Wrestling with God

Note: These are my notes prior to the Sunday morning service. The actual content of the sermon may vary when delivered.

Passage(s)

Genesis 32:22–31 NIV2011

22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants 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 humans 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. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” 31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.

Introduction

Luther points out that this “man” may have been an angel but favours it being a pre-incarnation of the Son.

Christian Life, like Jacob’s, involves many struggles. There are many areas in which you may find yourself Wrestling with God. (Father wrestling with his children)

Content

Wrestling with Prayer

Wrestling with Scripture

This passage - little explanation

Wrestling with Loving your Neighbour

Conclusion

Like Jacob, we may face struggles in our Christian Life. There even may be times of suffering and loss. Unlike Jacob we don’t have to hold on to the “man”/ God - and neither did Jacob. God is with us.

We may be willing to die for our faith. Are we willing to live for it - even if it involved hardship and suffering? Ask for the Holy Spirit to be with you as you wrestle with what lies before you. Go and be Jesus people in your home, at school, at work and wherever you may be.

References

Boyd, Gregory A. The Crucifixion of the Warrior God: Interpreting the Old Testament’s Violent Portraits of God in Light of the Cross. Vol. 1 & 2. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2017.

Goldingay, John. Genesis for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 17–50. First edition. Old Testament for Everyone. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010.

Longman, Tremper, III. Genesis. Edited by Tremper Longman III. The Story of God Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016.