Wrestling With God #1 Learning how to contend with God | August 28, 2022 | Pastor Bill Meiter | Arizona Community Church | az.church | Online giving: az.church/give
KEY VERSES
Genesis 32:24-28 ESV… And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 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.”
JACOB, A MAN WHO PHYSICALLY WRESTLED WITH GOD
If it weren’t in the Bible, you might find it hard to believe!
John Calvin agrees that this episode is paradigmatic of our wrestling with the Lord today.
GOD INITIATES THIS WRESTLING MATCH!
Jacob was fearing Esau because he had stolen his blessing… Gen. 27:41
The thought of having “alone time” with God sounds appealing… unless God wants to wrestle!
Sometimes God wrestles with us in order to humble… 2 Cor. 12:7-10
Sometimes God’s wrestles with us by testing us… Psalm 66:10; Prov. 17:3; Jer. 17:10
SOMETIMES THE BLESSINGS WE SEEK, ONLY COME AFTER WE WRESTLE WITH GOD.
Jacob wouldn’t let go until the Lord blessed him… Gen 32:26-28
Jacob limped toward Esau, blessed by God and stronger in faith!
God will often cause us to limp, so that our faith can soar!
GIDEON… THE FLEECE-SQUEEZING WRESTLER
Gideon wrestled with God…Judges 6:36-40
God wrestled back by whittling down Gideon’s army from 32,000 men to just 300… Judges 7:12; 20-22
Gideon limped into battle… so the LORD could show himself strong… Judges 7:20-22
Wrestling with God may be inconvenient, costly, and exhausting… but it’s always worth it!
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
What do you find most interesting about Jacob’s wrestling match with God?
Can you describe a time you wrestled with God? What happened?
Why might God want us to wrestle him, before we are blessed by him?
Has God ever caused you to limp, so that your faith could soar?
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