Wrestling with God
Genesis 32:22–32
1. You Meet with God by Yourself
Genesis 32:21–24 (NIV)
So Jacob's gifts went on ahead of him, but he himself spent the night in the camp. That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone...
There are 3 crossings in the life of the Christian:
- Red Sea: represents getting saved...coming out of the world
- Jordan River: represents baptism and a commitment to the Lord...a desire to grow in Him
- Jabbok River: represents full surrender...where you wrestle with God alone
2. You Wrestle with God
Genesis 32:24 (NIV)
This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled (Jacobed) with him until the dawn began to break.
Wrestled: abaq (aw-bak)
Jabbok: yabboq (yab-boke)
Jacob: Ya’aqob (ya-cob)
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 32:28b (NLT)
Because you have fought with God and with men and have won.
3. Your Wrestling with God Will Change You
1st. Identity
Genesis 32:26–28 (NIV)
But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." The man asked, "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."
2nd. Intuition
Genesis 32:29–30 (NIV)
Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there. 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.
