FAITH WORTH FOLLOWING: WRESTLING WITH GOD

Charles Billingsley 

Wrestling with God – Genesis 32 

Genesis 32:22  And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. 23 He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had. 24 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. 25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. 26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”

But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”

27 So He said to him, “What is your name?”

He said, “Jacob.”

28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

29 Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.”

And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.

30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” 31 Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank.

Wrestling with God 

32:1 So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

This is the 3rd direct encounter Jacob has with God.  The first one was 20 years earlier – his dream in chapter 28 of the angels ascending and descending the ladder.

The second comes in chapter 31:13 – where God tells him it is time to go back to this promised land.  

And now this moment.  Just another reminder that God is with him.   

Jacob is terrified.  He’s got his whole family – 2 wives, 2 maidens, 12 kids between 6-13 years old, his servants, his flocks, and he’s a sitting duck against his brother and 400 soldiers.  

And then immediately, Jacob starts his scheming again.  

Wrestling with God

32:22 And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. 23 He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had. 24 Then Jacob was left alone; 

1. Solitude can serve you well

God often speaks the loudest when we are alone. 

And it is in this solitude, under the stars in the dead of night – while Jacob is wrestling with fear – that he suddenly finds himself wrestling with another man.   

24  Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. 

25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.

This would have been extremely painful

Jacob is hurting really bad….but he won’t let go. 

26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”

When God is breaking you, keep holding on because your blessing is coming!! 

2.  God breaks us before He blesses us. 

Brokenness – means you have been stripped of all self sufficiency and have come to the place where you are fully reliant on God.

But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”

Gen. 32:28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

It is in the battle that you find the blessing.  

29 Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.”

And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” 

And He blessed him there. 

3. God blesses us in order to use us.  

30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face , and my life is preserved.”

31 Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank. 

4. God brands us as a constant reminder of how much He loves us and how much we need him.  

Hebrews 12:5 (NLT)

 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, 

“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,

    and don’t give up when he corrects you.

6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves,

    and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

God breaks us

God blesses us

God brands us

But it is all because He loves us – and he loves us too much, to leave us this way.