Hello, My Name is Israel

Introduction

Every great story has a conflict. Every person has a character fault.

erson has a character fault.

Moses led the people out of Israel, but he wrestled with anger.

Abraham was the father of nations, but he wrestled with doubt.

Gideon defended the nation from invaders, but he wrestled with confidence.

Naomi led her family to Israel, but she wrestled with bitterness.

Every one of the people we’ve studies this summer did some amazing things. But each one struggled with their own flesh and weakness.

You and I are in the same place. God has given each of us a mission to accomplish, but our flesh holds us back. It sure does with me.

Today, we’ll look at the character of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. He became the father of the 12 Tribes of Israel and is part of the genealogy of Jesus. But he was a deceiver, manipulator, and liar.

This is the story of the crisis that leads to his repentance. And in it, we’ll find a pattern for ourselves to repent and discover the grace of God.

Rather than a story of

When we wrestle with God, we never stay the same.

Jacob’s life - wrestler, deceiver, manipulator

wrestled his brother at his birth

- grabbed the

manipulated the birthright

deceived to get the blessing

manipulated the flocks to gain

Now he comes to meet his brother and he doesn’t know whether he will get retribution or grace.

he prays

Genesis 32:1–2 NIV

1 Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim.

he plans

Genesis 32:7–8 NIV

7 In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well. 8 He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape.”

he prays

Genesis 32:9 NIV

9 Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, Lord, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’

gen 32 9

he plans

Genesis 32:13 NIV

13 He spent the night there, and from what he had with him he selected a gift for his brother Esau:

gen 32

Genesis 32:20 NIV

20 And be sure to say, ‘Your servant Jacob is coming behind us.’ ” For he thought, “I will pacify him with these gifts I am sending on ahead; later, when I see him, perhaps he will receive me.”

gen 32

Wrestling with God (Gen 32:22-24)

He meets with God and doesn’t know whether he will get retribution or grace.

Genesis 32:22–24 NIV

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.

so, how do you feel about a man wrestling with God?

it is strange, and far from our normal expectations.

Job questioned God and God showed him how immense he is.

David wondered about the justice of God at times.

Jesus himself asked God, “why have you forsaken me?”

Accepting his wounds (, 31-32)

Genesis 32:25 NIV

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.

Genesis 32:31–32 NIV

31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.

gen 3

These are the consequences of wrestling with God. God in his grace draws us into the school of pain that we may gain a fresh understanding of its power. God’s plan is that pain should result in healing and wholeness. But when we resist and continue to fight we bear the consequences of that fight.

Receiving his grace (Gen 32:26-30)

Genesis 32:26–30 NIV

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.”

daybreak - still a tie.

let me go - not until you bless me.

what is your name? JACOB - he identifies himself by the name of a deceiver and manipulator.

Israel means - God wrestles.

Israel is the next link in the lineage of Christ. He is the one who birthed the sons whose names were given to the 12 tribes of Israel. It was out of him that the promises to Abraham, Moses, Isaac were moving towards fulfillment. There is a continuity between the covenants. They build on one another.

Peniel - the face (presence) of God.

Conclusion: 2 Kinds of Repentance

it may be that you have been wrestling with God over your lifetime and haven’t yet truly repented of self-rule. You are still on the throne of your life. Isn’t it time to give that up and surrender to the king of kings and lord of lords?

Will you wrestle forever? You cannot keep wrestling. Daylight approaches. There is a season for wrestling and a season for determination.

Will you surrender? Will you agree with God that your name means rebellion? Pride? Self-Determination?

Counterfeit Repentance

Gollum Repentance – finding “feeeelings” of badness and goodness (without any change)

Vampire Repentance – thirsting for the blood of Jesus (without any change)

Sin Management Repentance – practicing the presence of sin (without any change)

Genuine Repentance

Getting a vision of the good to force out the bad or “Hoping from Faith to Love”

or “Hoping from Faith to Love”

(without any change)

Clothing – putting off and putting on

Crucifixion/Resurrection – mortifying and birthing

Growth – pruning and nurturing/feeding

Cleansing/Dye/Baptism - washing out and in

(without any change) :

•Self Help/How to (performing behaviors not from the heart) •Boundary Marker (conforming to “our group’s list “ of behaviors) •Be Nice (Minnesota “Tolerance”)

Lord Jesus Christ, I have ruled my own life to this point. But in the process I have wronged and hurt you, myself, and others. I repent of my attitudes and my actions and I surrender to you. Wound me if you must, but grant me the grace of your forgiveness. I will seek to follow and obey you from this new day forward. Amen.