation of the message differed from the manuscript through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is possible, and even likely that there is material in this manuscript that was not included in the live ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Denomination: Baptist

10th Sunday After Pentecost. August 2nd, 2026. Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 19, 2023

Year A, Proper 13.

Genesis 32:22-31, Psalm 17:1-7, Psalm 17:15, Isaiah 55:1-5, Psalm 145:8-9, Psalm 145:14-21, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21 A). A METAPHOR FOR PRAYER. Genesis 32:22-31. “The ford Jabbok” (Genesis 32:22) is significant, first, in that it was the border of the land of promise (cf. Numbers ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-31, Psalm 17:1-7, Psalm 17:15, Isaiah 55:1-5, Psalm 145:8-9, Psalm 145:14-21, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When We Make A Mess Of Our Lives…

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 17, 2022

An extraordinary thing has happened in this passage of Scripture concerning Jacob.

Sometimes when we get together with others and they tell us of some unusual thing that has happened to them, we feel almost compelled to share some unusual thing that has happened to us. Illus: For example, little Johnny was talking to a couple of boys in the school yard. Each was bragging about ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Denomination: Baptist

Jacob-When He Wrestled With God Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 1, 2022

If you have ever wrestled with anyone. you'll understand a little of what Jacob endured when he spent most of a night wrestling with an unknown Guest!

Introduction: Jacob and his household had left the land of Laban and were heading back to his homeland. God Himself had told Jacob to do this (Gen. 31:3) and Jacob had obeyed. While on the journey, Moses wrote “the angels of God met” Jacob at a place he called “Mahanaim (Hebrew for “two camps)”. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Denomination: Baptist

Āḇaq: Jacob Wrestles With God Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Apr 15, 2022

Are you a fan of wrestling? I remember watching wrestling growing up. And I remember seeing a few fights during junior high and high school where people were wrestling. What happens when people wrestle?

Are you a fan of wrestling? I remember watching wrestling growing up. And I remember seeing a few fights during junior high and high school where people were wrestling. What happens when people wrestle? They start fighting, and they inevitably end up on the ground, tossing up dust, spinning around, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:23-32

Denomination: Salvation Army

19th Sunday After Pentecost. October 19th, 2025. Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 10, 2022

Year C, Proper 24.

Jeremiah 31:27-34, Psalm 119:97-104, Genesis 32:22-31, Psalm 121, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-5, Luke 18:1-8 A). BEHOLD THE DAYS ARE COMING. Jeremiah 31:27-34. “Behold, the Days are Coming.” This is a recurring motif in Jeremiah (cf. Jeremiah 23:5; Jeremiah 30:3; Jeremiah 31:27; ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:27-34, Psalm 119:97-104, Genesis 32:22-31, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-5, Luke 18:1-8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Broken But Blessed Series

Contributed by David Taylor on Oct 11, 2016

The Patriarchs Broken but Blessed Genesis 32 For Jacob, like the rest of us, sin is a moral virus that is wreaking havoc in his life. God’s covenantal love and grace and mercy.

The Patriarchs Broken but Blessed Genesis 32 David Taylor September 11, 2016 We are in the midst of our series, “The Patriarchs,” where we have looked at the life of Abraham, Isaac, and now Jacob. For Jacob, like the rest of us, sin is a moral virus that is wreaking havoc in his ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:1-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Have You Ever Wrested With The Lord?

Contributed by Dr.w.samuel Legon on Mar 20, 2019

You may be wrestling with the wrong person.

Have you ever wrested with the Lord? Gen.3224 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Denomination: Baptist

Wrestling With God

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Oct 26, 2018

On the way to meet his extranged brother Esau, Jacob experienced a strange encounter with a "man," who Jacob identified as God himself.

WRESTLING WITH GOD Please turn to Genesis 32. Having made a covenant of peace with Laban, his nettlesome father-in-law, Jacob traveled southward through the country east of the Jordan River. The “angels of God” met him there. Their purpose seems to have been to set up a meeting between Jacob and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 31:1-55, Romans 12:2, Genesis 32:24-31, Genesis 32:1-32

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Wrestling With God Series

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Mar 2, 2013

Here, God empties Jacob of his NATURAL effort and teaches Jacob to trust Him completely.

What images come to mind when I mention the word wrestling? For some, it is an image of a High school wrestling match. Others happily envision Dad wrestling with his son. And a few of us think of the theater of “professional wrestling” with Iron Rings of death and tag team death ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:1-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Wrestling With God

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Aug 6, 2017

There are moments in life that change us forever. Today's story looks at the second of two such moments in Jacob's life, where he wrestled with God in prayer and in pride, and was forever changed.

Genesis 32:22-31 Wrestling with God Have you ever had a pivotal moment in your life that has forever changed you? For me, one such moment was the day I joined the military. I felt like God wanted me to do something truly significant with my life, and that decision forever changed me. In the life ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-31, Colossians 4:12, Proverbs 16:18, Hosea 12:4

Denomination: Baptist

You Can't Hide Series

Contributed by Rob Watts on Nov 6, 2019

You have to make peace with Esau

Genesis 32:19-24 (GW) 19 He also commanded the second servant, the third, and all the others who followed the herds. He said, “Say the same thing to Esau when you find him. 20 And be sure to add, ‘Jacob is right behind us, sir.'” He thought, “I'll make peace with him by giving him this ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:19-24