WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.960
 Go ahead and turn your Bibles over to Genesis chapter 32.

00:00:03.540 --> 00:00:08.900
! I've entitled the lesson, Takeaways from a Wrestling Match.

00:00:08.900 --> 00:00:12.140
! I've just been studying the life of Jacob.

00:00:12.140 --> 00:00:13.040
!

00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.179
 Where Jacob is, where we'll find him this morning.

00:00:34.299 --> 00:00:35.880
 Go ahead and stand with me, if you will.

00:00:36.219 --> 00:00:39.320
 We'll start reading in chapter 32, verse 24.

00:00:39.320 --> 00:00:40.640
 The Bible says,

00:00:41.640 --> 00:00:46.640
 And Jacob was left alone, and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

00:00:47.519 --> 00:00:52.679
 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh,

00:00:53.100 --> 00:00:56.920
 and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, and he wrestled with him.

00:00:56.920 --> 00:01:00.520
 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh.

00:01:00.780 --> 00:01:03.820
 And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

00:01:04.439 --> 00:01:06.640
 And he said unto him, What is thy name?

00:01:07.299 --> 00:01:08.260
 And he said, Jacob.

00:01:09.079 --> 00:01:13.579
 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel.

00:01:14.099 --> 00:01:18.840
 For as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

00:01:19.579 --> 00:01:23.500
 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name.

00:01:23.500 --> 00:01:27.579
 And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?

00:01:27.819 --> 00:01:29.239
 And he blessed him there.

00:01:29.739 --> 00:01:35.659
 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, for I have seen God face to face, and my life

00:01:35.659 --> 00:01:36.280
 is preserved.

00:01:36.859 --> 00:01:42.340
 And as he passed over Peniel, the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

00:01:43.079 --> 00:01:47.659
 Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow

00:01:47.659 --> 00:01:53.500
 of the thigh unto this day, because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh, and the sinew that

00:01:53.500 --> 00:01:53.939
 shrank.

00:01:54.379 --> 00:01:54.979
 Let's pray.

00:01:55.719 --> 00:02:01.259
 Dear Heavenly Father, I just thank you for this opportunity that we have to come to your

00:02:01.259 --> 00:02:02.280
 house and worship you.

00:02:03.039 --> 00:02:06.920
 Lord, I just, I thank you, Lord, for everyone who's here.

00:02:07.500 --> 00:02:11.000
 Lord, I just ask that our heart would be open to what you have for us this morning.

00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:17.259
 I pray that you would calm my nerves and guide my tongue and just bring to memory everything

00:02:17.259 --> 00:02:17.900
 I've studied.

00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:19.539
 I thank you and I love you.

00:02:19.620 --> 00:02:20.539
 In Jesus' name, amen.

00:02:21.219 --> 00:02:22.360
 You can go ahead and be seated.

00:02:24.039 --> 00:02:26.319
 As you read through scripture, you find out about Jacob.

00:02:26.759 --> 00:02:29.759
 He was a worker, and he stayed busy.

00:02:29.920 --> 00:02:30.939
 He was constantly working.

00:02:30.939 --> 00:02:36.460
 And I think one interesting trait about him, and I think this is interesting in a lot of

00:02:36.460 --> 00:02:40.879
 characters in the Bible, because one thing about scripture is that it doesn't shy away

00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:41.819
 from people's flaws.

00:02:42.159 --> 00:02:44.300
 And I'm thankful for that, because I've had many.

00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:46.620
 And if God can use them, he can use me.

00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:53.079
 And I think one thing that makes Jacob extraordinary is he had a responsive cord in his heart to what

00:02:53.079 --> 00:02:53.919
 God had for him.

00:02:54.719 --> 00:03:00.840
 You know, it's ironic where we find Jacob 20 years previous to where we find him in scripture.

00:03:01.379 --> 00:03:03.199
 He's running away from his brother Esau.

00:03:03.740 --> 00:03:06.300
 He had stolen the birthright.

00:03:06.479 --> 00:03:08.539
 He had cheated his brother out of a blessing.

00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:10.759
 And Esau said, I'm going to kill him.

00:03:11.079 --> 00:03:11.979
 And so he ran.

00:03:12.859 --> 00:03:14.539
 The Bible says all he had was a staff.

00:03:14.939 --> 00:03:15.800
 And he took off.

00:03:16.319 --> 00:03:17.300
 And he goes to Laban.

00:03:17.419 --> 00:03:20.159
 His mom says, go to Laban, my brother, and stay there.

00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:25.400
 And when your brother's wrath is gone, I'll come and get you, and it'll be safe.

00:03:25.979 --> 00:03:29.919
 So for 20 years, Jacob is with his uncle Laban.

00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:35.519
 And now we see that he's fleeing from Laban, and he's going to be running right into Esau.

00:03:36.019 --> 00:03:41.339
 We see in this text here, the Bible says in verse 24, that he was left alone.

00:03:42.539 --> 00:03:47.039
 And I was thinking, we can't run from our past, our mistakes.

00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:49.679
 They don't forget us.

00:03:50.199 --> 00:03:52.199
 They're going to catch up with us one of these days.

00:03:52.859 --> 00:03:54.340
 And Jacob is in this point.

00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:55.419
 He's alone.

00:03:55.919 --> 00:03:56.780
 He's scared.

00:03:57.979 --> 00:04:01.799
 You know, earlier in this chapter, he's trying to make a plan.

00:04:02.539 --> 00:04:05.419
 See, Jacob's name, it means heel grabber.

00:04:05.419 --> 00:04:07.919
 The Bible says that Esau was born first.

00:04:08.059 --> 00:04:09.219
 He was red and hairy.

00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:11.479
 And they said, hey, he's red and hairy.

00:04:11.579 --> 00:04:12.819
 We'll just call him Esau.

00:04:13.419 --> 00:04:17.180
 And then it says that Jacob was holding on to Esau's thigh when he was born.

00:04:17.259 --> 00:04:18.539
 And they're like, well, isn't that cute?

00:04:18.819 --> 00:04:20.079
 He's a little heel grabber.

00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:22.500
 That's what we'll call him, heel grabber.

00:04:22.819 --> 00:04:23.120
 Jacob.

00:04:24.159 --> 00:04:26.039
 Jacob's whole life, he was a heel grabber.

00:04:26.099 --> 00:04:27.360
 That means he trips people up.

00:04:27.719 --> 00:04:28.479
 He schemes.

00:04:29.240 --> 00:04:30.259
 He bargains.

00:04:30.259 --> 00:04:32.779
 He does whatever he can to get his way.

00:04:33.719 --> 00:04:36.399
 You know, I know I've been guilty of that in my own life.

00:04:36.839 --> 00:04:39.680
 And I'm sure many of you have as well.

00:04:40.519 --> 00:04:41.579
 We find Jacob here.

00:04:41.779 --> 00:04:43.060
 He's being left alone.

00:04:44.199 --> 00:04:46.480
 He had already had a game plan.

00:04:46.620 --> 00:04:48.879
 He knows he's going to run into his brother Esau.

00:04:49.379 --> 00:04:50.639
 He's scared for his life.

00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:56.219
 Esau, he believes Esau is going to kill him and take everything he has.

00:04:56.219 --> 00:04:59.980
 And if you read the chapter before, Jacob has a lot of stuff.

00:05:00.420 --> 00:05:02.240
 He's got four wives, 11 children.

00:05:02.659 --> 00:05:06.039
 He's got plenty of flocks, men servants, maid servants.

00:05:06.399 --> 00:05:07.379
 He's got a lot.

00:05:07.480 --> 00:05:10.699
 And he's scared that Esau is going to come kill him and take it all.

00:05:11.379 --> 00:05:14.639
 The reason Jacob is scared is because he knows what he did was wrong.

00:05:15.560 --> 00:05:16.439
 So he's scared.

00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:19.759
 The Bible says earlier that he has his messengers.

00:05:19.939 --> 00:05:21.980
 And he says, hey, this is what you're going to do.

00:05:22.620 --> 00:05:24.839
 You're going to travel, go see Esau.

00:05:25.459 --> 00:05:31.039
 Tell him that his servant, Jacob, has these gifts for him.

00:05:31.119 --> 00:05:31.879
 Tell him to take it.

00:05:31.959 --> 00:05:33.819
 Try to smooth it over before I get there.

00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:35.419
 And he plans it all out.

00:05:35.479 --> 00:05:37.939
 That he'll have one wave first and then another wave.

00:05:38.019 --> 00:05:42.219
 That way, if that wave gets attacked and Esau is angry, he's got time to run.

00:05:42.620 --> 00:05:48.659
 The Bible actually tells us later that he has it all set up where he sets up his handmade wives first.

00:05:49.240 --> 00:05:52.240
 He says, if anyone takes them out, we'll have an opportunity to run.

00:05:52.660 --> 00:05:56.040
 The Bible says he even has Leah, his ugly wife.

00:05:56.160 --> 00:05:56.820
 She's up there.

00:05:57.100 --> 00:06:00.520
 And then he can escape with the pretty wife, Rachel, if anything happens.

00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:02.020
 You know, this is how he's scheming.

00:06:02.100 --> 00:06:02.680
 He's planning.

00:06:03.280 --> 00:06:04.980
 You know, he's a prince of God.

00:06:06.180 --> 00:06:07.840
 God has promised, I'll be with you.

00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:08.800
 I'll watch you.

00:06:08.840 --> 00:06:09.940
 And here he is scheming.

00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:10.820
 We find him alone.

00:06:10.819 --> 00:06:19.019
 And sometimes when we're in a wrestling match, God puts us there because he's trying to get a hold of us.

00:06:19.420 --> 00:06:20.620
 Trying to get our attention.

00:06:21.579 --> 00:06:26.019
 You know, you read all through scripture people who God had said, I need you to do this.

00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:26.839
 And what do they do?

00:06:27.420 --> 00:06:28.279
 Their own thing.

00:06:28.439 --> 00:06:29.579
 They try to do their own thing.

00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:34.219
 You know, one of the most famous stories is Jonah, right?

00:06:34.519 --> 00:06:35.759
 God said, go to Nineveh.

00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:37.399
 Jonah said, no thanks.

00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:38.539
 I hate those guys.

00:06:38.819 --> 00:06:40.319
 I'm going this way to Tarshish.

00:06:40.819 --> 00:06:41.719
 What happens?

00:06:42.139 --> 00:06:44.779
 God had a whale ready to swallow him up.

00:06:45.639 --> 00:06:48.240
 You know, sometimes when I was little, I was like, yep, that's a punishment.

00:06:49.019 --> 00:06:49.620
 But you know what?

00:06:50.279 --> 00:06:53.300
 God was just saying, you know, think about this.

00:06:53.399 --> 00:06:56.480
 If Jonah had been thrown over and there wasn't a whale, what would have happened?

00:06:57.459 --> 00:06:59.100
 He probably would have eventually drowned.

00:07:00.039 --> 00:07:01.759
 You know, God had that whale there for a purpose.

00:07:02.199 --> 00:07:04.159
 To guide him back to what he wants.

00:07:05.399 --> 00:07:09.680
 This text here, verse 24 of our text, it says,

00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:18.759
 And he rose up that night and he took his two wives and his two women servants and his 11 sons and passed over the Ford Jabbok.

00:07:18.759 --> 00:07:21.219
 So he was already asleep.

00:07:21.219 --> 00:07:22.740
 It says he rose up that night.

00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:26.639
 Have you ever had that where you're worrying so much about something you just can't sleep?

00:07:27.420 --> 00:07:29.199
 You're thinking, how am I going to make ends meet?

00:07:29.339 --> 00:07:30.779
 What about this situation I'm in?

00:07:31.039 --> 00:07:32.379
 I'm just scared about it.

00:07:32.500 --> 00:07:33.399
 You can't sleep.

00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:34.240
 That's where he is.

00:07:34.639 --> 00:07:37.000
 He's so afraid that he's like, you know what we're going to do?

00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:38.759
 Because I want my family to be safe.

00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:41.000
 We're going to cross this river at night.

00:07:41.560 --> 00:07:42.579
 This river Jabbok.

00:07:43.180 --> 00:07:47.519
 He doesn't know it, but this word Jabbok in Hebrew, it means an emptying out.

00:07:48.060 --> 00:07:49.000
 A pouring out.

00:07:49.180 --> 00:07:51.000
 That's what Jacob's going to do here in a little bit.

00:07:52.040 --> 00:07:56.319
 He took them and he sent them over the brook and sent over that he had.

00:07:56.899 --> 00:07:58.180
 And now he's left alone.

00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:04.280
 Sometimes God wrestles with us because he wants to get us alone so we can center on him.

00:08:04.340 --> 00:08:05.220
 That's my first point.

