Decide This Year Will Be Different
Genesis 32:22–32
Genesis 32:1–2 (NIV)
1 Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
2 When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is the camp of God!" So he named that place Mahanaim*.
(*two camps)
1. Decide to Meet with God Personally
Genesis 32:21–22 (NIV)
21 So Jacob's gifts went on ahead of him, but he himself spent the night in the camp.
22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
1st Red Sea
2nd Jordan River
3rd Jabbok River
Genesis 32:23–24a (NIV)
23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.
24 So Jacob was left alone...
2. Decide to Hold onto God
Genesis 32:24 (NIV)
So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.
Genesis 32:24 (NLT)
This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break.
Genesis 32:25a (NIV)
When the man saw that he could not overpower him,
Genesis 32:30 (NIV)
So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."
Genesis 32:28b (NLT)
because you have fought with God and with men and have won.
Genesis 32:25 (NLT)
When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob's hip and wrenched it out of its socket.
Genesis 32:26 (NLT)
Then the man said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!" But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
Genesis 32:29b (NLT)
Then he blessed Jacob there.
3. Decide You Want God to Bless You by Changing You
1st Identity
Genesis 32:26b–28 (NIV)
26b But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
27 The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered.
28 Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel," because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.
2nd Intuition
Genesis 32:29–30 (NIV)
29 Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Penuel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."
3rd Intervention
Genesis 33:4 (NIV)
But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.
Genesis 33:10 (NIV)
"No, please!" said Jacob. "If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably."
