The Wrestling Match- That Changed Everything.

The Wrestling Match- That Changed Everything.

Genesis 32:24-30AMP

As Jacob turns from his Father-in-law, Laban who tricked Jacob more than once, with years of hard labor in earning Laban’s daughters hand in marriage.

Jacob should be pretty fed up with bad relationships and so forth.

However presently, Jacob returns to his own country, he must face another fearful potential conflict.

His twin brother Esau is coming with 400 men. Esau and his 400 men seemingly approach Jacob to take revenge for cheating Esau out of the family blessing 20 years earlier. (By the way, that’s only what Jacob thought).

Jacob is so afraid that he splits his company into, two camps even as he prays for deliverance.

Jacob also prepares an enormous gift to appease Esau.

Finally, while alone in the dark of the night, Jacob is unexpectedly forced to wrestle a mysterious man, who turns out to be God Himself in some manifested form.

In a profound moment of symbolism, God forces Jacob to state his own name, which God then changes to Israel.

Israel is the name of God's people, do you know where it came from?

Again, From a wrestling match… In the night.

It is recorded that Jacob was alone, and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of dawn.

Jacob wrestled God and received a name change. A Word: There’s folk who don’t feel worthy to praise the Lord. You can’t believe that God sees or hears your prayers, your praise, your worship, it seems fake because you don’t know your position. -You won. If you believe, then you win!

Still, there are folk who have a hard time believing God could give them anything good, much less, that He hears their prayers.

Finally, the man (God) said to him, what is your name? Jacob, (heel-grabber, wrestler, supplanter, deceiver), he answered. Your name shall no longer be called Jacob,(heel-grabber, wrestler, supplanter, deceiver) said the man, but Israel.

For you have struggled with God, and with men, and have prevailed. This will be fulfilled prophecy.)

With the intention of being persistently redundant to get my point across, I read to you, Genesis 32:24-30AMP “So Jacob was left alone, and a Man [came and] wrestled with him until daybreak. When the Man saw that He had not prevailed against Jacob, He touched his hip joint; and Jacob’s hip was dislocated as he wrestled with Him. Then He said, “Let Me go, for day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let You go unless You declare a blessing on me.” So He asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked Him, “Please tell me Your name.” But He said, “Why is it that you ask My name?” And He declared a blessing [of the covenant promises] on Jacob there. So Jacob named the place Peniel (the face of God), saying, “For I have seen God face to face, yet my life has not been snatched away.””

Notice, Jacob won’t let go. And as this great prophecy unfolds, and a nation is birthed, The Israelites therefore do not eat the displaced [sciatic] nerve on the hip joint to this very day because he [the stranger] touched Jacob’s thigh on the displaced nerve” (Genesis 32:25-33).

7- Things that stand out from this text.

1. Jacob was left alone.

“Sometimes alone is a good thing.” PH

Bear your soul, ask for courageous things. -Preach to yourself. Teach Gods word to any audience, and you will be the one edified.

Remember, No one listening, but you and God. -Ask bold!

2. God is into name changes.

I once had the name Happy Howard, but for around 3 years, I lost that. However, for over 37 years, God restored my happiness to eternal happiness. God gave me back my name! Thus, Happy Howard, my motto:

Psalm144:15KJV Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.

Maybe you’ve labeled yourself because of your past, or maybe others labeled you. -Receive a name change.- In Jesus name receive!

The great thing about it is, He already knows your new name. You might not know it yet, but God does!

1 Peter 2:9-10TPT “But you are God’s chosen treasure —priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own. He did this so that you would broadcast his glorious wonders throughout the world. For at one time you were not God’s people, but now you are. At one time you knew nothing of God’s mercy, because you hadn’t received it yet, but now you are drenched with it!”