00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:06.300
 So we can center on him.

00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:07.699
 Jacob couldn't sleep.

00:08:07.840 --> 00:08:08.560
 He was anxious.

00:08:08.939 --> 00:08:10.480
 He's operating in unbelief.

00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:13.720
 You know, it's interesting.

00:08:13.860 --> 00:08:20.139
 Once Jacob got rid of the cares of this world, you know, he separated himself first off from Laban,

00:08:20.280 --> 00:08:21.340
 who was a worldly man.

00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:23.199
 He had idols that he served.

00:08:23.560 --> 00:08:25.079
 He separated himself from that.

00:08:25.079 --> 00:08:32.860
 He separated himself from his family and the business of the flocks and everything.

00:08:33.059 --> 00:08:33.819
 You know, I think of work.

00:08:34.179 --> 00:08:37.079
 Sometimes we get so caught up with work that we forget what's going on.

00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:38.259
 We separate ourselves from that.

00:08:38.500 --> 00:08:42.899
 We just need some quiet time so we can focus on what God has for us.

00:08:44.279 --> 00:08:49.939
 You know, in verse 20, or I'm sorry, chapter 28 of Genesis, chapter 28, verse 12,

00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:53.379
 we're going to just see a couple of things that God promised to Jacob.

00:08:53.379 --> 00:08:56.519
 Chapter 28, verse 12 says,

00:09:23.379 --> 00:09:45.460
 Let's look over to chapter 31.

00:09:45.460 --> 00:09:47.759
 Starting in verse 3, it says,

00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:49.840
 And the Lord said unto Jacob,

00:09:50.280 --> 00:09:56.180
 Return unto the land of thy fathers and thy kindred, and I will be with thee.

00:09:56.340 --> 00:09:57.780
 Look at verse 7 there.

00:09:58.600 --> 00:10:04.560
 And your father hath deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God suffered him not to hurt me.

00:10:05.320 --> 00:10:06.340
 Verse 24,

00:10:06.560 --> 00:10:07.840
 And God said to Laban,

00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:09.860
 This is Jacob's uncle.

00:10:10.019 --> 00:10:10.580
 He's upset.

00:10:10.680 --> 00:10:13.200
 He's going to go take a posse and follow Jacob.

00:10:13.519 --> 00:10:13.840
 And it says,

00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:16.620
 And the Syrian in a dream by night and said unto him,

00:10:16.780 --> 00:10:20.980
 Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob, either good or bad.

00:10:21.920 --> 00:10:26.860
 You know, I do believe Laban had some hurt intended for Jacob.

00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:28.340
 But then he gets there.

00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:30.340
 Jacob and him talk it out.

00:10:30.500 --> 00:10:30.899
 Jacob says,

00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:32.040
 Hey man, you cheated me.

00:10:32.280 --> 00:10:33.840
 And I was still faithful to you.

00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:34.899
 I'm taking what's owed.

00:10:35.060 --> 00:10:35.940
 And I'm going.

00:10:36.300 --> 00:10:38.420
 And they end up fellowshipping.

00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:42.300
 They make a vow to each other that they're not going to hurt each other.

00:10:42.700 --> 00:10:45.259
 You know, and he was very bold in that.

00:10:46.040 --> 00:10:47.580
 And now we see he's afraid.

00:10:47.920 --> 00:10:49.280
 He's afraid of Esau.

00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:57.040
 You know, so many times we have the benefit of seeing the rest of the story.

00:10:58.080 --> 00:10:59.560
 But Jacob doesn't see that yet.

00:10:59.660 --> 00:11:01.759
 He's still in that wrestling match.

00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:04.299
 He's scared of the Esau in his life.

00:11:05.019 --> 00:11:08.539
 You know, how many times are we so focused on the Esau that we don't see anything else?

00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:14.059
 You know, he's scared because his mom said,

00:11:14.139 --> 00:11:16.240
 I'll come and get you when everything is good.

00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:17.980
 I'll come and get you when his anger is gone.

00:11:18.379 --> 00:11:19.399
 Well, his mom died.

00:11:19.740 --> 00:11:20.720
 She's never come and got him.

00:11:20.779 --> 00:11:22.279
 So in his mind, he's still thinking,

00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:24.840
 he's still angry and I have to go by.

00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:25.840
 He's going to get me.

00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:27.419
 You know, he's going to kill me.

00:11:27.559 --> 00:11:29.679
 He's going to take my wives, put them into slavery.

00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:30.879
 He's going to take my sons.

00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:32.000
 He'll probably kill them.

00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:34.959
 He'll take everything I've worked these last 20 years for.

00:11:35.359 --> 00:11:36.639
 It's all going to be for nothing.

00:11:37.419 --> 00:11:39.939
 And God tells him, I'm with you.

00:11:40.059 --> 00:11:44.919
 Earlier in our text, verse 32, or chapter 32, starting reading verse 1,

00:11:44.979 --> 00:11:45.179
 it says,

00:11:45.179 --> 00:11:57.120
 That kind of means two camps.

00:11:57.279 --> 00:11:59.939
 Jacob had his camp and God had his host of angels.

00:12:00.739 --> 00:12:02.120
 You know, how easy is it?

00:12:02.959 --> 00:12:06.459
 You know, how many times have we read about the children of Israel?

00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:09.939
 God performs a miracle and then they start complaining.

00:12:09.940 --> 00:12:12.960
 And if you're like me, you're like, what a bunch of idiots.

00:12:13.560 --> 00:12:17.140
 You know, if he took you out of Egypt, he got you through the Red Sea,

00:12:17.340 --> 00:12:18.500
 he's going to take care of you.

00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:19.760
 He promises he will.

00:12:20.160 --> 00:12:22.820
 And they immediately, oh, God has forsaken us.

00:12:23.160 --> 00:12:25.300
 It would be better to be a slave back in Egypt.

00:12:26.140 --> 00:12:27.640
 How many times do we do that?

00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:31.780
 God says, you know, I have plans for you.

00:12:32.440 --> 00:12:35.560
 And we immediately, oh no, he can't take care of it.

00:12:35.920 --> 00:12:37.260
 You know, he's not big enough.

00:12:37.259 --> 00:12:40.840
 We focus on the Esau, but we miss what God is trying to do.

00:12:42.039 --> 00:12:46.740
 The will of God will never lead us where the power of God can't protect and provide for us.

00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:51.659
 You know, God allows trials to shape us to his image.

00:12:53.080 --> 00:12:57.159
 Ephesians chapter 1, turn there real quick.

00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:59.919
 Verse 11.

00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:10.599
 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.

00:13:10.919 --> 00:13:12.579
 God already knows these things.

00:13:13.319 --> 00:13:14.919
 Let's turn to Romans chapter 8.

00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:19.279
 Many of us could probably quote this verse.

00:13:19.599 --> 00:13:22.159
 Romans chapter 8, verse 28.

00:13:22.439 --> 00:13:23.740
 And we'll read verse 29.

00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:30.259
 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.

00:13:30.679 --> 00:13:35.159
 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son,

00:13:35.299 --> 00:13:37.899
 that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

00:13:37.899 --> 00:13:42.579
 The beginning of Psalm 46.10 says,

00:13:42.679 --> 00:13:45.299
 Be still and know that I am God.

00:13:47.419 --> 00:13:52.720
 Sometimes we just need to be in a quiet place, alone, so we can hear God.

00:13:53.620 --> 00:13:55.919
 The second thing I see here in this text,

00:13:56.659 --> 00:14:03.699
 not only does God's purposes in our trials is to center us on him, but to cultivate perseverance.

00:14:05.179 --> 00:14:06.939
 You know, as I was reading this, I was thinking to myself,

00:14:06.940 --> 00:14:10.100
 why now is God trying to get a hold of Jacob?

00:14:10.920 --> 00:14:15.000
 You know, why did God allow 20 years of Laban cheating him?

00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:16.860
 If you are familiar with that account,

00:14:17.660 --> 00:14:18.240
 Jacob says,

00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:24.480
 Hey, Laban, I'm your sister's son.

00:14:24.820 --> 00:14:26.180
 I'm supposed to camp out here.

00:14:26.860 --> 00:14:30.980
 And I see this girl, Rachel, and I like her, and I want to marry her.

00:14:31.640 --> 00:14:32.280
 And Laban's like,

00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:33.240
 Sounds good to me.

00:14:33.560 --> 00:14:34.620
 Let's make it happen.

00:14:35.180 --> 00:14:35.780
 So he says,

00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:36.680
 Here's what I want you to do.

00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:39.799
 You work seven years for me, and you can marry Rachel.

00:14:40.120 --> 00:14:43.979
 The Bible says that Jacob's love for Rachel was so much that seven years,

00:14:44.079 --> 00:14:45.679
 it just seemed like a couple of days to him.

00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:48.319
 The time comes, they get married, and guess what?

00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:49.479
 It's not Rachel.

00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:51.159
 It's Leah.

00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:53.179
 Jacob is upset about that.

00:14:53.219 --> 00:14:54.039
 And you know what Laban says?

00:14:54.500 --> 00:14:57.279
 I don't know where you're from, but here in this country,

00:14:57.959 --> 00:14:59.899
 the firstborn has the preference.

00:15:00.819 --> 00:15:03.019
 You know, it's ironic, because what did Jacob do?

00:15:03.620 --> 00:15:05.539
 He stole that firstborn from his brother.

00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:06.960
 So Laban said,

00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:09.220
 If you want to marry Rachel, same deal.

00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:12.579
 You work for me for seven years, and you can have her.

00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:14.399
 You know, that wasn't ideal.

00:15:14.659 --> 00:15:16.539
 And if you read Scripture and you find out,

00:15:17.439 --> 00:15:20.059
 Rachel was not on the same page with Jacob spiritually.

00:15:20.059 --> 00:15:21.819
 She stole her father's idols.

00:15:22.239 --> 00:15:25.179
 And who came from Leah?

00:15:26.259 --> 00:15:26.739
 Christ.

00:15:27.939 --> 00:15:28.879
 You know, that's pretty interesting.

00:15:29.659 --> 00:15:34.179
 That was something, you know, Rachel gets a lot of attention for being beautiful,

00:15:34.419 --> 00:15:37.859
 but Leah was the one that she was closest to Jacob.

00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:39.799
 You know, why now?

00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:42.000
 Why does God allow this trial now?

00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:44.539
 And I think it's because he gives us grace.

00:15:45.739 --> 00:15:47.419
 You know, that's one thing I've had to learn a lot of.

00:15:47.419 --> 00:15:49.799
 It's easy to question God, right?

00:15:50.199 --> 00:15:51.559
 Why are you allowing this to happen?

00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:54.959
 You know, you allowed this person to do this to me,

00:15:55.059 --> 00:15:56.299
 and why is this allowed?

00:15:56.939 --> 00:15:57.899
 Because God's grace.

00:15:58.959 --> 00:16:01.279
 You know, for me, anyway, there's somebody in my past,

00:16:02.019 --> 00:16:03.639
 they hurt me big time.

00:16:04.059 --> 00:16:06.779
 And I would question, why did God allow that to happen?

00:16:07.719 --> 00:16:08.299
 Well, you know what?

00:16:08.620 --> 00:16:11.179
 God gives them grace just like he gives me grace.

00:16:11.699 --> 00:16:13.539
 And humanly speaking, I think,

00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:15.059
 I'm not as bad as that guy.

00:16:15.059 --> 00:16:17.879
 So if God is willing to give that guy that much grace,

00:16:17.979 --> 00:16:19.759
 how much more grace is he willing to give me?

00:16:21.239 --> 00:16:22.279
 James 1 forces,

00:16:22.479 --> 00:16:25.919
 but let patience have her perfect work,

00:16:26.119 --> 00:16:28.099
 that you may be perfect and entire,

00:16:28.659 --> 00:16:29.779
 wanting nothing.

00:16:30.739 --> 00:16:34.039
 God wants our endurance to mature us in our walk with him.

00:16:35.219 --> 00:16:37.959
 You know, think about, we're talking about wrestling.

00:16:39.079 --> 00:16:39.559
 Wrestling.

00:16:39.559 --> 00:16:42.119
 I remember doing that with my dad.

00:16:44.239 --> 00:16:45.559
 We have videos.

00:16:47.359 --> 00:16:49.519
 My brother and I, he's on his back.

00:16:49.939 --> 00:16:51.239
 He's holding one of us up.

00:16:51.579 --> 00:16:53.579
 You know, each of our feet are here,

00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:54.419
 and he's holding us here.

00:16:54.479 --> 00:16:56.719
 And then on his feet, he's pushing another one,

00:16:56.779 --> 00:16:58.839
 and we're running, we're having a good time.

00:16:59.239 --> 00:17:00.559
 And I got to thinking about wrestling.

