October 20, 2024

                                                            FAITH WORTH FOLLOWING: WRESTLING WITH GOD                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              October 20, 2024

Teaching Pastor Charles Billingsley

Have you ever wrestled with God, despair filling you because of circumstances, and you need desperately for Him to bless you? David, in Psa. 86, begs God to “show me a sign for good,” as if he were crying out, “God, show me You care.” Jacob—the heel grabber in the womb—had a name meaning deceiver, liar, layer of snares. On a certain night he was ‘at the end of his rope.’ Jesus Christ, in a theophany, appeared to Jacob and wrestled all night. Jesus could have ended it with a word, but instead, He allowed Jacob to wrestle until he was able to give everything to God. Jesus then gave Jacob a blessing and changed his name to Israel—Prince of God, or God prevails. What does your name mean to God? Have you wrestled to surrender everything to the Lord? What was the blessing you received?

Focal Passage: Genesis 32.

Solitude can serve you well:

  • Before we begin Chapter 32, what did Jacob’s name mean and why was he given that name? What were some examples of his deceitful life? Why did he run from home? Read Gen. 31:11-13, 18. Why did he run from Laban later? Who did he take with him? Did Laban catch up to him? Why did Laban not kill him? What ended their dissension?
  • When he found he was running toward Esau, after Laban, what did he do? Read Gen. 32:6-8. How does he feel? Read vv. 9-11. How tired must he have been?
  • Read vv. 22-23. What does Jacob do with all his household? Where does he go when they are all on the other side of the brook? Read vs. 24. What was he seeking?
  • He was alone. What happened? Do you ever long for solitude? How do we get it? Does solitude mean being alone? Can you find it in your home when it’s busy?
  • How can you get rid of the clutter in your mind, so God can speak to you?

God breaks us before He blesses us:

  • What occurred as Jacob sat alone in the dark, after the events of the past days? How would you feel if an enemy had chased you for days and you found you were running right into the area where another enemy was waiting? Is it any wonder he needed time alone? Read Gen. 32:9-12 (again). What faith did he have?
  • What did he do during the night? Did he recognize he had problems? Who was he wrestling with? Was Christ able to wrestle all night if that’s what it took to break Jacob? Why did Jacob keep holding on until Christ blessed him?
  • What does it mean to let God break you? When you feel self-sufficient or if you have a “fixer” personality, do you need to be stripped of all of it to fully rely on God?
  • Read vs. 28b. Why did Jacob not give up? Would you have given up?

God blesses us in order to use us:

  • Read Gen. 32:27. Why did Christ ask Jacob’s name? Why did Jacob have to realize his name was his character, and it had to be surrendered to God? What happened?
  • What new name did he receive? What did it mean? Was he faithful to God from then on? Read Gen. 33:4 and 35:29. How did their story end? Read Rev. 2:17 and 3:12. Will we get a new name? Why?

God brands us as a constant reminder of how much He loves us and how much we need Him:

  • Read Hebrews 12:7-9. Why should we be glad for God’s correction? What was Jacob’s branding?
  • Do you recall the “canes” Charles spoke of? What are some of your “canes”? What memories of wrestling with God do you recall, and what blessing did God give you because of it?

TAKE AWAYS:

  • God breaks us
  • God blesses us
  • God brands us

Close:
When is the last time you were quiet, and in solitude? You’re probably thinking, ‘You have no idea what my life is like, there’s never a moment I’m alone.’ How many children do you have? Susannah Wesley, mother of John Wesley, evangelist, and Charles Wesley, evangelist and hymn writer, had nineteen children, ten of whom lived to adulthood. As a mother, she was strict, she taught her children to be responsible adults, and apparently did a decent job since she had two famous preachers and a denomination (the Methodists) from her efforts. However, her solitude was limited, obviously. She had one resort: her apron. Her children learned quickly when Momma was sitting in her chair, with her apron over her head, she was praying. They did not bother her. Solitude, then, doesn’t have to mean being alone. God was able to commune with Susannah, no matter her situation. And no matter your circumstance, you are able to talk to and listen for God to speak. Any time.

Jesus asked Jacob his name in order for Jacob to realize his entire life had been built on a façade of lying, deceiving, and setting snares for others. He needed to see it was “who he was” in personality. Now God changed his name to Israel—the Prince of God. What a difference! The person he had been was no longer in existence—he now had a new name and a new life. Have you ever wrestled until you gave everything to God, all your pride, your self-reliance, your power, becoming humble, leaning on God for everything? Do it today.

By Sandy Day                                                                                                                                                                                        October 20, 2024

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