Read Genesis 32:22-31 (ESV)

The Complete Jewish Study Bible: Notes (Chapter 32)

“Isra’el,” indicating someone who has successfully struggled with God. Jacob’s additional name is consistent with his inheriting the covenant promises, as he had to step into the family’s leadership role. His new name may also mean “one who is a prince with God.”

The Struggle

Struggle (intransitive verb) 1: to make strenuous or violent efforts in the face of difficulties or opposition 2: to proceed with difficulty or with great effort

Talk about anointings, gifting, callings

Talk about the importance of having a divine calling.

A divine calling is something that you cannot achieve on your own.

Talk about my own “Jacob Story.”

Jacob always struggled.

Genesis 25:22-26 (ESV)

22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the LORD.

23 And the LORD said to her,“Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.”

24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb.

25 The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau.

26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

A Struggle From the Start

The relationship between the twin boys will be largely hostile.

They were twins.

They were twins that looked different, thought differently, and acted differently.

The conflict between brothers is a recurring motif in Genesis, beginning with Cain and Abel, leading to Isaac and Ishmael and reoccurring yet again with Jacob and Esau.

We See that Jacob is a “heel grabber.”

Enmity

Genesis 3:15 (ESV)

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

In verse 27 Jacob is described as a quite man. Other translations use the term contemplative.

In verse 30 we find Esau was too hungry and tired to keep his birthright. In other words he was carnal and compromising.

Key Points:

Conflicting Kingdoms (Kingdom of heaven vs. demonic kingdom)

Flesh vs. Spirit (Stars of heaven vs. sands on the seashore.

Authentic vs. Counterfeit or Divinely Called vs. Self Appointed.

Jacob Wrestled With God

Genesis 32:22-28 (ESV)

24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.

Apostolic Study Bible: King James Version: Notes (Notes)

The word “wrestled” as a noun is translated dust or powder. In other words, it means to kick up a cloud of dust by vigorous activity.

The Violent Take It By Force!

Matthew 11:12 (ESV)

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.

Most scholars would suggest that this passage probably refers to the actions of specific evil people like Herod Antipas, who had arrested John.

But I’m thinking the text is suggesting something deeper...

The kingdom doesn't belong to those that are unwilling to suffer.

It will never be obtained by an individual with strongholds of this present world.

It is only received by those who are willing to break the strongholds of this natural world.

Those that are willing to struggle with God.

Prevailer

25 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.

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

27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 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.”

Tie in 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 (ESV) - to Genesis 28 (ESV)

[16] From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.

[17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

I don’t walk like I used to walk!

We need to win back this generation!

- George Branham (59 percent millennials has left the church). 5-15 years always of all people leaving the church!!!!!!

- Over 60% of men in the church is struggling with pornography.

- We are dealing with physiologically fractured people that need help.

- But we are not struggling with God!!!

- Tell Evan Roberts Story

- Tell John G. Lake Story

- Express the necessity of being lovers of the word of God

- We need to be heel grabbers!

Conclusion

We have to carry something greater in this generation!

Believer’s Bible Commentary 6. Jacob and Esau Reconciled (Chaps. 32, 33)

32:22–32 After sending his immediate family across the stream Jabbok (he will empty), Jacob spent the night alone at Peniel for what was to be one of the great experiences of his life. A Man wrestled with him. That Man was an angel (Hos. 12:4), the Angel of Jehovah, the Lord Himself. The Lord put the socket of Jacob’s hip … out of joint, causing him to walk with a limp the rest of his life. Although Jacob lost the encounter physically, he won a great spiritual victory. He learned to triumph through defeat and to be strong through weakness. Emptied of self and of confidence in his own cleverness, he confessed he was Jacob, a supplanter, a “con man.” God then changed his name to Israel (variously translated as “God rules,” “one who strives with God,” or “a prince of God”). Jacob called the name of the place Peniel (the face of God) because he realized he had seen the Lord. Pfeiffer points out that verse 32 is still true among Jews today:

The Defender’s Study Bible Chapter 32

wrestled a man. This “man” was actually an angel (Hosea 12:4)—in fact, the angel, the preincarnate Christ, for Jacob recognized that he had seen God face to face (Genesis 32:30), and this is impossible except through Christ (John 1:18). The intensity of Jacob’s prayer, as he “wrestled” in his intercession (the word Jabbok means “wrestler,” the river being named for the unique event that occurred there), was such that God actually deigned to appear to him in human form as an antagonist over whom he must prevail for the blessing. As he had held on to Esau’s heel at birth, so he now held on to God, so earnest was his desire for God’s purpose to be accomplished in and through him.

GENESIS 32:28

Israel. “Israel” can mean either “one who fights victoriously with God” or “a prevailing prince with God.” This constitutes God’s permanent testimony to Jacob’s character, an opinion quite different from that of many modern Bible teachers. The “Supplanter” is now the “Prevailer.” God delights in the faith of those who cling tenaciously to His promises and who claim them in prevailing prayer (see Luke 18:1, 7).

The MacArthur Bible Commentary 6. Angels at Mahanaim and Penuel (32:1–32)

32:24 a Man wrestled. The site name, Peniel, or “face of God,” given by Jacob (v. 30) and the commentary given by Hosea (Hos. 12:4) identifies this Man with whom Jacob wrestled as the Angel of the Lord who is also identified as God, a preincarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ. See note on Exodus 3:2.

32:28 no longer … Jacob, but Israel. Jacob’s personal name changed from one meaning “heel-catcher” or “deceiver” to one meaning “God’s fighter” or “he struggles with God” (cf. 35:10). with God and with men. An amazing evaluation of what Jacob had accomplished, i.e., emerging victorious from the struggle. In the record of his life, “struggle” did indeed dominate: (1) with his brother Esau (chs. 25–27); (2) with his father (ch. 27); (3) with his father-in-law (chs. 29–31); (4) with his wives (ch. 30); and (5) with God at Peniel (v. 28).