00:17:02.739 --> 00:17:06.099
 You know, as a kid, what did wrestling teach me?

00:17:06.099 --> 00:17:08.219
 My dad also used to wrestle,

00:17:08.359 --> 00:17:10.919
 and he taught us some things as we grew up.

00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:15.799
 But first off, wrestling teaches accountability

00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:18.059
 for failures and successes.

00:17:19.059 --> 00:17:20.339
 You know, you have to work hard.

00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:23.179
 If you ask wrestlers, you know, if they lose,

00:17:23.379 --> 00:17:24.299
 they can probably tell you,

00:17:24.459 --> 00:17:25.679
 oh, maybe I didn't train enough,

00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:26.539
 maybe I didn't do that.

00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:27.859
 And if they won, they said,

00:17:27.899 --> 00:17:28.679
 well, this is what I did.

00:17:28.719 --> 00:17:29.599
 I saw this weakness.

00:17:29.980 --> 00:17:31.179
 I exposed it.

00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:32.880
 You know, there's accountability.

00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:35.620
 There's mental fortitude.

00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:38.980
 Sometimes you have to push through exhaustive work,

00:17:39.100 --> 00:17:40.620
 and you have to push through

00:17:40.620 --> 00:17:41.740
 when you're facing adversity.

00:17:43.100 --> 00:17:44.440
 You know, I can remember,

00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:46.460
 this was when I was younger,

00:17:47.320 --> 00:17:50.560
 but my dad, you know, he used to do this thing.

00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:52.420
 Maybe some of you dads have done this.

00:17:52.840 --> 00:17:54.200
 But he's straddled over me.

00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:56.340
 He's got my arms raised up above my head.

00:17:57.060 --> 00:17:58.320
 He'd maybe lift my shirt up

00:17:58.320 --> 00:17:59.640
 and start giving me a pink belly.

00:17:59.640 --> 00:18:02.300
 And then he'd do the whole, you know,

00:18:02.340 --> 00:18:03.460
 and I'm like, and he'd start,

00:18:03.820 --> 00:18:05.680
 and I'm like, oh no, gross.

00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:07.020
 You know, but it taught me,

00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:09.120
 you know, sometimes you have to push through things

00:18:09.120 --> 00:18:09.780
 you don't like.

00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:13.100
 You know, he kind of roughed us a little bit,

00:18:13.620 --> 00:18:17.380
 but it taught us discipline, sacrifice,

00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:19.440
 how to delay gratification.

00:18:20.280 --> 00:18:21.480
 You know, if you want to win,

00:18:21.800 --> 00:18:23.520
 there's constant effort put in there.

00:18:23.860 --> 00:18:26.040
 You can't just win just because you show up.

00:18:26.140 --> 00:18:28.360
 You have to put some work in, you know,

00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:29.539
 and if you want to win,

00:18:29.659 --> 00:18:31.679
 that means not only on the day of the match,

00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:32.379
 you got to be ready,

00:18:32.479 --> 00:18:34.740
 but there's preparation all the way up to that time

00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:36.339
 where you're sacrificing.

00:18:36.679 --> 00:18:38.299
 You're trying to stay in shape,

00:18:38.379 --> 00:18:39.059
 do what you need to.

00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:40.419
 There is humility.

00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:42.179
 Again, humility,

00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:45.199
 talking about some intense personal space.

00:18:45.459 --> 00:18:46.119
 You know, you're wrestling,

00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:47.099
 you're all on top of each other,

00:18:47.159 --> 00:18:47.619
 you're sweaty.

00:18:48.019 --> 00:18:49.879
 That was one thing that used to really gross me out.

00:18:50.179 --> 00:18:50.919
 My dad would be over me

00:18:50.919 --> 00:18:52.379
 and then his sweat is dropping on me

00:18:52.379 --> 00:18:53.699
 and I'm like, oh, oh, oh.

00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:55.519
 You know, you're vulnerable.

00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:57.360
 You know, you're really close.

00:18:58.019 --> 00:19:00.100
 You know, it can be gross,

00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:02.559
 but it also, it taught me trust.

00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:04.920
 You know, in those times,

00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:06.259
 he wasn't punishing me,

00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:07.660
 but he was pushing me.

00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:09.480
 He wanted me to be tough.

00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:11.580
 He wanted me not to be a quitter.

00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:13.860
 You know, so many times we have Christians

00:19:13.860 --> 00:19:14.319
 that are like, oh,

00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:15.539
 if this is how it's going to be,

00:19:15.580 --> 00:19:16.240
 being a Christian,

00:19:16.360 --> 00:19:17.259
 then I'm going to be done.

00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.420
 You know, I don't know,

00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:22.420
 obviously it was a lie from Satan,

00:19:22.420 --> 00:19:24.240
 but people who believe that being a Christian

00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:25.920
 is just going to be all peaches and cream,

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:29.560
 oh man, don't believe that.

00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:31.320
 The Bible says you're going to be persecuted.

00:19:32.360 --> 00:19:33.220
 You're going to be tried.

00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:35.660
 The Bible says, you know, Paul writes,

00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:38.039
 he was knocked down on every side.

00:19:38.120 --> 00:19:38.900
 He's being attacked.

00:19:39.340 --> 00:19:42.259
 You know, especially if you're called for some purpose,

00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:43.680
 you're going to be attacked.

00:19:43.860 --> 00:19:45.100
 Life isn't going to be fun.

00:19:45.580 --> 00:19:47.279
 This is where that wrestling comes in.

00:19:47.600 --> 00:19:48.860
 God doesn't want quitters.

00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:51.140
 Psalm 51.10 says,

00:19:51.140 --> 00:19:53.320
 create in me a clean heart, oh God,

00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:56.140
 and renew a right spirit within me.

00:19:56.780 --> 00:19:58.180
 You know, sometimes we need that.

00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:01.520
 With my daughter, Sophia,

00:20:01.840 --> 00:20:03.440
 I'll wrestle around with her.

00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:05.460
 You know, I pick her up,

00:20:05.520 --> 00:20:06.540
 kind of toss her into the couch.

00:20:06.620 --> 00:20:07.140
 We wrestle.

00:20:07.840 --> 00:20:10.460
 You know, what that does is it shows her some trust,

00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:13.200
 you know, but it also gives her some security.

00:20:14.280 --> 00:20:15.660
 You know, in her little mind,

00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:16.620
 I'm Superman.

00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:18.840
 You know, I can defeat everybody.

00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:23.740
 You know, that's the kind of idea that we need to have with our heavenly father.

00:20:24.619 --> 00:20:26.459
 You know, we sing it when we're little kids.

00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:29.519
 My God is so great, so strong, and so mighty.

00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:32.839
 He can take care of the Esau's in our life.

00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:35.119
 Number three, this wrestling match.

00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:37.799
 Let's turn to verse 25.

00:20:37.799 --> 00:20:40.500
 It says,

00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:41.720
 And when he saw, that's Jacob,

00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:44.539
 that he prevailed, or I'm sorry,

00:20:45.019 --> 00:20:45.659
 verse 24,

00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:47.000
 And Jacob was left alone,

00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:48.339
 and there wrestled the man with him

00:20:48.339 --> 00:20:49.839
 until the breaking of the day.

00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:50.819
 It says,

00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:52.919
 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him,

00:20:53.079 --> 00:20:54.500
 he touched the hollow of his thigh,

00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:56.519
 and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint,

00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:57.680
 and he wrestled with him.

00:20:58.220 --> 00:20:58.819
 Verse 26,

00:20:59.059 --> 00:20:59.500
 And he said,

00:20:59.579 --> 00:21:01.339
 Let me go, for the day breaketh.

00:21:01.659 --> 00:21:02.039
 And he said,

00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:03.119
 I will not let thee go,

00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:04.180
 except thou bless me.

00:21:04.180 --> 00:21:07.860
 The third thing God wants us to see in our trials

00:21:07.860 --> 00:21:10.700
 is acknowledge our weakness

00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:13.160
 and acknowledge our need for him.

00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:16.660
 You know, it doesn't matter how big of arms you got

00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:17.420
 as a wrestler.

00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:20.460
 Your source of strength are your legs,

00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.920
 your hips, your back.

00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:26.080
 You know, God removed Jacob's physical strength

00:21:26.080 --> 00:21:27.660
 when he touched his thigh.

00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:29.160
 You know, I think it's interesting.

00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:30.900
 They're wrestling for a long time,

00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:32.680
 like all night long.

00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:34.160
 This is six, eight hours.

00:21:34.900 --> 00:21:36.259
 You know, it would have been easy enough for God

00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:36.759
 just to be like,

00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:39.500
 touch, you know, you're done.

00:21:39.860 --> 00:21:40.500
 But he didn't.

00:21:40.580 --> 00:21:41.440
 He wrestles with him.

00:21:43.320 --> 00:21:43.980
 It says,

00:21:44.440 --> 00:21:46.160
 Because we know that this angel is God,

00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:48.620
 and when he saw that he prevailed not against him,

00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:49.940
 he touched the hollow of his thigh.

00:21:50.660 --> 00:21:51.779
 Jacob continued to wrestle.

00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:54.220
 Then it says,

00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:54.700
 God says,

00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:56.240
 Let me go, for the day breaketh.

00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:57.700
 You know, it was kind of like,

00:21:58.700 --> 00:21:59.820
 Dude, you lost.

00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.180
 Let go.

00:22:02.620 --> 00:22:04.980
 And Jacob is clinging on to him at this point.

00:22:05.580 --> 00:22:05.980
 He says,

00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:08.299
 I am not going to let you go until you bless me.

00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:10.840
 You know,

00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:15.259
 Jacob's source of strength physically was that thigh,

00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:19.619
 but his source of strength spiritually was he's a schemer.

00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:20.980
 That's how he gets his way.

00:22:21.619 --> 00:22:21.720
 You know,

00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:24.559
 the Bible tells us early on that he,

00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:26.680
 his brother Esau comes in,

00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:27.279
 and his brother,

00:22:27.819 --> 00:22:28.619
 kind of being dramatic,

00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:28.960
 he's like,

00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:29.799
 I'm going to die.

00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:32.339
 I'm going to die unless you give me some food.

00:22:32.899 --> 00:22:33.539
 And Jacob says,

00:22:33.619 --> 00:22:35.259
 Well, what's it worth to you?

00:22:35.899 --> 00:22:36.980
 I'll give you some food,

00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:38.119
 but you give me your birthright.

00:22:38.399 --> 00:22:39.680
 Esau really thought he was going to die.

00:22:40.119 --> 00:22:40.839
 Makes that trade.

00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:42.240
 Later on,

00:22:43.079 --> 00:22:47.559
 his mother hears that Isaac is going to go against God

00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:49.259
 and bless Esau instead of Jacob,

00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:50.379
 which that was wrong,

00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:52.460
 but they weren't on the same page.

00:22:52.539 --> 00:22:53.659
 Very dysfunctional family.

00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:55.300
 So she tells Jacob,

00:22:55.580 --> 00:22:56.120
 Trust me,

00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:57.900
 we're going to disguise you as your brother

00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:59.200
 because your father is blind.

00:22:59.300 --> 00:22:59.980
 He can't see,

00:23:00.380 --> 00:23:01.740
 and we're going to have him bless you.

00:23:02.140 --> 00:23:03.140
 So Jacob puts on,

00:23:03.320 --> 00:23:04.900
 this is how hairy Esau was.

00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:08.259
 He puts on the skin of like baby goats.

00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:09.540
 That's hairy.

00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:11.080
 So Esau was a hairy guy.

00:23:11.600 --> 00:23:12.140
 He goes in,

00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:13.519
 and if you know the account,

00:23:14.620 --> 00:23:15.000
 Esau,

00:23:15.120 --> 00:23:16.340
 or Isaac is like,

00:23:16.340 --> 00:23:16.500
 Well,

00:23:17.080 --> 00:23:18.600
 you smell like Esau,

00:23:19.120 --> 00:23:21.320
 and you got hands like Esau,

00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:22.920
 but you sound like Jacob.

00:23:23.100 --> 00:23:23.600
 And Jacob says,

00:23:23.660 --> 00:23:23.759
 Oh,

00:23:23.800 --> 00:23:24.259
 trust me.

00:23:24.340 --> 00:23:24.820
 It's me.

00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:26.180
 He gets the blessing.

00:23:26.560 --> 00:23:27.360
 He runs out.

00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:28.540
 You know,

00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:30.600
 he's with his uncle Laban,

00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:32.360
 and Laban's like,

00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:32.480
 Well,

00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:34.220
 what's going to be fair for me to pay you?

00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:34.800
 And Jacob says,

00:23:34.840 --> 00:23:35.000
 Here,

00:23:35.420 --> 00:23:38.759
 I have all of the kind of the ugly cows

00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:40.340
 and the ugly sheep in your flock.

