Touched By God

a) The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered. Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." Genesis 32:27-28 New International Version (NIV)

b) What kind of name have we earned so far?

 Peacemaker?

 Destroyer?

 Edifier?

 Criticizer?

 Runner?

 Fixer?

 Prodigal?

 Child of God?

c) Jacob means “cheater, one who grabs (or ambushes) from behind.”

 His new name, Israel, means “he struggles with God.”

 Israel got her name by the description of people who struggle with God.

13. Jacob lost and won at the same time.

a) …he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man…he was limping because of his hip...Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon. Genesis 32:25, 32 New International Version (NIV)

b) Jacob emerged broken and blessed.

c) His limp would be a lasting proof of the reality of the struggle; it had not been a dream.

14. He had an injury that he would carry the rest of his life, a testimony that would be told for all generations.

a) Jacob had always longed for spiritual things but he had been going about it in the wrong way.

b) He received a new start by getting alone, praying and holding on to God.

c) The new name would show his new standing; it was a badge of grace.

d) That’s what the name “Christian” is for us—a new name and fresh start.

15. God has many ways to “grab our attention.”

a) He wants us to make right, God-pleasing choices.

b) Like the example of self-righteous Saul, the Pharisee.

 Saul sought spiritual things but he was going about it the wrong way.

 Jesus struggled with him, gave him a new name (Paul) and turned him into a fully devoted follower of Christ!

c) Paul reflects, I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. My friends, I don’t feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. Philippians 3:12-13 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

16. Why would God want to wrestle with any man (woman, teen or child)?

a) Because He loves us!

b) God wants us to pursue Him and follow Him according to His plans and not on our own terms!

c) God knew that Jacob loved Him but He insisted that Jacob do things God’s way.

II. EVENTS LEADING UP TO JACOB BEING IN THE RING WITH GOD

1. Jacob was sneaky.

a) Yet, God saw something valuable in him.

b) He saw Jacob’s desire for spiritual things and turned him into a treasure.

c) God can do the same with our life!

d) Ephesians 2:4-10 says …because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:4-10 New International Version (NIV)