Wrestling with God

Families Are Messy
Wrestling with God

I. Introduction

A. Genesis 32:1-2 (NLT) ¹As Jacob started on his way again, angels of God came to meet him. ²When Jacob saw them, he exclaimed, “This is God’s camp!” So he named the place Mahanaim.

1. Spiritual experiences are never life-changing unless that experience is upon!

2. There’s a big difference between and an experience!

3. What did you do you were touched by God?

B. Genesis 32:3-7a (NLT) ³Then Jacob sent messengers ahead to his brother, Esau, who was living in the region of Seir in the land of Edom. ⁴He told them, “Give this message to my master Esau: ‘Humble greetings from your servant Jacob. Until now I have been living with Uncle Laban, ⁵and now I own cattle, donkeys, flocks of sheep and goats, and many servants, both men and women. I have sent these messengers to inform my lord of my coming, hoping that you will be friendly to me.’” ⁶After delivering the message, the messengers returned to Jacob and reported, “We met your brother, Esau, and he is already on his way to meet you—with an army of 400 men!” ⁷Jacob was terrified at the news.

C. Genesis 32:9 (NLT) Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my grandfather Abraham, and God of my father, Isaac—O LORD, you told me, ‘Return to your own land and to your relatives.’ And you promised me, ‘I will treat you kindly.’”

1. The thing that Jacob did right—when he was afraid—is that he !

D. Genesis 32:10-12 (NLT) ¹⁰“I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant. When I left home and crossed the Jordan River, I owned nothing except a walking stick. Now my household fills two large camps ¹¹ O LORD, please rescue me from the hand of my brother, Esau. I am afraid that he is coming to attack me, along with my wives and children. ¹²But you promised me, ‘I will surely treat you kindly, and I will multiply your descendants until they become as numerous as the sands along the seashore—too many to count.’”

1. God does “Esaus” to come into our lives—from time to time—so that we—like Jacob—would draw near to God!

E. Genesis 32:13-21 (NLT)

1. Jacob’s real problem is !

F. Genesis 32:22-30 (NLT)

1. What God wanted to do in Jacob’s life required Jacob to have stripped away!

G. 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.

H. 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.”

I. 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.

1. God can’t give Jacob the blessing that God wants to give him until He Jacob at the source of Jacob’s human power.

J. Genesis 32:27-28 (NLT) ²⁷“What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.” ²⁸“Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”

1. “Jacob, what is it that you are like at the of your being?”

2. “God sometimes denies our prayers for silver because He wants to give us gold.” (Martin Luther)

II. Conclusion