00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:41.100
 You know,

00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:42.320
 why don't you just give them to me?

00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:43.340
 I'll take the ugly ones.

00:23:43.380 --> 00:23:44.900
 You keep the ones that are pure colors,

00:23:45.300 --> 00:23:46.600
 and I'll take the ugly ones.

00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:47.220
 No big deal.

00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:48.180
 And Laban's like,

00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:48.320
 Oh,

00:23:48.360 --> 00:23:48.960
 sounds great.

00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:49.600
 Well,

00:23:49.820 --> 00:23:51.160
 Jacob knew enough about

00:23:51.160 --> 00:23:54.400
 how to breed the animals.

00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:55.779
 He comes up with a plan,

00:23:55.880 --> 00:23:56.519
 and all of a sudden,

00:23:57.400 --> 00:24:00.240
 all of the goats

00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:03.160
 and the cows,

00:24:03.360 --> 00:24:04.840
 they're all coming out ring-straked

00:24:04.840 --> 00:24:05.480
 or spotted.

00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:07.380
 Jacob does really well.

00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:07.800
 You know,

00:24:07.820 --> 00:24:08.560
 he's a schemer.

00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:10.040
 He likes to get things his way.

00:24:10.580 --> 00:24:12.140
 That was his source of strength.

00:24:12.840 --> 00:24:12.980
 You know,

00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.660
 for us,

00:24:13.860 --> 00:24:16.380
 our source of strength

00:24:16.380 --> 00:24:18.040
 might include intelligence.

00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:19.680
 You know,

00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:22.660
 you think about some really intelligent people.

00:24:23.780 --> 00:24:24.120
 You know,

00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:25.500
 one of the most intelligent people

00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:26.960
 that was in our lifetime,

00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:27.540
 right,

00:24:27.820 --> 00:24:28.840
 was Stephen Hawking,

00:24:29.040 --> 00:24:29.280
 right?

00:24:29.320 --> 00:24:30.740
 People thought he was so smart.

00:24:31.280 --> 00:24:32.700
 And look where he was,

00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:33.259
 in a chair,

00:24:33.660 --> 00:24:34.520
 his body deformed.

00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:36.940
 I'm not saying that this is the case,

00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:38.180
 but maybe God was like,

00:24:38.280 --> 00:24:38.540
 okay,

00:24:39.120 --> 00:24:40.740
 I have to take away some

00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:42.579
 strength from you.

00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:44.180
 Maybe you can keep that intellect,

00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:45.680
 which we know he was wrong

00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:46.559
 in a lot of things,

00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:47.359
 because that's not,

00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:48.299
 goes against Scripture.

00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:49.180
 You know,

00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:49.819
 but what about

00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:52.779
 your physical body?

00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:53.859
 You know,

00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:55.120
 there's been people

00:24:55.120 --> 00:24:56.140
 who that was their,

00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:57.720
 their center of focus

00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.819
 was their physical body.

00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:00.220
 God can touch that.

00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:01.359
 You know,

00:25:01.380 --> 00:25:02.380
 what about your finances,

00:25:03.380 --> 00:25:04.500
 your friends or your family?

00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:05.339
 You know,

00:25:05.339 --> 00:25:07.579
 God can remove those things

00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:09.019
 in order for you

00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:10.160
 to acknowledge your weakness.

00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:12.480
 acknowledge your need for him.

00:25:13.880 --> 00:25:14.160
 You know,

00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:15.700
 on,

00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:18.019
 some nights when we pray

00:25:18.019 --> 00:25:19.819
 here at church,

00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:21.599
 Wednesday night,

00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:23.200
 you might hear

00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:24.240
 my daughter Sophia,

00:25:24.620 --> 00:25:24.819
 you know,

00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:26.460
 it's hard to get a two-year-old

00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:27.539
 to be still and quiet

00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:28.200
 for a little while.

00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:30.839
 And one night we were drawn

00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:31.980
 and,

00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:32.819
 you know,

00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:34.099
 I put my hand over her hand

00:25:34.099 --> 00:25:34.680
 on the pen

00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:36.160
 and I wrote out

00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:40.580
 S-O-P-H-I-A.

00:25:41.140 --> 00:25:41.460
 I said,

00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.100
 Sophia,

00:25:42.600 --> 00:25:44.560
 that's your name.

00:25:45.060 --> 00:25:45.860
 She smiled,

00:25:46.120 --> 00:25:46.620
 my name.

00:25:47.120 --> 00:25:47.600
 And so I said,

00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:48.380
 let's do it again.

00:25:49.060 --> 00:25:53.180
 S-O-P-H-I-A.

00:25:54.060 --> 00:25:54.660
 She looks at me,

00:25:54.840 --> 00:25:55.460
 my name.

00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.860
 And then she does this,

00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:58.160
 which you've probably heard,

00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:59.680
 she says these two words,

00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:01.200
 me do.

00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:01.319
 Me do.

00:26:02.360 --> 00:26:03.080
 Me do.

00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:04.799
 So then she just scribbles

00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:05.539
 and she looks at me,

00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:06.640
 my name.

00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:08.940
 It wasn't her name.

00:26:09.880 --> 00:26:10.080
 You know,

00:26:10.120 --> 00:26:10.700
 it's cute

00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:12.220
 when a two-year-old does that,

00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:14.019
 but what about an adult?

00:26:15.080 --> 00:26:15.559
 God says,

00:26:15.620 --> 00:26:15.799
 hey,

00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:16.200
 you know,

00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:17.100
 I want to have you

00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:18.100
 give your tithe

00:26:18.100 --> 00:26:19.480
 and give to missions.

00:26:20.100 --> 00:26:20.740
 Me do.

00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:22.380
 Me work hard

00:26:22.380 --> 00:26:23.180
 for me money.

00:26:23.840 --> 00:26:24.519
 Me only give

00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:25.600
 what me want to give.

00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:26.720
 You know,

00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:27.440
 it's funny,

00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:28.100
 but it happens.

00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:30.180
 What about a relationship?

00:26:30.600 --> 00:26:31.140
 A young guy

00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:31.360
 is like,

00:26:31.840 --> 00:26:32.020
 me,

00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:32.600
 man.

00:26:33.320 --> 00:26:34.800
 Me want to marry woman.

00:26:35.880 --> 00:26:36.880
 Me no care.

00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:38.220
 She no come church.

00:26:38.820 --> 00:26:39.940
 Me get married anyway.

00:26:41.060 --> 00:26:41.240
 Well,

00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:41.900
 guess what happens?

00:26:42.660 --> 00:26:43.180
 You're going to get

00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:43.720
 what you get.

00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:44.880
 You know,

00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:45.700
 the Bible tells us

00:26:45.700 --> 00:26:46.340
 if you would just

00:26:46.340 --> 00:26:47.320
 allow God,

00:26:48.020 --> 00:26:48.640
 just like I did

00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:49.460
 with Sophia's hand,

00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:51.100
 let God write that out.

00:26:52.140 --> 00:26:52.400
 You know,

00:26:52.700 --> 00:26:54.160
 I'm not trying

00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:54.800
 to brag here,

00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:56.000
 but when I left

00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.800
 Bible college,

00:26:56.980 --> 00:26:58.200
 there was 10 years

00:26:58.200 --> 00:26:59.360
 of me trying

00:26:59.360 --> 00:27:00.040
 to allow God,

00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:00.299
 hey,

00:27:00.539 --> 00:27:01.059
 bring somebody

00:27:01.059 --> 00:27:01.579
 and guess what?

00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:02.539
 It was dry.

00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:04.379
 Had hardly no prospects

00:27:04.379 --> 00:27:06.279
 and I just said,

00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:06.539
 God,

00:27:06.619 --> 00:27:07.039
 please.

00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:07.579
 And you know

00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:08.019
 what ended up

00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:08.319
 happening?

00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:13.960
 A-M-A-N-D-A,

00:27:14.700 --> 00:27:15.139
 Amanda.

00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:16.680
 You know,

00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:17.599
 he brought her

00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:18.359
 into my life.

00:27:18.359 --> 00:27:19.339
 I can't say

00:27:19.339 --> 00:27:19.779
 that I always

00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:20.339
 did that

00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:21.339
 because there used

00:27:21.339 --> 00:27:22.000
 to be a time

00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:22.459
 in my life

00:27:22.459 --> 00:27:23.459
 where I was a schemer.

00:27:24.339 --> 00:27:24.459
 You know,

00:27:24.479 --> 00:27:25.500
 my family can tell you,

00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:26.699
 we talk,

00:27:27.099 --> 00:27:27.819
 you know,

00:27:27.899 --> 00:27:28.779
 she that we don't

00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:29.459
 speak of,

00:27:29.619 --> 00:27:30.339
 but there was a girl,

00:27:30.459 --> 00:27:30.740
 Debbie,

00:27:30.979 --> 00:27:31.679
 and I tried

00:27:31.679 --> 00:27:32.259
 to make things

00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:32.819
 work out.

00:27:32.979 --> 00:27:34.379
 I tried to play

00:27:34.379 --> 00:27:35.339
 the puppet maker.

00:27:35.459 --> 00:27:35.959
 I tried to be

00:27:35.959 --> 00:27:36.859
 that heel grabber.

00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.500
 You know what I found out?

00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:39.959
 It doesn't work.

00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:41.559
 It's so much easier

00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:42.459
 to let God

00:27:42.459 --> 00:27:44.240
 control things.

00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:45.920
 2 Corinthians 12,

00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:47.480
 9-10 says,

00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:49.059
 And he said unto me,

00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.799
 My grace is sufficient

00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:51.319
 for thee,

00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:52.339
 for my strength

00:27:52.339 --> 00:27:53.140
 is made perfect

00:27:53.140 --> 00:27:53.759
 in weakness.

00:27:54.839 --> 00:27:55.900
 Most gladly,

00:27:56.120 --> 00:27:56.319
 therefore,

00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:57.500
 will I rather glory

00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.579
 in my affirmities

00:27:58.579 --> 00:27:59.240
 than by,

00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:00.880
 or that the power

00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:01.339
 of Christ

00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:02.359
 may rest upon me.

00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:02.720
 Therefore,

00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:03.759
 I take pleasure

00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:04.759
 in infirmities

00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.559
 and reproaches

00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:06.640
 and necessities

00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:07.839
 and persecutions

00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:09.120
 and distresses

00:28:09.120 --> 00:28:10.059
 for Christ's sake.

00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:11.579
 For when I am weak,

00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:13.120
 then am I strong.

00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:14.239
 You know,

00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:15.199
 that sounds backwards,

00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:17.079
 but Jacob was at the right

00:28:17.079 --> 00:28:18.059
 point in his life now.

00:28:18.119 --> 00:28:19.539
 He's being broken down,

00:28:20.179 --> 00:28:21.019
 and we're going to see here

00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.959
 in verse 26,

00:28:22.239 --> 00:28:23.399
 another reason that God

00:28:23.399 --> 00:28:25.619
 gives us these wrestling matches

00:28:25.619 --> 00:28:27.099
 is to grow us in prayer.

00:28:27.619 --> 00:28:28.739
 Look at verse 26.

00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:29.639
 He says,

00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:30.359
 Let me go,

00:28:30.659 --> 00:28:31.479
 for the day breaketh.

00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:31.819
 And he said,

00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:32.799
 I will not let thee go,

00:28:32.899 --> 00:28:34.000
 except thou bless me.

00:28:34.859 --> 00:28:35.119
 You know,

00:28:35.139 --> 00:28:35.919
 we turn back here

00:28:35.919 --> 00:28:36.899
 in our text,

00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:39.259
 and let's look at

00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:41.299
 verse 9.

00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:43.879
 Chapter 32,

00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:44.319
 verse 9,

00:28:44.379 --> 00:28:44.579
 it says,

00:28:44.639 --> 00:28:45.240
 And Jacob said,

00:28:45.299 --> 00:28:46.859
 O God of my father Abraham

00:28:46.859 --> 00:28:49.000
 and God of my father Isaac,

00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:51.500
 the Lord which sets unto me,

00:28:52.119 --> 00:28:53.839
 return unto thy country

00:28:53.839 --> 00:28:55.039
 and turn thy kindred,

00:28:55.139 --> 00:28:56.460
 and I will deal well with thee.

00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.779
 I am not worthy

00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:58.339
 of the least

00:28:58.339 --> 00:28:59.299
 of all the mercies

00:28:59.299 --> 00:29:01.059
 and of all the truth

00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:02.220
 which thou hast showed

00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:03.059
 unto thy servant.

00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:04.500
 For with my staff

00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:05.639
 I passed over this Jordan,

00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:06.759
 and now I am become

00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:07.500
 two bands.

