Finding Strength In Weakness

Strength in Weakness

Joel Adkins / General

Rollercoaster Spirituality

Turning points are tricky events in life. Turning points give us the opportunity to change for the better or for the worse… to embrace opportunity or to run from responsibility. Jacob is on the edge of the land of promise… and he wrestles with God. God changes his name to Israel. Jacob has lived all of his life- good and bad- to come to this point. And God wants Jacob to know that there was purpose in every bit of it. Jacob wrestled with God and he overcame- he came out better for it.

Every crossroads has a struggle. It is decisions, decisions, decisions… if nothing else.

I have 2 friends who are currently struggling with breast cancer. Both of them have made nearly opposite decisions. One to fight it. And the other, after having staged a very courageous fight, to let it take its course. And both come with struggles that are very high stakes… spouses, children, pain, suffering, uncertainty, loss, and far more than I could ever know.

Weve all been struggling for the past year. Coronavirus. Covid 19. And its been uncertain, painful, with loss, uncertainty…. More than we could have ever imagined.

For Jacob, his struggle was about 21 years. In the time between Jacob leaving his parents and going to his uncle Laban's, he has married his wife – two wives in fact, has 12 sons along with an unknown number of daughters, has amassed quite a bit of capital in the form of sheep and cattle, and is done all of this while dealing with a shyster for lack of better terminology. (Laban)

But Jacob struggle was larger than those 21 years. I have observed that some people’s lives are full of struggle… have you ever met someone like that? It’s always something… and I am not being sarcastic. I am being serious. It began in his childhood home when he took both the birthright and the blessing from his brother Esau. The struggle was big enough that he had to leave that home to get away from his brother that wanted to kill him. All of this was building to the significant turning point that we have read about this morning.

You see Jacob is headed back home. He is going to meet that brother that wanted to kill him. He is going to face all of his past in a very real way. And I suspect the pressure was building. It seems to have come to a climax on this night when Jacob wwas on the final leg of his journey.on this night, Jacob wrestled with a man.

Was this just any man? Is this symbolic of what happened? Did Jacob really wrestled with God? Is this a prayer that’s personified? I don’t know. All I know is that the Scripture says Jacob wrestled with a man all night. He struggled. And in that struggle he came to a crossroads.

The Struggle was in the Darkness

this darkness symbolize Jacob situation. He was seized with fear at the prospect of meeting his brother who he betrayed. There was great uncertainty for the future that lay before him. Would his brother still be angry? What his brother want to kill him? With his brother even recognize him after all these years? That was great darkness around the situation.

I doubt that if Jacob realized that this wrestling match was with God he would have ever proceeded to the battle. I suspect he would’ve run. I doubt that if Jacob realized the battle would last all night he would have ever entered into it. But it was a match with God and it did last all night.

Some of the greatest struggles that you and I have in our life are marked by darkness, fear, uncertainty – the unknown. And some of us go through those struggles when it seems like they’re going to last even longer than they did for Jacob, beyond the nighttime. In fact, for some of us it seems like they will never end.

The struggle was not one of victory but rather survival.

as we read this passage it would be easy to understand it as a victory for Jacob. It was anything but. This struggle, this wrestling match, was a mirror of his life. He had not won the victory he had survived the battle. in his life it was a battle of doing the right thing or of doing his thing. In this wrestling match it was a matter of survival against an unknown, unseen, enemy that wrestled with him all night long.

Don’t miss the point of the story when you read it. Jacob did not walk away victorious-he walked away defeated. But he struggled well. So much so that his assailant had to resort to extraordinary measures.

Genesis 32:25ESV

When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.

The struggle was not one of victory but rather defeat

after the struggle, the assailant gave himself the advantage. With the supernatural unexplainable blow, the assailant did something to disjoint Jacob’s hip. I cannot imagine the pain.

in the midst of the struggle, Jacob encountered something he had never encountered before. He encountered someone that he could not defeat. He could wrestle with, he could struggle with whoever this was-but he could not defeat them.

God touched the strongest joint of Jacob, and it shriveled. Jacob self-confidence also shriveled. His normal tricky weapons were lame and useless. They failed him in his struggle with God. What had once worked over many years in many ways was useless in this struggle. Something now dawned on Jacob-his struggle was not with Esau, his father Isaac, his father-in-law laden, or a family situation it was difficult… His great struggle was with God.

Genesis 32:26–29 ESV

Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him.

The Struggle brought Jacob to a Place of Full Disclosure

this being with whom Jacob wrestled asked for his name. Like the old television series, “cheers”, God already knew Jacob’s name. God knew everything about Jacob. Yet he wanted Jacob to say his name.

Remember that in the Old Testament ones name was closely linked to one’s nature. Jacob-the wily one, the triper upper, the trickster… The point was probably becoming clear in Jacob’s mind. Who he was and his pattern of life had to be radically changed.

When this being asked Jacob to say his name, he was asking Jacob to tell the truth about himself. The” heel catcher” had been found out. But God wanted full disclosure from Jacob himself.

“ What is your name?” I suppose that’s a question that God would ask of us today. Not, what do others think or know of me. But rather, what does God know of me? Who are you really? Asks God.

sometimes, we dont truly see ourselves until we first see the Lord.

