There is joy in the weeping.
photo credit: https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-stories/jacob-wrestles-with-god-bible-story.html
[Gen 32:22-31 NASB95] 22 Now he arose that same night and took his two wives and his two maids and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream. And he sent across whatever he had. 24 Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob named the place Peniel, for [he said,] “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” 31 Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh.
Jacob was weeping while he wrestled.
[Hos 12:4 NASB95] 4 Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed; He wept and sought His favor. He found Him at Bethel And there He spoke with us,
During this historic wrestling match, Jacob was weeping. In his commentary on Hosea, David Guzik writes, “Why is it important to know that Jacob wept? Because it helps us understand how desperate and broken he was as he hung on the LORD, now pleading only for a blessing.”
More than a one-night event
This wrestling match has effects that are still happening. When Jacob’s name got changed to Israel, everything else changed. He was going to be the father of the twelve tribes. Out of the twelve tribes, Jesus was going to come. This wrestling match has eternal consequences.
Your wrestling match has eternal consequences.
I believe the wrestling match of Jacob and the Angel has some parallels with our transformation as Christians. After Hosea wrote about Jacob’s wrestling match, he said, “Therefore, return to your God, Observe kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually.” (Hos 12:6) This wrestling match includes an example of seeing God work in our lives as He worked in Jacob’s. Like Jacob, we have to desire Him with everything in us. We learn how to be alone with God. We develop a faith that will not let go even though we don’t fully understand everything going on in our lives. God changes our name (identity and purpose.) We will seek to know Him and continue to strive to know Him. Our encounters with God will change how we “walk” and affect others.
Wrestle Sermon Series
This Sunday, we will continue the sermon series “Wrestle.” I believe it will encourage and inform you as we learn how to wrestle with God. This Sunday, we will unpack the significance of Jacob weeping while he wrestled. It is a powerful message.
TWO ways to enjoy the services:
1. In-person. Recommended!
2. Join us online three ways via Facebook Live (Evangel North Church), YouTube Live (John Carmichael Ministries), or http://evangelnorth.net/live-on-demand/. |
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