This Is Us: Jacob's Family Series

Today we are continuing our family series called This is US. Everyone has a family and every family has a story.

What we want to get pressed deep within our hearts through this series is that God is an integral part in your Family Story. We’re going to take a look at several Bible Families and see, first, that none of them were perfect and, second, that we can see our own Family Story reflected in these families.

Last week we brought you the story of Isaac and Rebekah. Today we get to look at their son Jacob and how God changed him into the person he wanted him to become.

Big Truth: Change in our families begins with change in us.

What would you most like to change about yourself? If you could change one thing – what would it be? All of us change over time. Each one of us is getting older. But the great tragedy of life is that sometimes we don’t change for the better. Most people are interested in change. I looked up some the top selling self-help books that are out there. One of them is titled: “Get Out Of Your Own Way – Overcoming Self-Defeating Behavior.” Another one is titled: “Self Help – How To Change Your Life In The Next 15 Minutes.” Now – I am not endorsing either one of these books – but it interesting to know that people want change – and most people want it quick. But do you know the truth. Most change takes T I M E. It usually does not come instantaneously. In Genesis chapter 32 we see the process that God uses in changing Jacob. God is helping him become a different kind of person – a better person. The incident recorded in this chapter was a turning point in Jacob’s life and serves as a dramatic example of how God can change us too.

Last week we introduced you to Jacob where he had tricked his father into giving him a blessing that was intended for his older brother Esau.Jacob’s father could not see very well and the father had sent Esau out to hunt some game and make some stew for him. While Esau was away – Jacob came in with some stew and pretended to be Esau. Jacob had pulled it off – he had tricked his father. Isaac blessed Jacob – Esau became angry and Jacob had to run for his life. Jacob’s name means “deceiver” or “cheater." But several years later Jacob was returning home. He knew that he would see Esau again and that was an uncomfortable fact. "How would Esau react? Would he still be mad? Would he try to kill me?" These were questions that were running though Jacob’s mind. It was at this point that Jacob had an encounter with God that would change the rest of his life forever. It was such a transforming experience that he was never the same again. Let us pick up the story in Genesis 32 verse 24.

And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven 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 there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” (Genesis 32:24–30).

In this story we have a clear expression of a four-step process that God used to change Jacob – four steps that would radically alter his life forever. If you are following along in your bulletin we are going to look at four steps that God uses to change us into the people God wants us to become.

1. The first step is CRISIS

Verse 24 says

And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. Genesis 32:24

This was no ordinary man for later on in our text Jacob says: "I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved." Some will tell you that Jacob wrestled with an angel. Others would say that it was a pre-manifestation of Jesus himself. I am inclined to believe that Jesus – but no matter who it was it was a supernatural event that caused a crisis in Jacob’s life. Jacob found himself in a wrestling match with a heavenly being. He was having a real struggle – and worst of all he came to realize that he was in a no-win situation. By daybreak Jacob was getting tired. He was not going to win and his opponent was not giving in. Both had locked their horns and Jacob was not going to let go – he was in the middle of a crisis.