00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:08.559
 Deliver me,

00:29:08.619 --> 00:29:09.159
 I pray thee,

00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:10.380
 from the hand of my brother,

00:29:10.640 --> 00:29:11.560
 from the hand of Esau,

00:29:11.700 --> 00:29:12.740
 for I fear him,

00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:13.660
 lest he will come

00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:14.400
 and smite me

00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:15.100
 and the mother

00:29:15.100 --> 00:29:15.820
 with the children.

00:29:16.100 --> 00:29:16.759
 And thou saidst,

00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:18.500
 I will surely do thee good

00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:19.700
 and make thy seed

00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:21.100
 as the sand of the sea

00:29:21.100 --> 00:29:22.480
 which cannot be numbered

00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:23.160
 for multitude.

00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:26.080
 You realize

00:29:26.080 --> 00:29:27.820
 that is the first account

00:29:27.820 --> 00:29:28.720
 of Jacob praying

00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:29.300
 in Scripture?

00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:31.140
 And what a prayer.

00:29:32.320 --> 00:29:32.600
 He's like,

00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:32.800
 hey,

00:29:33.600 --> 00:29:34.940
 I'm at the end of my rope,

00:29:35.380 --> 00:29:36.100
 I'm terrified,

00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:36.920
 I'm weak,

00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:38.100
 but you promised,

00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:39.740
 you promised this to me.

00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:40.500
 You know,

00:29:40.560 --> 00:29:41.060
 I think it's,

00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:42.840
 God wants us to be bold

00:29:42.840 --> 00:29:44.900
 and the promises

00:29:44.900 --> 00:29:45.420
 in Scripture

00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:46.440
 that pertain to us,

00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:47.860
 pray them to God.

00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.140
 God,

00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:49.620
 you said you would

00:29:49.620 --> 00:29:50.300
 never leave me,

00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:50.980
 you said you would

00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:51.940
 never forsake me.

00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:52.880
 You know,

00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:53.440
 a lot of times

00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:53.900
 it's a matter

00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:54.880
 of our perspective.

00:29:55.940 --> 00:29:56.700
 Grow us in prayer.

00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.660
 Hosea chapter 12

00:29:58.660 --> 00:29:59.600
 verses 3 and 4,

00:29:59.680 --> 00:29:59.960
 it says,

00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:00.960
 this is talking

00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:01.800
 about Jacob now,

00:30:01.900 --> 00:30:02.100
 it says,

00:30:02.160 --> 00:30:02.860
 he took his brother

00:30:02.860 --> 00:30:03.480
 by the heel

00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:04.019
 and the womb

00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:05.180
 and by his strength

00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:06.320
 he had power with God.

00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:06.759
 Yea,

00:30:06.839 --> 00:30:07.419
 he had power

00:30:07.419 --> 00:30:08.139
 over the angel

00:30:08.139 --> 00:30:08.759
 and prevailed.

00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:09.659
 He wept

00:30:09.659 --> 00:30:10.759
 and made supplication

00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:11.200
 unto him.

00:30:11.399 --> 00:30:12.639
 He found him in Bethel

00:30:12.639 --> 00:30:14.139
 and there he spake with us.

00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:15.299
 You know,

00:30:15.419 --> 00:30:16.839
 I was thinking about that.

00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:17.439
 How,

00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:19.679
 how did Jacob prevail?

00:30:20.599 --> 00:30:21.720
 Because he lost.

00:30:23.179 --> 00:30:23.519
 You know,

00:30:23.659 --> 00:30:26.019
 he prevailed

00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:27.500
 because he wanted

00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:28.099
 that blessing.

00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:28.799
 You know,

00:30:28.839 --> 00:30:29.460
 the one thing

00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:31.019
 his entire life

00:30:31.019 --> 00:30:32.919
 we see in Scripture

00:30:32.919 --> 00:30:34.159
 is he wanted the blessing.

00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:35.940
 He wanted the blessing

00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:37.060
 when it came to Esau.

00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:39.180
 He wants this blessing now.

00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:40.560
 But he was always

00:30:40.560 --> 00:30:42.040
 lacking something.

00:30:42.580 --> 00:30:43.240
 And that was prayer.

00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:44.100
 This is the first time

00:30:44.100 --> 00:30:44.440
 in Scripture

00:30:44.440 --> 00:30:45.000
 he's prayed.

00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:46.120
 You know,

00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:47.600
 he lacked the blessing

00:30:47.600 --> 00:30:49.259
 when there was

00:30:49.259 --> 00:30:50.120
 that wife switch.

00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:51.220
 You know,

00:30:51.360 --> 00:30:53.540
 how often do we just pray

00:30:53.540 --> 00:30:54.360
 at mealtimes

00:30:54.360 --> 00:30:55.320
 and before bed

00:30:55.320 --> 00:30:56.980
 and then we wait

00:30:56.980 --> 00:30:57.759
 before we're in

00:30:57.759 --> 00:30:58.560
 a wrestling match,

00:30:58.560 --> 00:30:59.480
 before we really

00:30:59.480 --> 00:31:00.620
 try to seek God?

00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:01.699
 You know,

00:31:01.739 --> 00:31:02.519
 I'm guilty of it.

00:31:02.639 --> 00:31:03.239
 It happens.

00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:04.399
 You know,

00:31:04.419 --> 00:31:04.939
 sometimes God

00:31:04.939 --> 00:31:05.839
 has to get our attention.

00:31:07.219 --> 00:31:07.799
 You know,

00:31:08.359 --> 00:31:09.939
 just like with my dad

00:31:09.939 --> 00:31:10.939
 wrestling with me.

00:31:11.239 --> 00:31:12.199
 It's because he wanted me

00:31:12.199 --> 00:31:13.099
 to be something.

00:31:13.819 --> 00:31:14.239
 He didn't want me

00:31:14.239 --> 00:31:14.919
 to be weak.

00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:15.439
 You know,

00:31:15.439 --> 00:31:16.379
 he wanted me to stand up

00:31:16.379 --> 00:31:16.859
 for something.

00:31:17.139 --> 00:31:18.279
 That's what God wants for us.

00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:19.019
 He has a plan

00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:19.819
 for all of us.

00:31:20.699 --> 00:31:21.619
 How do you know?

00:31:21.719 --> 00:31:22.539
 Because you're still breathing.

00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:24.500
 God has a plan for you.

00:31:26.019 --> 00:31:27.359
 Number 27 here.

00:31:28.459 --> 00:31:29.319
 Verse 27,

00:31:29.419 --> 00:31:29.899
 it says,

00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:31.180
 this is God.

00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:32.640
 And he said unto him,

00:31:32.800 --> 00:31:34.519
 what is thy name?

00:31:35.580 --> 00:31:36.300
 And he said,

00:31:36.380 --> 00:31:36.680
 Jacob.

00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:38.900
 Another thing that God

00:31:38.900 --> 00:31:40.100
 wants to do in our trials,

00:31:40.580 --> 00:31:42.100
 wants us to confess our sin.

00:31:43.160 --> 00:31:43.320
 You know,

00:31:43.360 --> 00:31:44.120
 God wasn't looking

00:31:44.120 --> 00:31:44.900
 for information.

00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:46.460
 It's not like God

00:31:46.460 --> 00:31:47.640
 didn't know Jacob's name.

00:31:48.360 --> 00:31:49.320
 He knew that.

00:31:50.019 --> 00:31:51.200
 God does that.

00:31:54.080 --> 00:31:56.200
 He's not looking for information,

00:31:56.620 --> 00:31:57.740
 but realization.

00:31:58.640 --> 00:31:59.640
 Remember earlier?

00:31:59.900 --> 00:32:00.780
 On in Genesis,

00:32:01.140 --> 00:32:01.920
 he asked Adam,

00:32:02.360 --> 00:32:03.160
 where are you?

00:32:04.040 --> 00:32:04.320
 Why?

00:32:04.759 --> 00:32:05.880
 Because Adam had sinned.

00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:07.940
 He's covering himself in shame.

00:32:08.660 --> 00:32:09.759
 God didn't know

00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:11.320
 where he was geographically.

00:32:11.400 --> 00:32:11.820
 He knew,

00:32:12.040 --> 00:32:12.620
 but he's saying,

00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:13.019
 Adam,

00:32:13.560 --> 00:32:14.420
 where are you?

00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:15.180
 You know,

00:32:15.220 --> 00:32:15.759
 later on,

00:32:15.800 --> 00:32:16.660
 it says that Cain

00:32:16.660 --> 00:32:17.420
 kills his brother.

00:32:17.960 --> 00:32:18.600
 So God says,

00:32:18.680 --> 00:32:19.000
 Cain,

00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:20.700
 where's your brother?

00:32:21.580 --> 00:32:22.480
 God knew.

00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:24.259
 God is trying to get

00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:25.040
 Cain,

00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:26.240
 Adam,

00:32:26.240 --> 00:32:26.900
 Jacob,

00:32:26.900 --> 00:32:27.559
 us,

00:32:27.559 --> 00:32:28.900
 where are you?

00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:30.920
 Where are you?

00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:32.000
 You know,

00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:34.400
 confess your sins.

00:32:35.120 --> 00:32:36.240
 He wants us to acknowledge

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:36.660
 our sin,

00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:37.319
 confess it.

00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:38.079
 You know,

00:32:38.140 --> 00:32:38.640
 Jacob here,

00:32:38.700 --> 00:32:39.120
 when he says,

00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:40.420
 my name is Jacob,

00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:42.819
 he's admitting,

00:32:42.819 --> 00:32:45.700
 I'm a heel grabber.

00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:47.220
 That's what he's admitting.

00:32:48.339 --> 00:32:48.599
 You know,

00:32:48.679 --> 00:32:51.359
 I'm the guy that bargained

00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:52.859
 for his brother's birthright.

00:32:53.599 --> 00:32:55.579
 I'm the guy that is the deceiver

00:32:55.579 --> 00:32:56.799
 of my father's blessing.

00:32:57.679 --> 00:32:59.599
 I'm the man that's the schemer

00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:00.819
 for my uncle's flocks.

00:33:01.179 --> 00:33:01.980
 That's me.

00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:03.659
 I'm Jacob,

00:33:03.939 --> 00:33:05.419
 the heel grabber.

00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:06.559
 That's what that is.

00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:09.200
 He's acknowledging who he is,

00:33:09.419 --> 00:33:10.000
 his sin,

00:33:10.059 --> 00:33:10.960
 he's confessing it.

00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:12.180
 You know,

00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:13.619
 what is our heart's response

00:33:13.619 --> 00:33:14.200
 in trials?

00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:16.019
 You know,

00:33:16.380 --> 00:33:17.700
 do we run to God?

00:33:18.039 --> 00:33:18.980
 Do we run away?

00:33:19.880 --> 00:33:20.039
 You know,

00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:21.240
 so many times people,

00:33:22.940 --> 00:33:25.920
 they run to the things

00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:27.180
 that give them comfort

00:33:27.180 --> 00:33:28.259
 in this world,

00:33:28.759 --> 00:33:29.940
 whether it be idols

00:33:29.940 --> 00:33:30.740
 or sin.

00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:32.079
 You know,

00:33:32.140 --> 00:33:32.539
 addiction.

00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:36.460
 Addiction is proof

00:33:36.460 --> 00:33:37.380
 that you are capable

00:33:37.380 --> 00:33:38.400
 of strong devotion,

00:33:38.400 --> 00:33:40.320
 but it's to a false God.

00:33:41.259 --> 00:33:41.420
 You know,

00:33:41.460 --> 00:33:42.360
 so many times people are like,

00:33:42.420 --> 00:33:42.519
 oh,

00:33:42.560 --> 00:33:43.220
 I don't believe,

00:33:43.620 --> 00:33:43.759
 you know,

00:33:43.780 --> 00:33:45.100
 I don't have any faith in God.

00:33:45.380 --> 00:33:45.519
 Well,

00:33:45.519 --> 00:33:46.480
 you have faith in something.

00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:48.780
 And if it's the bottle you turn to,

00:33:48.920 --> 00:33:49.900
 then that's your God.

00:33:50.460 --> 00:33:50.640
 You know,

00:33:50.700 --> 00:33:53.040
 if it's whatever the screen says

00:33:53.040 --> 00:33:53.820
 on the,

00:33:54.500 --> 00:33:54.880
 you know,

00:33:54.920 --> 00:33:55.960
 how the Tao is doing,

00:33:56.360 --> 00:33:57.360
 that's your God.

00:33:57.560 --> 00:33:57.700
 You know,

00:33:57.700 --> 00:33:58.660
 whatever you're focused on

00:33:58.660 --> 00:34:01.140
 that doesn't put itself

00:34:01.140 --> 00:34:02.080
 beneath God,

00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:03.460
 that's your little g God.

