Peniel's Wrestling Match
Notes
Transcript
I. Introduction
I. Introduction
A. Jacob, with the help of his mother, swindled a blessing of birthright from his older twin brother Esau. (Genesis 27:1–30)
A. Jacob, with the help of his mother, swindled a blessing of birthright from his older twin brother Esau. (Genesis 27:1–30)
B. Because of his brother’s anger towards him, Jacob had to flee to his uncle Laban. (Genesis 27:41–45). For twenty years, Laban tried to use Jacob for his own gain, but God caused Jacob to amass a large family and wealth while in Laban’s household (Genesis 31:38–41).
B. Because of his brother’s anger towards him, Jacob had to flee to his uncle Laban. (Genesis 27:41–45). For twenty years, Laban tried to use Jacob for his own gain, but God caused Jacob to amass a large family and wealth while in Laban’s household (Genesis 31:38–41).
C. But God told Jacob in a dream to return back home to Canaan (Genesis 31:11–18), and we find Jacob fearful and weak in faith as he makes his journey back to Canaan, the land of promise.
C. But God told Jacob in a dream to return back home to Canaan (Genesis 31:11–18), and we find Jacob fearful and weak in faith as he makes his journey back to Canaan, the land of promise.
1. Jacob’s Prayer to God. Genesis 32:9-12
1. Jacob’s Prayer to God. Genesis 32:9-12
2. God’s promise. Genesis 28:13-15; Genesis 31:3
2. God’s promise. Genesis 28:13-15; Genesis 31:3
D. In verses Genesis 32:13–21, Jacob sends a present before him to his brother Esau to try to ease tensions before he would see his brother face to face (v. 20).
D. In verses Genesis 32:13–21, Jacob sends a present before him to his brother Esau to try to ease tensions before he would see his brother face to face (v. 20).
II. Jacob enters the land of promise. (vs. 22-24a)
II. Jacob enters the land of promise. (vs. 22-24a)
A. Jacob went under cover of night. (v. 22a)
A. Jacob went under cover of night. (v. 22a)
B. Jacob sent his 2 wives, his female servants, his 11 children and all his belongings across the ford of the Jabbok. (v. 22b-23)
B. Jacob sent his 2 wives, his female servants, his 11 children and all his belongings across the ford of the Jabbok. (v. 22b-23)
C. Jacob was left alone. (v. 24a)
C. Jacob was left alone. (v. 24a)
III. A strange wrestling match (v. 24b-25)
III. A strange wrestling match (v. 24b-25)
A. A man wrestles with Jacob until the break of day. (v. 24)
A. A man wrestles with Jacob until the break of day. (v. 24)
B. The Man exerts His power. (v. 25)
B. The Man exerts His power. (v. 25)
Quote: “When God touched the strongest sinew of the wrestler, it shriveled, and with it Jacob’s persistent self-confidence also shriveled.”
Allen P. Ross, “Genesis,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 81.
C. Jacob clings on for a blessing. (v. 26)
C. Jacob clings on for a blessing. (v. 26)
3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he strove with God.
4 He strove with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought his favor. He met God at Bethel, and there God spoke with us—
11 Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am!’
12 And he said, ‘Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that mate with the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.
13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred.’ ”
15 And he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,
16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
IV. The Blessing
IV. The Blessing
A. What is your name?
A. What is your name?
B. Now you will be called “Israel.”
B. Now you will be called “Israel.”
Israel means: “He contends with God,” “God contends,” “God strives,” God fights.
Israel means: “He contends with God,” “God contends,” “God strives,” God fights.
C. What is Your name?
C. What is Your name?
D. There He blessed Jacob.
D. There He blessed Jacob.
V. Commemorating the encounter
V. Commemorating the encounter
A. Jacob commemorates the event.
A. Jacob commemorates the event.
1. Peniel
1. Peniel
Peniel means: “the face of God.”
Peniel means: “the face of God.”
2. My life has been delivered. (Genesis 32:11)
2. My life has been delivered. (Genesis 32:11)
B. Jacob now limps.
B. Jacob now limps.
C. The people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh.
C. The people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh.
VI. Applications
VI. Applications
A. BKC Quote: Israel’s ultimate victory would come not by the usual ways by which nations gain power, but through the power of the divine blessing
A. BKC Quote: Israel’s ultimate victory would come not by the usual ways by which nations gain power, but through the power of the divine blessing
B. Persist in clinging to God.
B. Persist in clinging to God.
C. Just as God’s protecting presence was with Jacob/Israel to get Him to the promised land, so Christ has promised to be with us always.
C. Just as God’s protecting presence was with Jacob/Israel to get Him to the promised land, so Christ has promised to be with us always.
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
D. The same Person who blessed Israel, transforming His life, is the same Person who blesses us when we put our faith in Him!
D. The same Person who blessed Israel, transforming His life, is the same Person who blesses us when we put our faith in Him!