WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.859 Good morning. My name's Matthew Capone, and I'm one of the pastors here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, and it's my joy to bring God's word to you this morning. 00:00:09.859 --> 00:00:27.300 We are continuing our series in the book of Genesis. You remember Genesis is the first book in the Bible. It tells the origin story of God's people, Israel, and this summer we are focusing on the story of Jacob, which is found in chapters 25 through 36. 00:00:27.300 --> 00:00:45.880 And I once again want you to remember where we are at in the story. So Jacob is on his way home. He spent 20 years with his uncle Laban. That is 20 years that he has been away from his brother Esau, and Esau, 20 years ago, threatened to kill him. 00:00:45.880 --> 00:01:05.879 So that is the tension. That's the crisis that's driving this narrative. Last week, Jacob sends messengers to Esau and receives no response. Instead, just the ominous news that 400 men are coming at him, which is threatening, right? It's scary. 00:01:05.879 --> 00:01:13.459 And so this big question continues to be over top of the narrative, right? What's going to happen when Jacob meets Esau? 00:01:15.039 --> 00:01:24.140 And we're going to pause that question for this week. You might be wondering why I brought all that up. If we're going to pause it, it's because that question is still on top of this narrative. 00:01:24.140 --> 00:01:38.340 It informs it. It informs it. It helps us understand it. This is not an isolated incident. There's a reason that the author of Genesis places this story in between the 400 men coming and the actual meeting of Jacob and Esau. 00:01:38.439 --> 00:01:48.780 That's not an accident. But we are pausing for a little bit of an intermission because Jacob, this week, is going to have a wrestling match with a mysterious man. 00:01:48.780 --> 00:02:01.680 And that wrestling match, as we're going to see, is actually a poetic because it is one night that represents Jacob's entire life. 00:02:02.500 --> 00:02:06.280 It's a symbol of everything that's happened so far. 00:02:06.500 --> 00:02:15.599 Now, this is a rich, rich passage. And so, as I say, sometimes when we come up against a episode like that, I'm going to say something, not everything. 00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:21.719 I'm going to be doing well this morning just to communicate the major point of this passage. 00:02:21.939 --> 00:02:29.780 We're going to talk about two things. You'll see this on page 8 of your worship guide, Jacob's new name and Jacob's new lamp. 00:02:31.099 --> 00:02:40.319 With that, I invite you to turn with me to Genesis chapter 32, starting at verse 22, which you'll find on page 7 of your worship guide. 00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:52.359 As we come to God's word, remember that Isaiah chapter 40 tells us the grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:58.019 And so that's why we read now Genesis 32, starting at verse 22. 00:02:58.020 --> 00:03:09.600 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants and his 11 children and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 00:03:10.360 --> 00:03:15.480 He took them and sent them across the stream and everything else that he had. 00:03:16.320 --> 00:03:18.640 And Jacob was left alone. 00:03:19.640 --> 00:03:24.640 And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:35.259 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 00:03:36.239 --> 00:03:40.059 Then he said, let me go for the day has broken. 00:03:41.339 --> 00:03:46.599 But Jacob said, I will not let you go until you bless me. 00:03:47.619 --> 00:03:50.819 And he said to him, what is your name? 00:03:50.819 --> 00:03:53.359 And he said, Jacob. 00:03:54.199 --> 00:04:03.439 Then he said, your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed. 00:04:04.359 --> 00:04:08.400 Then Jacob asked him, please tell me your name. 00:04:09.459 --> 00:04:14.039 But he said, why is it that you ask my name? 00:04:14.680 --> 00:04:16.279 And there he blessed him. 00:04:16.279 --> 00:04:26.479 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, for I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered. 00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:35.079 The sun rose upon him as he passed Peniel, limping because of his hip. 00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:48.019 Therefore, to this day, the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the sinew of the thigh. 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:53.180 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:04:53.180 --> 00:05:02.060 Our Father in heaven, we do praise you and thank you again that you have spoken to us in your word. 00:05:02.819 --> 00:05:09.060 We thank you even more than that, that your word is filled with your power, that your word brings dead things to life. 00:05:09.180 --> 00:05:11.600 It brings something out of nothing. 