00:34:04.420 --> 00:34:04.900
 You know,

00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:06.500
 we tend to think so many times

00:34:06.500 --> 00:34:07.380
 our greatest enemy

00:34:07.380 --> 00:34:09.019
 is the Esau,

00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:12.059
 but Jacob's greatest enemy,

00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:13.179
 just like with us,

00:34:13.280 --> 00:34:14.559
 usually is our own hearts.

00:34:15.820 --> 00:34:17.519
 1 John 1.9 says,

00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:19.260
 if we confess our sins,

00:34:19.420 --> 00:34:20.099
 he is faithful,

00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:20.860
 I'm sorry,

00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:21.440
 if,

00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:23.659
 1 John 1.8,

00:34:23.780 --> 00:34:24.039
 it says,

00:34:24.360 --> 00:34:26.039
 if we say that we have no sin,

00:34:26.199 --> 00:34:27.380
 we deceive ourselves

00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:28.860
 and the truth is not in us.

00:34:29.239 --> 00:34:30.880
 If we confess our sins,

00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:31.960
 he is faithful and just

00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:33.420
 to forgive us our sins

00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:34.119
 and to cleanse us

00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:35.300
 from all unrighteousness.

00:34:35.300 --> 00:34:36.940
 You know,

00:34:36.980 --> 00:34:38.120
 that's what's taking place here.

00:34:38.460 --> 00:34:39.920
 Not only is this a physical

00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:41.680
 wrestling match,

00:34:41.720 --> 00:34:42.519
 but there's a spiritual

00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:43.320
 wrestling match.

00:34:44.340 --> 00:34:45.039
 Verse 28,

00:34:45.640 --> 00:34:47.760
 we see God say,

00:34:48.460 --> 00:34:49.440
 thy name shall be called

00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:50.260
 no more Jacob,

00:34:50.800 --> 00:34:51.660
 but Israel.

00:34:52.240 --> 00:34:52.940
 For as a prince

00:34:52.940 --> 00:34:54.360
 hast thou power with God

00:34:54.360 --> 00:34:55.220
 and with men

00:34:55.220 --> 00:34:56.240
 and hath prevailed.

00:34:57.180 --> 00:34:58.880
 So a name change,

00:34:59.220 --> 00:35:00.600
 especially in this culture,

00:35:00.720 --> 00:35:01.300
 is significant

00:35:01.300 --> 00:35:02.480
 because it means

00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:03.660
 either one of two things.

00:35:03.780 --> 00:35:04.280
 First off,

00:35:04.280 --> 00:35:05.040
 ownership

00:35:05.040 --> 00:35:07.500
 or a change in character

00:35:07.500 --> 00:35:09.180
 or a change in destiny.

00:35:09.800 --> 00:35:10.000
 You know,

00:35:10.060 --> 00:35:11.120
 if he would have kept going

00:35:11.120 --> 00:35:11.980
 as the schemer,

00:35:12.080 --> 00:35:13.100
 he just would have kept going.

00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:14.000
 But then there's

00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:15.140
 a trajectory change.

00:35:15.580 --> 00:35:15.680
 You know,

00:35:15.700 --> 00:35:17.040
 he gets binged over here

00:35:17.040 --> 00:35:18.160
 and now he's going

00:35:18.160 --> 00:35:18.920
 the right way.

00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:20.260
 Sometimes we need

00:35:20.260 --> 00:35:21.160
 in our own lives

00:35:21.160 --> 00:35:22.900
 a little trajectory change,

00:35:23.220 --> 00:35:24.000
 a little nudge,

00:35:24.060 --> 00:35:25.080
 a little wrestling match

00:35:25.080 --> 00:35:25.980
 to get us

00:35:25.980 --> 00:35:26.640
 to what we're doing.

00:35:27.080 --> 00:35:27.260
 You know,

00:35:27.260 --> 00:35:28.019
 I think it's interesting.

00:35:28.019 --> 00:35:30.679
 I think the best translation

00:35:30.679 --> 00:35:31.340
 that I've found

00:35:31.340 --> 00:35:31.980
 for Israel

00:35:31.980 --> 00:35:33.119
 is God rules.

00:35:34.239 --> 00:35:34.380
 You know,

00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:35.500
 now he's not

00:35:35.500 --> 00:35:38.420
 the schemer anymore.

00:35:38.739 --> 00:35:40.719
 He's a God-driven man,

00:35:40.820 --> 00:35:42.099
 a God-ruled man.

00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:43.259
 You know,

00:35:43.300 --> 00:35:44.259
 how did Jacob prevail?

00:35:45.679 --> 00:35:47.039
 He found success

00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:48.019
 and was delivered

00:35:48.019 --> 00:35:48.800
 from Esau

00:35:48.800 --> 00:35:50.659
 by prayer and weakness.

00:35:51.480 --> 00:35:52.799
 You'll see later on

00:35:52.799 --> 00:35:54.839
 that Jacob's messengers

00:35:54.839 --> 00:35:55.420
 come to him

00:35:55.420 --> 00:35:55.719
 and they say,

00:35:55.799 --> 00:35:55.980
 hey,

00:35:56.940 --> 00:35:57.879
 we found Esau.

00:35:58.500 --> 00:36:00.500
 He's got 400 guys with him.

00:36:01.399 --> 00:36:02.679
 And then you read further on

00:36:02.679 --> 00:36:04.359
 that Jacob comes to him.

00:36:04.579 --> 00:36:05.539
 He has all these presents

00:36:05.539 --> 00:36:06.339
 because immediately,

00:36:06.799 --> 00:36:07.699
 you'll see after this

00:36:07.699 --> 00:36:09.559
 chapter 33,

00:36:09.759 --> 00:36:10.319
 immediately,

00:36:10.659 --> 00:36:11.659
 he falls back

00:36:11.659 --> 00:36:12.679
 into being a schemer

00:36:12.679 --> 00:36:14.019
 just like we would do.

00:36:14.619 --> 00:36:15.920
 And he gets to Esau

00:36:15.920 --> 00:36:16.980
 and the Bible says

00:36:16.980 --> 00:36:18.379
 that Esau sees him.

00:36:19.359 --> 00:36:20.559
 He runs to him.

00:36:21.079 --> 00:36:21.559
 The Bible says

00:36:21.559 --> 00:36:22.859
 he falls on his neck

00:36:22.859 --> 00:36:24.299
 and kisses him.

00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:26.059
 Do you remember

00:36:26.059 --> 00:36:26.739
 an account like that

00:36:26.739 --> 00:36:27.639
 in Scripture?

00:36:29.139 --> 00:36:30.299
 The prodigal son

00:36:30.299 --> 00:36:31.500
 when the father sees

00:36:31.500 --> 00:36:32.879
 and runs to him.

00:36:33.679 --> 00:36:33.980
 You know,

00:36:34.460 --> 00:36:35.980
 I personally believe

00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:37.139
 that this wrestling match

00:36:37.139 --> 00:36:40.539
 was the determining factor.

00:36:41.059 --> 00:36:42.599
 Is Esau here

00:36:42.599 --> 00:36:43.279
 to kill you

00:36:43.279 --> 00:36:43.940
 and wipe you out

00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:44.799
 with the 400 men?

00:36:45.219 --> 00:36:46.659
 Or will you submit to me

00:36:46.659 --> 00:36:48.039
 and everything will be good

00:36:48.039 --> 00:36:48.599
 for Esau?

00:36:48.599 --> 00:36:51.039
 I can't tell you that

00:36:51.039 --> 00:36:52.519
 definitively.

00:36:52.799 --> 00:36:53.799
 That's what I believe.

00:36:55.500 --> 00:36:57.000
 This wrestling match

00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:57.900
 was a pouring out

00:36:57.900 --> 00:36:59.000
 of Jacob

00:36:59.000 --> 00:37:00.000
 and a replacement

00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:01.199
 of Israel.

00:37:02.279 --> 00:37:03.239
 Romans 5,

00:37:03.360 --> 00:37:04.539
 verses 3 and 4 say,

00:37:04.539 --> 00:37:06.019
 And not only so,

00:37:06.139 --> 00:37:06.840
 but we glory

00:37:06.840 --> 00:37:08.099
 in tribulations also,

00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:09.619
 knowing that tribulation

00:37:09.619 --> 00:37:10.659
 worketh patience

00:37:10.659 --> 00:37:12.480
 and patience experience

00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:14.960
 and experience hope.

00:37:15.259 --> 00:37:15.480
 You know,

00:37:15.559 --> 00:37:16.800
 it's very interesting.

00:37:16.800 --> 00:37:18.560
 You know,

00:37:18.580 --> 00:37:19.300
 you go through this.

00:37:19.680 --> 00:37:20.860
 When you gain that experience,

00:37:21.080 --> 00:37:22.460
 things don't seem as bad.

00:37:22.860 --> 00:37:24.460
 Just a couple weeks ago,

00:37:24.519 --> 00:37:26.100
 I was asking my Sunday school class,

00:37:26.140 --> 00:37:27.280
 I asked them a hard question,

00:37:27.700 --> 00:37:28.460
 and they all agreed

00:37:28.460 --> 00:37:29.080
 it was hard,

00:37:29.200 --> 00:37:29.680
 and I said,

00:37:29.760 --> 00:37:29.840
 Well,

00:37:29.860 --> 00:37:30.660
 why was it hard?

00:37:31.220 --> 00:37:31.680
 And of course,

00:37:31.740 --> 00:37:32.580
 they just stare at me.

00:37:33.019 --> 00:37:33.240
 I'm like,

00:37:33.260 --> 00:37:33.680
 It was hard

00:37:33.680 --> 00:37:34.260
 because you didn't know

00:37:34.260 --> 00:37:34.740
 the answer.

00:37:35.380 --> 00:37:36.260
 If you know the answer,

00:37:36.320 --> 00:37:36.740
 it's easy.

00:37:37.320 --> 00:37:37.560
 Well,

00:37:37.560 --> 00:37:38.500
 if you go through a trial

00:37:38.500 --> 00:37:39.600
 and you already have experience

00:37:39.600 --> 00:37:40.160
 of that trial,

00:37:40.580 --> 00:37:41.500
 it makes it easier.

00:37:42.340 --> 00:37:42.580
 You know,

00:37:42.680 --> 00:37:43.780
 the first time we had a kid,

00:37:43.840 --> 00:37:44.060
 it's like,

00:37:44.140 --> 00:37:44.260
 Oh,

00:37:44.340 --> 00:37:44.539
 man,

00:37:44.620 --> 00:37:45.680
 what am I supposed to do?

00:37:45.679 --> 00:37:47.159
 And you have a second one,

00:37:47.219 --> 00:37:47.460
 and you're like,

00:37:47.519 --> 00:37:47.619
 Oh,

00:37:47.679 --> 00:37:47.819
 yeah,

00:37:47.859 --> 00:37:49.199
 I've already done this before.

00:37:49.319 --> 00:37:49.719
 I know.

00:37:49.759 --> 00:37:50.259
 And then I'm sure

00:37:50.259 --> 00:37:51.440
 the more you have,

00:37:51.480 --> 00:37:51.859
 you're just like,

00:37:51.919 --> 00:37:52.039
 Oh,

00:37:52.059 --> 00:37:52.219
 yeah,

00:37:52.299 --> 00:37:52.960
 this is easy.

00:37:53.339 --> 00:37:54.059
 I could change a diaper

00:37:54.059 --> 00:37:54.899
 with my eyes closed.

00:37:55.619 --> 00:37:55.919
 You know,

00:37:56.019 --> 00:37:57.299
 but you get that experience.

00:37:57.819 --> 00:37:58.859
 That's what God wants to do.

00:37:58.960 --> 00:37:59.919
 Change our character.

00:38:00.799 --> 00:38:02.419
 He wants to give us patience,

00:38:02.539 --> 00:38:03.139
 experience,

00:38:03.639 --> 00:38:04.019
 hope,

00:38:05.019 --> 00:38:05.159
 you know,

00:38:05.159 --> 00:38:06.599
 get our eyes off of the Esau

00:38:06.599 --> 00:38:07.799
 and onto God.

00:38:08.859 --> 00:38:09.839
 Verse 29,

00:38:10.799 --> 00:38:11.879
 you got to really hurry up.

00:38:12.679 --> 00:38:13.480
 And Jacob asked him

00:38:13.480 --> 00:38:14.199
 and said,

00:38:14.339 --> 00:38:14.579
 Tell me,

00:38:14.639 --> 00:38:15.219
 I pray thee,

00:38:15.219 --> 00:38:16.059
 thy name.