Jacob replied simply,” my name is Jacob”… Jacob learned a very important lesson this day-

Genesis 32:28ESV

Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

when Jacob arrived at a place of full admission of who he was and who he had been, that is when God revealed who he made him to be and who he would become. You will no longer be called Jacob but Israel. You have prevailed not only with men but you have prevailed with God.

Jacob learned a very important lesson this day. His name was changed to “Israel”, a prince with God… or a “God governed man.” Jacob learned that the way to have power with God is to be broken by God.

The Struggle Brought Jacob to a point of Divine Dependency

Jacob purchased the birthright.

Jacob stole the blessing.

Jacob outwitted the schemes of his Father in law Laban. The wives, the sheep, leaving town. In everything, Jacob was able to get ahead of everyone around him.

But he couldn’t get ahead of God. When he finally admitted who he truly was, is when he truly realized that the Covenant God had made with his fathers Abraham and Isaac and with him- was only going to be fulfilled not because of what Jacob could do- but what because of what God could do.

God had softened the heart of his brother Esau… and he had now changed his own heart. Jacob recognized his utter need for God.

5oo years from this time, this story would be told to Hebrew Children as they found themselves in exile in Egypt. And it would be remembered that Father Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had learned new things as part of the covenant with God.

As this new nation of Israel that would come out of Egypt- Jacob’s descendants- would learn: Israel’s ultimate victory would not come by the usual means by which nations gain power- but through the power of divine blessing. Self sufficiency and selfishness would no longer work- Faith alone would overcome the world.

The Struggle brought Jacob to a place of Decision

Jacob struggled all night- never admitting weakness, only wrestling.

And God weakened Jacob- to the place that Jacob could only cling.

Jacob no longer connived for the blessing.

Jacob no longer bargained for the blessing.

Jacob asked for the blessing.

Genesis 32:26ESV

Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Genesis 32:31ESV

The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

Jacob watched the sun rise with a new walk. He had been broken by God, but that limp he now possessed was not a mark of weakness but a mark of power.

Bottom Line:

Jacob’s Greatest Strength Came in His Weakest Moment

The very next thing that Jacob would do would be to meet his brother Esau. Jacob lined up his family, his servants, and he went out to meet his brother Esau who he had betrayed so long ago. Time had passed but he had no idea if Esau’s anger head. He was utterly and totally helpless. As he stepped out to meet that brother he was a changed person. He now walked with a limp, he stepped out fully exposed, he walked by faith that the real one with whom he wrestled spiritually would see him through this encounter with one who made wrestled physically. And as he lifted up his eyes off in the distance he saw his brother Esau running to meet him.

Genesis 33:4ESV

But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.

Jacob’s Greatest Strength Came in His Weakest Moment

the great paradox of the Bible is that God shows his power in places of incredible weakness.

In the New Testament, Paul the apostle would reflect upon a time in his life when he had reached a pinnacle of achievement. He had experienced heaven itself in a unique way. And listen to what he says about that encounter.

Insert 2 Corinthians 12.7-10

2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

When Christ died upon the cross it appeared to be his weakest moment. It was actually the greatest act of strength the world has ever witnessed. He took the sin of the world upon himself in that moment and instead of revealing weakness He expressed incredible strength.

Look at Life

God’s Greatest Strength is Revealed in Our Weakest Moments

Some of us here today may think that we couldn’t be any worse off than we are right now. Don’t fail to see what God can do in this situation. God can change circumstance and situations… but he needs you to do your part.

Are you at a crossroads?

Have you struggled forever?

Last night, Terrell Davis gave his acceptance speech over at the Football Field. His father died of Lupus when he was 14. Earlier in the week, Davis had been asked by a Sports Illustrated reporter about his thoughts on getting into the Hall of Fame. He identified his struggle with hoping that his NFL CAreer had made his father proud. He identified the struggle he had, and he briefly mentioned that struggle again last evening in his speech. He is today 45 years meaning he has wrestled with that idea for 31 years.

Ladanian Tomlinson spoke about his great great great grandfather George. George had been brought to America from West Africa . The Tomlinson name was given to him by his slave-owner. Ladanian Tomlinson said of his past,

“I firmly believe God chose me to help bring two races together under one last name, Tomlinson,” the longtime San Diego Chargers running back said. “I pray we dedicate ourselves to be the best team we can be, working and living together, representing the highest ideals of mankind, leading the way for all nations to follow.”

He took his family’s 170 year struggle and identified it for good. He could have been bitter- but he chose better. The struggle was both personal and corporate.. think about the 170 year passage of time for his family AND the 170 year passage of time for the nation. Civil War, The Emancipation Proclamation, the Civil Rights struggle, and the continued passage of time

Whatever your struggle is, is it going to come out for bitter or better?

God does His greatest work out of our weakness.

Out of slavery God brings freedom.

Out of racism God brings unity.

Out of sin God brings forgiveness.

Out of death God brings life.

Have you given the struggle to Him? That’s why he has brought you to the crossroads. He brings you to the crossroads where the wrestling is for naught, the loss is evident… will you keep struggling or give the battle to Him?

See 2 Corinthians 12.1-10

2 Corinthians 12:1–10 ESV

1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— 6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.