Download... January 22, 2012. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: GENESIS 32:24-32
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.
32 Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.
There was a “wrestling match” going on here, as spiritually God has with us, …in our everyday life.
It’s a wrestling with (or engaging in a struggle) to understand, all of the ultimate issues of life, and not of mere fleshly concerns. The fleshly things do affect us, but it is more viable to be concerned with the spiritual and/or eternal things. The flesh comes and goes. If we allow the flesh to hinder us we will suffer a measure of defeat in our spiritual race.
How? Why? The angel had to cause Jacob to be lame. For there had to be a partial defeat, for Jacob to obtain his spiritual blessing. There was a need of “taking away of the flesh,” to be spiritually successful. There has to be a spiritual wrestling everyday with God, to comprehend His will. It involves hard work….”going to the mat.” Just as in gymnastics, one gets on a mat to wrestle. Jacob didn’t have a “mat,” but he had a “place” to make sure his wrestling with God gave him the answers to the ultimate issues of concern in life, ...that he sought.
“True” answers only began, when you personally wrestle God, for ‘His’ solutions. It is a “going to the mat,” of endeavoring to get God’s solutions. Jacob was not really a “nice guy”, before he wrestled with God. Jacob's name means “a sup planter,” one who takes the place originally belonging to another. So this morning we want to deal with the need, to wrestle for things of ultimate concern. Otherwise those issues will “stay” with you ...unresolved. Some want or need to “wrestle” or deal with things of ultimate concern to them personally, needing to overcome it. We ‘generally’ think Jacob got hold of God, but God ‘also’ got hold of Jacob. Like Jacob, we must also wrestle with God, or we will “lose.”
You need to “wrestle spiritually” to be able to overcome the fleshly hindrances. We need to be ready to face the ultimate concerns of life, not based from creeds of men, fleshly wisdom, professors, or etc. Wrestling for God’s wisdom 'only,' ...is spiritually vital. If we haven’t, we have not “wrestled” for the right things. You might say you do not “believe” in God, or His word. Regardless, it still remains, that all your concerns are vain, unless you get “on the mat” with God. Your disbelief changes nothing! For instance, you can’t “see” electricity, ..but it still exists!
Jacob was on his journey when he “met” God to wrestle for his needs of vital answers. It is a privilege to wrestle with God, for His answers, regarding ultimate concerns. We should pray for a “good wrestle” with God’s angels, to bless with His answers and help, in those issues of ultimate concern. For instance, the concerns with our death, or mortality. These answers can only come from “wrestling” with God. You might “claim” to be comfortable in your situation without “wrestling” for God’s answers. But to be “that way,” is to be deceived of your spiritual ‘place.’ Jesus wrestled in prayer while in the garden, to the point of sweating as of great drops of blood. Luke 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Children, as you grow up, sheltered from the world, or not, you have to eventually deal with the issues of real concern, to have God’s way and answers. To be “sheltered from evil,” will not be enough. Soon, “the bird has to get out of the nest to fly.” The bird has to fly as he was created to do. And so also we, have to get out of our “nest” to deal as God dictates, with the only answers, that will give you continued spiritual life.
It cannot be “your way”, or “my” way. It can only be from your wrestling with God for His answers, and ways for the ultimate issues of life. If you haven’t, you have not received any ‘true’ answers. The ultimate issue is death. It won’t go away by declaring disbelief of the eternal. What are you going to do with the ultimate issues of life? You will not ultimately, be able to avoid them! They must all be taken to “the mat” to be wrestled with, for God’s answers. It will never be easy. And if we are successful, it will be by necessity, one with "a measure" of defeat.
I Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Is your mind focused only in the fleshly, or of the “natural?” You can’t then grasp God’s wisdom or Spirit! God’s children love the ways of God, desiring to make heaven their home, while taking as many as they can with them. It will take effort or work. There will be a wrestling match. Philippians 2:12 Wherefore my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Scientists often will speculate regarding the spiritual. Just as with electricity, Ben Franklin "wrestled long before," figuring out how to invent it. So mankind often speculates, to answer many questions concerning life. But the things of God will never be understood, ...by the natural man. What difference would it make to really have “all” the answers of the temporal? But 'all' will deal ultimately with death. Issues of ultimate concern, are things not answered by science. Mankind often is quick to presume they “will” get the answers. But all is vanity, ...without the answers being wrestled from God.
Genesis 32:25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. The angel touched Jacob in the hollow of his thigh, a “place” customarily where one would have their sword close to. A person's strength is affected greatly, when this area is compromised. So God touched Jacob, at a physical point symbolizing ‘strength,’ to make it of little, or no use. For it is better to lose a “hand”, an “eye,” or etc., to ensure you make heaven. Again, the name Jacob means a sup-planter, which he was,...twice. The first thing he took was Esau’s birthright for a bowl of soup. Esau was ready to die for hunger, so Jacob took advantage of this. Jacob again sup-planted, by taking the right of Esau’s blessing from him, through the deceit of masquerading as Esau. This "reference" is to emphasize that Jacob was not really a “nice guy.” Yet, God mercifully took Jacob “to the mat,” to impart His spiritual answers.
You will never “wrestle” with God, and come back the same person! So it was that Jacob was changed, wrestling with the angel. His name also was then changed to Israel. 'All' are changed, when “wrestling” God for His answers. When first receiving God’s blessing, you also, are given a “new name.” Here we see Jacob actually “won’ by ...“losing.” He was made then more physically limited, ...but his spirit was benefited!
Matthew 4:1-11 1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. The devil tempted Jesus' humanity three times. Jesus as our example, wrestled for God’s answers in His trials and temptations. It took a lot of effort (“wrestling”), as it will every soul who is endeavoring to truly serve God. Again, Jesus wrestled in the garden, with sweating as of great drops of blood, for the strength to make the ultimate sacrifice. The apostle Peter also “wrestled” with whether or not he was going to support Jesus. Just because you wrestle, does not mean you automatically will be “broken.” It takes much to be submitted fully for God’s answers, of the core issues in life. The apostle Paul, in addition, was nearly killed three different times, “wrestling” for God’s answers and blessings in his service for Christ. Have you been wrestling lately over core issues, looking for the victory?
The greatest truths from Christ come, when you go to the “mat” and wrestle for God's blessing of revelations, concerning what you need, ...and or, of your own will to be “broken.” It’s not a “spectator’s sport.” “Spectators” are often not “fit” as a “wrestler or participant.” There’s “a match” going on, and we’re not going to get our answers from God by "just watching!” It cannot be about "someone else." Each, personally, must get “on the mat” for God’s help and answers, ..individually. When you allow yourself, (not someone else), to go to the mat with God, it’s amazing what He will reveal to you, and not just as a spectator of someone else’s problems. Only then can God give us the solutions 'we' need. Jacob prevailed because his strength was 'touched' by God. It doesn’t matter the difference of opinions. It only matters if one, individually, gets “on the mat” with God, ...for His help. In real life wrestling, every muscle is exerted, (at tremendous effort), to overcome the opposition. Again, it doesn’t come from being a spectator. When trials of great suffering, etc., come, it is for God to show us 'our' need.
Nothing else good will come without “that great wrestling” …with God. Good comes only from a desire to let God control you. Jacob was a sup-planter 'before' he wrestled, and a prince of God, ...after. How is it with you?
Ephesians 6:11-12 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. The armor is given to wrestle 'with' God against all the opposition to our soul.
Have you wrestled with God lately? Ask God to wrestle with you for His answers and blessings! Every time you do, God will help! Still struggling for the answers? Go back, again, to endeavor to wrestle 'with' God for the answers and victory!
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