00:38:16.119 --> 00:38:16.519
 And he said,

00:38:16.599 --> 00:38:18.559
 Wherefore is it that thou dost ask

00:38:18.559 --> 00:38:19.299
 after my name?

00:38:19.319 --> 00:38:20.319
 And he blessed him there.

00:38:21.079 --> 00:38:21.199
 You know,

00:38:21.219 --> 00:38:23.000
 to understand God better

00:38:23.000 --> 00:38:23.739
 is another reason

00:38:23.739 --> 00:38:25.439
 God puts us through these trials.

00:38:26.299 --> 00:38:26.419
 You know,

00:38:26.500 --> 00:38:27.839
 God meets us where we are

00:38:27.839 --> 00:38:29.759
 so we can see different perspectives

00:38:29.759 --> 00:38:30.719
 of him.

00:38:31.239 --> 00:38:31.459
 You know,

00:38:31.500 --> 00:38:32.379
 God met Abraham,

00:38:33.059 --> 00:38:34.519
 who was a pilgrim from Ur,

00:38:34.659 --> 00:38:35.379
 living in Canaan.

00:38:35.779 --> 00:38:37.179
 God met him as a pilgrim.

00:38:37.619 --> 00:38:38.819
 God appeared to Joshua,

00:38:39.039 --> 00:38:41.279
 who was the general of Israel's army.

00:38:41.679 --> 00:38:43.079
 He met Joshua as a soldier.

00:38:43.079 --> 00:38:45.299
 So now he's meeting the heel grabber

00:38:45.299 --> 00:38:46.179
 as a wrestler.

00:38:46.880 --> 00:38:47.059
 You know,

00:38:47.239 --> 00:38:48.779
 God had told and shown Jacob

00:38:48.779 --> 00:38:49.619
 that he was protected.

00:38:49.819 --> 00:38:51.259
 We read some of those verses earlier.

00:38:52.460 --> 00:38:52.840
 F.B.

00:38:52.900 --> 00:38:53.980
 Meyer said once

00:38:53.980 --> 00:38:55.400
 that God whispers to us

00:38:55.400 --> 00:38:56.159
 in our pleasures,

00:38:56.420 --> 00:38:57.519
 but shouts at us

00:38:57.519 --> 00:38:58.219
 in our trials.

00:38:58.920 --> 00:38:59.039
 You know,

00:38:59.099 --> 00:39:00.259
 God cannot bless someone

00:39:00.259 --> 00:39:01.779
 who has not surrendered to him.

00:39:02.779 --> 00:39:03.519
 Verse 29,

00:39:03.639 --> 00:39:03.920
 it says,

00:39:04.179 --> 00:39:04.980
 And Jacob asked him

00:39:04.980 --> 00:39:05.279
 and said,

00:39:05.360 --> 00:39:05.559
 Tell me,

00:39:05.599 --> 00:39:06.099
 I pray thee.

00:39:06.840 --> 00:39:07.299
 You know,

00:39:07.299 --> 00:39:07.940
 we just read that.

00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:08.639
 I'm going to skip that.

00:39:08.639 --> 00:39:10.119
 God uses our trials

00:39:10.119 --> 00:39:11.319
 to minister to others.

00:39:11.980 --> 00:39:13.279
 2 Corinthians 1,

00:39:13.400 --> 00:39:14.319
 verse 3 and 5,

00:39:14.799 --> 00:39:15.000
 it says,

00:39:15.079 --> 00:39:15.960
 Blessed be God,

00:39:16.019 --> 00:39:16.579
 even the Father

00:39:16.579 --> 00:39:17.679
 of our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:39:17.759 --> 00:39:18.819
 the Father of mercies,

00:39:19.119 --> 00:39:20.259
 and the God of all comfort,

00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:21.359
 who comforted us

00:39:21.359 --> 00:39:22.559
 in all tribulation,

00:39:22.719 --> 00:39:24.199
 that we may be able

00:39:24.199 --> 00:39:25.420
 to comfort them

00:39:25.420 --> 00:39:26.739
 which are in any trouble

00:39:26.739 --> 00:39:27.440
 by the comfort

00:39:27.440 --> 00:39:28.980
 wherewith we ourselves

00:39:28.980 --> 00:39:31.079
 are comforted of God.

00:39:31.420 --> 00:39:32.859
 For as the sufferings

00:39:32.859 --> 00:39:34.179
 of Christ abound in us,

00:39:34.219 --> 00:39:35.279
 so our consolation

00:39:35.279 --> 00:39:37.500
 also aboundeth by Christ.

00:39:37.500 --> 00:39:37.579
 Christ,

00:39:38.039 --> 00:39:39.800
 sometimes God simply

00:39:39.800 --> 00:39:40.840
 puts us in a trial

00:39:40.840 --> 00:39:41.480
 because he knows

00:39:41.480 --> 00:39:42.380
 someone down the line

00:39:42.380 --> 00:39:42.860
 is going to go through

00:39:42.860 --> 00:39:43.579
 that same trial,

00:39:43.760 --> 00:39:44.920
 and you're the person

00:39:44.920 --> 00:39:45.579
 that's supposed to help

00:39:45.579 --> 00:39:46.340
 them get through it.

00:39:47.880 --> 00:39:48.300
 You know,

00:39:48.320 --> 00:39:50.420
 I think about Joseph.

00:39:51.659 --> 00:39:52.019
 You know,

00:39:52.139 --> 00:39:53.599
 we read about his trial.

00:39:54.300 --> 00:39:54.440
 You know,

00:39:54.519 --> 00:39:55.599
 he didn't do anything wrong.

00:39:56.099 --> 00:39:57.260
 He simply decided

00:39:57.260 --> 00:39:58.059
 he was going to stand up

00:39:58.059 --> 00:39:58.719
 for what was right,

00:39:58.880 --> 00:40:00.260
 and he gets lied about,

00:40:00.420 --> 00:40:01.239
 thrown into prison.

00:40:02.059 --> 00:40:02.199
 You know,

00:40:02.280 --> 00:40:02.699
 Daniel,

00:40:02.960 --> 00:40:03.920
 he just simply did

00:40:03.920 --> 00:40:04.599
 what was right.

00:40:04.760 --> 00:40:05.880
 He gets thrown into prison.

00:40:06.400 --> 00:40:06.960
 But you know what?

00:40:06.960 --> 00:40:08.000
 Through that trial,

00:40:08.280 --> 00:40:09.740
 God had other people in mind.

00:40:10.460 --> 00:40:11.260
 Sometimes it's just

00:40:11.260 --> 00:40:12.559
 simply not about you.

00:40:13.260 --> 00:40:13.800
 And it's hard.

00:40:13.940 --> 00:40:14.460
 It's hard.

00:40:15.099 --> 00:40:15.300
 You know,

00:40:15.300 --> 00:40:15.980
 you're going through the trial

00:40:15.980 --> 00:40:16.380
 and you think,

00:40:16.460 --> 00:40:17.139
 oh, this is personal.

00:40:17.460 --> 00:40:18.360
 Did I do something wrong?

00:40:18.659 --> 00:40:19.920
 It may not even be about you.

00:40:19.960 --> 00:40:21.119
 It's for someone else's benefit.

00:40:22.139 --> 00:40:22.280
 You know,

00:40:22.320 --> 00:40:22.679
 Joseph,

00:40:22.840 --> 00:40:23.860
 he ended up being,

00:40:24.460 --> 00:40:25.519
 spending his time in prison,

00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:26.039
 and guess what?

00:40:26.079 --> 00:40:26.559
 He comes out

00:40:26.559 --> 00:40:27.840
 the number two on the land.

00:40:27.940 --> 00:40:28.860
 He essentially saved

00:40:28.860 --> 00:40:30.300
 the entire known world

00:40:30.300 --> 00:40:30.900
 at that time

00:40:30.900 --> 00:40:31.920
 from starvation,

00:40:32.280 --> 00:40:33.300
 including his family.

00:40:33.300 --> 00:40:36.860
 I think on the other side,

00:40:36.920 --> 00:40:37.420
 we'd be like,

00:40:37.480 --> 00:40:38.580
 I'm willing to go through that again

00:40:38.580 --> 00:40:39.980
 if it can save so many other people,

00:40:40.120 --> 00:40:41.000
 especially my family.

00:40:41.780 --> 00:40:41.920
 You know,

00:40:41.980 --> 00:40:42.360
 Daniel,

00:40:42.560 --> 00:40:43.980
 he goes through all that,

00:40:44.280 --> 00:40:45.260
 and the king ends up

00:40:45.260 --> 00:40:46.640
 turning to the Lord.

00:40:47.500 --> 00:40:48.860
 James 1.12 says,

00:40:48.860 --> 00:40:57.800
 God has plans for our life.

00:40:59.059 --> 00:41:00.000
 It's for our good

00:41:00.000 --> 00:41:00.820
 and for his glory.

00:41:01.420 --> 00:41:02.920
 It may be hard to see in the midst,

00:41:03.180 --> 00:41:04.360
 but it will be worth it all.

00:41:05.099 --> 00:41:05.240
 You know,

00:41:05.280 --> 00:41:06.519
 God knows your struggles,

00:41:06.820 --> 00:41:07.860
 and he's dealt with them too.

00:41:08.800 --> 00:41:11.000
 Let's turn to Hebrews 4.15.

00:41:13.000 --> 00:41:13.980
 Going a little over,

00:41:14.099 --> 00:41:15.700
 but we're so close to being finished.

00:41:16.340 --> 00:41:17.160
 Hebrews 4.

00:41:19.460 --> 00:41:20.380
 Verse 15.

00:41:22.160 --> 00:41:23.460
 For we have not in high priests

00:41:23.460 --> 00:41:24.300
 which cannot be touched

00:41:24.300 --> 00:41:25.820
 with the feeling of our infirmities,

00:41:26.200 --> 00:41:27.460
 but was in all points tempted

00:41:27.460 --> 00:41:28.220
 like as we are,

00:41:28.300 --> 00:41:29.180
 yet without sin.

00:41:29.500 --> 00:41:30.840
 Let us therefore come boldly

00:41:30.840 --> 00:41:31.780
 onto the throne of grace

00:41:31.780 --> 00:41:32.940
 that we may obtain mercy

00:41:32.940 --> 00:41:34.140
 and find grace to help

00:41:34.140 --> 00:41:35.440
 in time of need.

00:41:35.860 --> 00:41:36.059
 You know,

00:41:36.099 --> 00:41:37.140
 God's been through it too.

00:41:37.380 --> 00:41:40.059
 God's had the same struggles.

00:41:41.980 --> 00:41:43.700
 Hebrews 7.25.

00:41:44.820 --> 00:41:45.300
 Wherefore,

00:41:45.380 --> 00:41:46.360
 he is able also

00:41:46.360 --> 00:41:47.079
 to save them

00:41:47.079 --> 00:41:47.780
 to the uttermost

00:41:47.780 --> 00:41:49.640
 that come unto God by him,

00:41:49.960 --> 00:41:50.840
 seeing he ever liveth

00:41:50.840 --> 00:41:52.160
 to make intercession for them.

00:41:53.180 --> 00:41:53.480
 You know,

00:41:53.500 --> 00:41:54.519
 God will make a way for us

00:41:54.519 --> 00:41:56.280
 to come out of our trial

00:41:56.280 --> 00:41:57.019
 and to him.

00:41:57.740 --> 00:41:58.040
 You know,

00:41:58.519 --> 00:42:00.640
 he wants us to fulfill

00:42:00.640 --> 00:42:02.180
 Isaiah 40.31.

00:42:02.180 --> 00:42:04.060
 But they that wait upon the Lord

00:42:04.060 --> 00:42:05.200
 shall renew their strength.

00:42:05.460 --> 00:42:06.100
 They shall mount up

00:42:06.100 --> 00:42:06.940
 with wings as eagles.

00:42:07.280 --> 00:42:07.840
 They shall run

00:42:07.840 --> 00:42:08.540
 and not be weary,

00:42:08.620 --> 00:42:09.260
 and they shall walk

00:42:09.260 --> 00:42:09.920
 and not faint.

00:42:10.580 --> 00:42:11.100
 And lastly,

00:42:11.260 --> 00:42:11.780
 in our text,

00:42:11.920 --> 00:42:13.440
 verses 30 and 32,

00:42:13.720 --> 00:42:15.380
 we see two memorials.

00:42:15.380 --> 00:42:16.019
 First off,

00:42:16.059 --> 00:42:16.440
 he says,

00:42:16.700 --> 00:42:17.640
 he sets up this memorial

00:42:17.640 --> 00:42:18.400
 for Peniel,

00:42:19.660 --> 00:42:19.920
 you know,

00:42:20.019 --> 00:42:21.059
 the face of God.

