Notes on the Word
19th Anniversary – Wrestling with God
Jeffery A. Raker February 5, 2012
Genesis 32:22-29 “That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob replied, “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 men and have overcome.” 29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.”
1 - Be Humble
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.”
Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair
Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God
Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure
Miriam was a gossiper, Martha was a worrier
Thomas was a doubter, Sarah was impatient
Elijah was depressed, Moses was a stutterer,
Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old and Lazarus was dead!
God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called!
2 - Give up Control
By giving the man his name, Jacob was giving up control.
3 – Hang on
Sometimes we stop short of God's blessing in our live because we refuse to wrestle and hang on.
4 – Be prepared to be blessed
Prepare yourself to walk with a limp.
Those who have been blessed by God are known by others because blessing implies brokenness, coming to the end of our own strength.
