Genesis 32:23-25
Why did this wrestling match take place? Hos. 12:3-4
I. GOD Had A PLAN for JACOB Which Involved a Wrestling Match
1. Jacob had cheated his brother out of his birthright.
2. Then he ran from Esau, his brother for twenty years.
3. It was now time to straighten this matter out.
A. With his brother.
B. Within his self.
C. He is still trying to straighten this matter out by being Jacob the supplanter and Jacob the schemer rather than Jacob ‘the prince of God.”
D. God had a plan and Jacob was a big part of that plan but he needed to change God wanted to use Jacob and his family to change the world. But he needs to get right. He needed his character changed.
E. Character changes are always hard
EX: William Templeton. Great orator. Sent to preach with B.G. at Youth for Christ meeting. Went to liberal seminary. Id if you don’t change your preaching you’ll be stuck out in some country church for your whole ministry.” Billy wrestled with this. He could have compromised. It was a moment of destiny. Put his Bible on a stump in the woods and prayed. It was a Jacob moment.
EX: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. “I would rather not do this…”
EX: On the cross. “My God, My God, why have thou forsaken me?” But would end with a loud voice of triumph faith shouting “It is finished!”
EX: In the Upper Room
Ex: William Carey was a shoe cobbler in England. Went to a Baptist Association Meeting-“Aren’t we supposed to engage in world missions” Preacher said “Sit down, young man. When God wants to convert the heathen He won’t need your help.” Discouraged, but with 12 other ministers he volunteered to go to India. He told them “You hold the ropes and I’ll go down into the well.” Became first modern mission to India!
Ex: There comes a time in history where God wants to accomplish something and to use someone and most of the time it winds up with a wrestling match with God!.
II. GODS PLAN FOR JACOB (and for us) Involves BROKENNESS
A. Jacob went from resisting God to clinging to Him. It is always this way in brokenness.
B. It might be:
1. Fear.
2. Some unforgiveness.
3. A desire to be in control or to be recognized.
4. We want our way—even against God.
5. It may involve a fundamental character change that only God can accomplish.
Ex: Got a call from Bill Atkins from the Green Turtle Inn.. Another friend named Joe was also there. I asked Joe “his story”. He was a crack user. Came home and found his Filipino girlfriend with another man. Went berserk. Took a knife and was going to kill them. They ran into a bedroom. He dropped the knife, went across the street and into a church. He never touched crack again. Now is on the staff at Bills church. Only God can do this.
6. When God wants to really use us to accomplish His will, He will set about to break us!
7. Genesis 32:24-25 (KJV)
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
8. Jacob walked away from this encounter with a limp. But he was a changed man.
9. This was Paul’s story also.
10. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (KJV)
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
III. GOD’S BROKENNESS ALWAYS INVOLVES BLESSING.
Genesis 32:26-32 (KJV)
26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And Through trials. He blessed me there.
30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.
A. He walked with a limb but he was blessed.
B. He prevailed with God in his prayers. Ill. Charles Spurgeon said “You can‘t pray ‘icicle prayers” and expect to prevail with God. If we can’t get excited about our prayers do you think God will get excited? Ill. Bill was beating on the pews as he accentuated his prayer.
C. James 5:16-18 (KJV)
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
D. After brokenness a blessing.
1. A name change. From Jacob “supplant er” to Israel “Price of God” or “one who prevails with God”. Jacob walked away with a limp but walked away a new man with power from God. A character change.
2. Through trials—He has blessed me there.
3. Through that humbling before the cross-He has blessed me there.
4. Through sickness—He blessed me there.
5. Through blowing it big time and being restored—He blessed me there.
6. Through painful character change—He blessed me there!
Do you need to be and want to be blessed? Are you ready for the wrestling match with God?
Are you resisting Him or clinging to Him?
Don’t resist Him—let Him break you—surrender to it—AND you will be blessed!
