Jacob
Summer in the sand • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Summer in the Sand: Jacob
Who is this famous Jacob.
In the Old Testament, Jehovah is repeatedly called the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
This name of God emphasizes the covenant that God made with Israel and the Israelites' special place as God's Chosen People.
Last week we talked about Abraham. His wife Sarah was childless until she was 90 years old. God promised Abraham that she would be “a mother of nations” (Genesis 17:16) and that she would conceive and bear a son, but Sarah did not believe.
Sarah gave birth to Isaac.
Isaac’s wife Rebekah gives birth to (twin boys) Esau then Jacob. (Gen 25:21)
These two boys fought in the womb
Esau first born - Hairy / outdoors-men / Daddy’s boy
Jacob second born and was grasping his brothers heel at birth . Jacob name means he grasps the heel, a Hebrew idiom for he deceives. - Stay at home / Momma’s boy
Jacob schemes to have Esau sells his birthright.
Jacob deceives is father Isaac to bless him before he dies making him think he is Esau / Blessing: Gets all of Dad’s power and influence.
Esau finds out and plots to kill Jacob / Jacob flees to Haran /
Jacob marries Leah and Rachel: 7 Years work for Rachel's hand in marriage and is deceived by Laban his father in-law to marry Leah, then convinced to work another 7 years for Rachel.
Jacob works under Laban for over 20 years and leaves with his daughters and grandchildren and with all the wealth he had accumulated without telling Laban he was leaving. Laban is furious and decides to track down Jacob and kill him. God changes Laban’s mind. They make a covenant to each other.
Jacob decides to go home but will have to face his brother and hears his brother is on the way to see him with 400 men.
So he schemes a plan to appease his brother with lavish gifts.
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.
Fearful of what his brother Esau would do to his family, he devises a plan.
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.
It was dangerous to ford the river at night, but Jacob would rather hazard the crossing than risk losing his loved ones; so he moved his family to what he hoped was a safe place.
24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.
Now Jacob was left alone, and when we’re alone and at the end of our resources, then God can come to us and do something in us and for us.
24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.
God meets us at whatever level He finds us in order to lift us to where He wants us to be.
Jacob had spent most of his adult life wrestling with people—Esau, Isaac, Laban and even himself, so God came to him as a wrestler.
Christ came to wrestle with Jacob, and the struggle lasted all night. Keep in mind that Jacob was not wrestling to get a blessing from God; rather, he was defending himself and refusing to yield.
God did not want to have wrestling match with Jacob, He wanted to have a moment with Jacob.
An all-night wrestling match will make you weary enough.
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.
He could overpower Jacob and pin him. But nothing would change in him. I will weaken him.
Touched (naw-gah') Hebrew Definition: to touch, reach, strike (This had to hurt)
Jesus is pointing out to Jacob at any moment I can stop this charade. I am letting you think you are in control and got me. You don’t. I am letting you hold onto me.
Now Jacob thought he was winning, but now realizes he is out matched.
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.”
Jacob is no longer wrestling (fighting with God). Now he is just holding on.
He found out that you do not get anywhere with God by struggling and resisting. The only way that you get anywhere with Him is by yielding and just holding on to Him.
Now instead of scheming or deceiving for a blessing, he is holding on for the blessing.
Before I bless you, we now have some wrestling of the soul we need to deal with. I have a question for you?
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered.
When ppl ask you, where are you from tells them a little about you. LA Rams game.
The Lord didn’t ask the question in order to get information, because He certainly knew Jacob’s name and that Jacob had the reputation of being a schemer and a deceiver.
“What is your name?” meant, “Are you going to continue living up to your name, deceiving yourself and others; or will you admit what you are and let Me change you?”
No more hiding. It is time to get real and expose who I am deep inside.
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered.
As far as the Genesis record is concerned, the last time Jacob was asked that question, he told a lie! His father asked, “Who are you, my son?” and Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn” He went 20 some years without saying his name.
Admit who you are and I will show you who you will become.
“The Lord cannot fully bless a man until He has first conquered him”. - A.W. Tozer
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.”
In the Bible, receiving a new name signifies making a new beginning and this was Jacob’s opportunity to make a fresh start in life.
Jacob received God’s blessing, and receiving the new name “Israel” from the Lord, which means “contender, fighter” or “God prevails.”
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.
Once again Jacob gave a special name to a significant place, this time Peniel , which means “the face of God.” He thought that seeing God’s face would bring death, but it actually brought him new life.
It was the dawning of a new day for Israel/Jacob (v. 31): He had a new name; he had a new walk (he was limping); and he had a new relationship with God that would help him face and solve any problem, if only he would exercise faith.