00:42:22.280 --> 00:42:23.400
 If you read there,

00:42:23.640 --> 00:42:24.660
 it actually says,

00:42:24.960 --> 00:42:25.220
 you know,

00:42:25.680 --> 00:42:27.360
 I have seen God face to face

00:42:27.360 --> 00:42:28.360
 and my life is preserved.

00:42:28.940 --> 00:42:29.280
 Basically,

00:42:29.380 --> 00:42:29.559
 he said,

00:42:29.619 --> 00:42:30.300
 I saw God

00:42:30.300 --> 00:42:31.860
 and I'm living to tell about it.

00:42:31.940 --> 00:42:32.700
 I survived.

00:42:33.559 --> 00:42:33.860
 You know,

00:42:34.059 --> 00:42:35.260
 that was the first memorial

00:42:35.260 --> 00:42:35.740
 he put.

00:42:36.500 --> 00:42:37.539
 That way other people

00:42:37.539 --> 00:42:38.220
 can see it

00:42:38.220 --> 00:42:39.900
 and see what that stands for.

00:42:40.260 --> 00:42:40.460
 You know,

00:42:40.480 --> 00:42:41.480
 we need mile markers

00:42:41.480 --> 00:42:42.360
 in our own life,

00:42:42.519 --> 00:42:42.920
 spiritually.

00:42:43.200 --> 00:42:44.119
 Look what God did.

00:42:44.579 --> 00:42:44.880
 Secondly,

00:42:45.019 --> 00:42:46.259
 he halted on his thigh.

00:42:46.819 --> 00:42:48.039
 I kind of did a little research.

00:42:48.359 --> 00:42:49.319
 Verse 32 gives us

00:42:49.319 --> 00:42:49.980
 a little information

00:42:49.980 --> 00:42:51.559
 about the hollow of his thigh

00:42:51.559 --> 00:42:52.579
 and the sinew that shrank.

00:42:53.579 --> 00:42:53.900
 Medically,

00:42:54.019 --> 00:42:54.460
 that was probably

00:42:54.460 --> 00:42:55.619
 his sciatic nerve,

00:42:55.920 --> 00:42:56.480
 gone.

00:42:56.659 --> 00:42:57.679
 The Bible says he halted,

00:42:57.799 --> 00:42:58.980
 which means he cannot walk

00:42:58.980 --> 00:42:59.619
 on that side

00:42:59.619 --> 00:43:01.019
 the rest of his life.

00:43:01.500 --> 00:43:01.659
 You know,

00:43:01.679 --> 00:43:02.420
 the rest of his life,

00:43:02.500 --> 00:43:03.679
 he's walking.

00:43:03.940 --> 00:43:05.099
 He can't move his leg.

00:43:05.599 --> 00:43:05.799
 You know,

00:43:05.880 --> 00:43:06.839
 I guarantee you,

00:43:07.480 --> 00:43:08.559
 he used opportunities

00:43:08.559 --> 00:43:09.539
 to tell his wives,

00:43:09.639 --> 00:43:10.119
 his children,

00:43:10.279 --> 00:43:10.900
 people he met,

00:43:11.319 --> 00:43:11.599
 you know,

00:43:11.679 --> 00:43:12.779
 I was a schemer,

00:43:12.859 --> 00:43:13.579
 I was a deceiver,

00:43:13.579 --> 00:43:14.500
 but God did this

00:43:14.500 --> 00:43:16.319
 and now I'm a walking example

00:43:16.319 --> 00:43:17.199
 of what God has done

00:43:17.199 --> 00:43:18.000
 in my own life.

00:43:18.840 --> 00:43:19.000
 You know,

00:43:19.059 --> 00:43:19.819
 Israel passed down

00:43:19.819 --> 00:43:20.860
 this lesson to his children.

00:43:21.000 --> 00:43:22.259
 We see in verse 32

00:43:22.259 --> 00:43:24.639
 that that's the reason

00:43:24.639 --> 00:43:25.380
 they didn't eat this.

00:43:25.659 --> 00:43:26.840
 There's some Orthodox Jews

00:43:26.840 --> 00:43:28.019
 that still don't eat this.

00:43:28.059 --> 00:43:28.679
 It's been gone,

00:43:29.039 --> 00:43:29.480
 passed down,

00:43:29.579 --> 00:43:29.980
 passed down,

00:43:30.059 --> 00:43:30.559
 passed down.

00:43:31.079 --> 00:43:31.299
 You know,

00:43:31.299 --> 00:43:32.059
 he wasn't perfect

00:43:32.059 --> 00:43:33.920
 as the next chapter informs us,

00:43:34.279 --> 00:43:35.360
 but he shared his takeaways

00:43:35.360 --> 00:43:36.500
 from the wrestling match.

00:43:36.500 --> 00:43:38.619
 Our edifying one another

00:43:38.619 --> 00:43:39.300
 can be hard,

00:43:39.519 --> 00:43:40.760
 it can be discouraging,

00:43:41.119 --> 00:43:42.059
 it can be shameful,

00:43:42.440 --> 00:43:43.420
 but they are stories

00:43:43.420 --> 00:43:44.300
 of God's goodness

00:43:44.300 --> 00:43:45.340
 and grace.

00:43:46.139 --> 00:43:47.400
 James 5.16 tells us,

00:43:47.539 --> 00:43:48.239
 confess your faults

00:43:48.239 --> 00:43:48.920
 one to another

00:43:48.920 --> 00:43:50.340
 and pray for one another

00:43:50.340 --> 00:43:51.739
 that you may be healed.

00:43:52.360 --> 00:43:52.960
 The effectual,

00:43:53.099 --> 00:43:53.639
 fervent prayer

00:43:53.639 --> 00:43:54.400
 of a righteous man

00:43:54.400 --> 00:43:55.239
 availeth much.

00:43:56.139 --> 00:43:57.320
 Psalm 107.2,

00:43:57.480 --> 00:43:58.380
 the beginning of that verse

00:43:58.380 --> 00:43:58.539
 says,

00:43:58.659 --> 00:43:59.280
 let the redeemed

00:43:59.280 --> 00:44:00.500
 of the Lord say so.

00:44:01.480 --> 00:44:01.699
 You know,

00:44:01.739 --> 00:44:03.119
 Jacob isn't a perfect man,

00:44:03.119 --> 00:44:06.119
 but right after his victory,

00:44:06.199 --> 00:44:07.039
 he falls back

00:44:07.039 --> 00:44:08.179
 to his heel-grabbing ways.

00:44:08.880 --> 00:44:09.799
 As I kind of studied,

00:44:09.900 --> 00:44:11.199
 Galatians 5.17

00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:13.259
 kind of sums up,

00:44:13.420 --> 00:44:14.019
 I think,

00:44:14.079 --> 00:44:14.859
 Jacob's life.

00:44:15.639 --> 00:44:16.759
 And if we're not careful,

00:44:17.960 --> 00:44:18.699
 I think it can

00:44:18.699 --> 00:44:22.960
 be our life verse.

00:44:23.079 --> 00:44:23.400
 It says,

00:44:24.059 --> 00:44:24.980
 for the flesh lusteth

00:44:24.980 --> 00:44:25.759
 against the spirit

00:44:25.759 --> 00:44:26.299
 and the spirit

00:44:26.299 --> 00:44:27.019
 against the flesh,

00:44:27.019 --> 00:44:27.920
 and these are contrary

00:44:27.920 --> 00:44:28.859
 the one to the other,

00:44:29.179 --> 00:44:30.199
 so that ye cannot do

00:44:30.199 --> 00:44:31.279
 the things that ye would.

00:44:32.119 --> 00:44:32.339
 You know,

00:44:32.340 --> 00:44:33.240
 we don't have time now

00:44:33.240 --> 00:44:34.700
 because I've gone over.

00:44:35.120 --> 00:44:36.320
 But Romans chapter 7,

00:44:36.900 --> 00:44:37.559
 Paul writes about

00:44:37.559 --> 00:44:38.280
 the same thing.

00:44:38.380 --> 00:44:38.700
 He says,

00:44:38.780 --> 00:44:38.860
 hey,

00:44:38.920 --> 00:44:39.380
 the good things

00:44:39.380 --> 00:44:40.340
 I know I'm supposed to do,

00:44:40.579 --> 00:44:41.260
 don't do them.

00:44:41.660 --> 00:44:42.240
 The bad things

00:44:42.240 --> 00:44:43.220
 I'm not supposed to do,

00:44:43.400 --> 00:44:44.160
 I do do them.

00:44:44.360 --> 00:44:45.280
 I wish I could figure out

00:44:45.280 --> 00:44:46.420
 how to get under

00:44:46.420 --> 00:44:48.079
 and figure that out.

00:44:48.160 --> 00:44:49.039
 And he tells us

00:44:49.039 --> 00:44:49.860
 at the end,

00:44:49.960 --> 00:44:50.500
 verse 25,

00:44:50.920 --> 00:44:51.420
 that it's because

00:44:51.420 --> 00:44:52.240
 he's not focused

00:44:52.240 --> 00:44:53.340
 on the inward man,

00:44:53.640 --> 00:44:54.800
 but he's focused on God,

00:44:55.220 --> 00:44:55.920
 Jesus Christ,

00:44:56.340 --> 00:44:56.700
 outward.

00:44:57.019 --> 00:44:57.760
 And that's what we get

00:44:57.760 --> 00:44:59.200
 from these trials,

00:44:59.460 --> 00:45:00.300
 these wrestling matches.

00:45:00.920 --> 00:45:01.880
 So let's bow our head

00:45:01.880 --> 00:45:02.519
 in a word of prayer

00:45:02.519 --> 00:45:03.840
 and then we'll be dismissed.

00:45:05.660 --> 00:45:06.480
 Dear Holy Father,

00:45:06.559 --> 00:45:07.019
 I thank you,

00:45:07.380 --> 00:45:07.700
 Lord,

00:45:07.820 --> 00:45:09.579
 for this day you've given us.

00:45:09.960 --> 00:45:10.079
 Lord,

00:45:10.160 --> 00:45:12.700
 I just ask that

00:45:12.700 --> 00:45:13.440
 we would have

00:45:13.440 --> 00:45:15.039
 gleaned something

00:45:15.039 --> 00:45:16.400
 from what you have for us.

00:45:17.160 --> 00:45:17.360
 Lord,

00:45:17.420 --> 00:45:18.039
 I pray that

00:45:18.039 --> 00:45:21.740
 in the midst of our trials,

00:45:21.900 --> 00:45:22.539
 we would just

00:45:22.539 --> 00:45:24.260
 turn to you.

00:45:24.740 --> 00:45:24.840
 Lord,

00:45:24.880 --> 00:45:25.700
 I just ask God

00:45:25.700 --> 00:45:27.720
 that you would be with

00:45:27.719 --> 00:45:29.419
 the Sunday school hour

00:45:29.419 --> 00:45:31.219
 and just continue

00:45:31.219 --> 00:45:34.139
 to just grow us

00:45:34.139 --> 00:45:34.879
 in you.

00:45:35.159 --> 00:45:35.559
 I thank you

00:45:35.559 --> 00:45:36.059
 and I love you

00:45:36.059 --> 00:45:36.719
 in Jesus' name.

00:45:36.879 --> 00:45:37.079
 Amen.

00:45:37.459 --> 00:45:38.259
 Great challenge

00:45:38.259 --> 00:45:38.919
 and thought here

00:45:38.919 --> 00:45:39.459
 this morning.

00:45:40.879 --> 00:45:41.959
 I want you to take a moment

00:45:41.959 --> 00:45:43.959
 to bow your heads

00:45:43.959 --> 00:45:44.699
 here for a moment

00:45:44.699 --> 00:45:45.879
 and just contemplate

00:45:45.879 --> 00:45:48.699
 you and your relationship

00:45:48.699 --> 00:45:49.559
 before God.

00:45:50.039 --> 00:45:50.199
 You know,

00:45:50.219 --> 00:45:51.099
 maybe you're wrestling

00:45:51.099 --> 00:45:51.919
 with some things

00:45:51.919 --> 00:45:52.579
 here today

00:45:52.579 --> 00:45:56.340
 that you need to let go of

00:45:56.340 --> 00:45:57.000
 and let God

00:45:57.000 --> 00:45:58.380
 to do those things

00:45:58.380 --> 00:46:00.239
 that God would have.

00:46:02.420 --> 00:46:03.639
 As piano plays,

00:46:03.719 --> 00:46:04.500
 what about you

00:46:04.500 --> 00:46:05.739
 today?

00:46:07.059 --> 00:46:07.659
 Maybe you just need

00:46:07.659 --> 00:46:08.279
 to take a moment

00:46:08.279 --> 00:46:09.739
 to surrender those things

00:46:09.739 --> 00:46:10.380
 to the Lord.