00:05:11.980 --> 00:05:19.560 Did that at the creation of the world, and you do that now through your spirit as you bring sinners to faith in you. 00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:31.819 Now, we ask that you would be at work by your word in a powerful way this morning, that you would honor your promise in Isaiah 55, that your word does not return to you empty, but accomplishes your purposes. 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:41.000 And so we ask that you would accomplish great things in our lives here and now through your word in Genesis chapter 32. 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:50.120 Most of all, we ask that you would show us Jesus, that we would see his glory, his beauty, his majesty, his holiness, his mercy, and his grace, and his love. 00:05:50.540 --> 00:05:53.220 And we ask all of these things in his mighty name. 00:05:53.860 --> 00:05:54.079 Amen. 00:05:57.079 --> 00:06:02.100 We're picking up on the same day that we left off with last week. 00:06:02.180 --> 00:06:03.259 You'll see verse 22. 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:04.860 It says the same night. 00:06:04.860 --> 00:06:11.400 So it's saying the night of the day when Jacob sent drove after drove of gifts to Esau. 00:06:11.500 --> 00:06:20.199 That's how we ended last week that he was going to try to appease his brother's anger by having group after group of animals as gifts. 00:06:20.259 --> 00:06:26.000 And each servant leading the group was supposed to tell Esau, hey, by the way, these are gifts from Jacob. 00:06:26.420 --> 00:06:29.439 But before that, that night, he decides to take action. 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:31.699 So this is verses 22 and 23. 00:06:31.939 --> 00:06:34.839 He sends everyone across the Jabbok River. 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:39.019 And they need to cross this river to enter the promised land. 00:06:39.079 --> 00:06:39.980 So it makes sense. 00:06:40.060 --> 00:06:44.959 It's unclear, though, why Jacob decides it has to happen right then and there that night. 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:47.579 It's unclear why he stays behind. 00:06:47.819 --> 00:06:51.100 Commentators argue and disagree why he decides to be alone. 00:06:51.800 --> 00:06:56.920 Regardless, it allows for this episode to take place. 00:06:56.920 --> 00:07:02.439 Verse 24, we're told, and Jacob was left alone. 00:07:03.520 --> 00:07:04.800 This is meant to be ominous. 00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:09.020 So if we're watching the Jacob movie, there's suspense music playing. 00:07:09.140 --> 00:07:15.420 You know you have that music that plays when you know someone's about to attack, which is what happens. 00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:21.580 Also, verse 24, and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. 00:07:21.579 --> 00:07:28.719 So Jacob is attacked alone at night in his tent. 00:07:29.060 --> 00:07:33.899 And this is intentionally vague and scary and intense. 00:07:34.419 --> 00:07:36.419 It's scary because he's all alone. 00:07:36.539 --> 00:07:39.079 So there's no chance of anyone coming to help. 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:42.199 No one's going to hear what's happening in the tent. 00:07:42.479 --> 00:07:45.180 No one's going to step in and give him a hand. 00:07:45.819 --> 00:07:49.000 It's vague because we don't know who this man is. 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:52.959 Now, if you've been in Sunday school, you've grown up in the church, perhaps you do know. 00:07:53.019 --> 00:07:57.339 But if you're reading it for the first time, who might you guess has jumped into the tent? 00:07:58.839 --> 00:08:01.139 Most logical guess is Esau, right? 00:08:01.500 --> 00:08:03.540 Maybe Esau has decided, you know what? 00:08:03.560 --> 00:08:05.040 I don't need 400 men. 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:07.819 We're going to solve this man to man. 00:08:08.899 --> 00:08:10.939 It's not just scary and vague, though. 00:08:10.980 --> 00:08:13.100 It's also intense. 00:08:13.100 --> 00:08:18.120 Verse 24, again, they wrestled until the breaking of day. 00:08:19.220 --> 00:08:25.420 Now, that might not sound like a big deal until you've tried wrestling for hours and hours. 00:08:26.660 --> 00:08:33.480 General George Patton, the famous World War II general, wrote a memoir called War As I Knew It. 00:08:33.639 --> 00:08:38.000 And it includes a letter that he sent to his officers in March of 1944. 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:45.379 The letter says many things, and one of them is this, fatigue makes cowards of us all. 00:08:47.220 --> 00:08:51.600 Famous wrestling coach, Jay Robinson, takes Patton's quote and adds to it. 00:08:51.639 --> 00:08:55.659 He says, you can beat anyone if you get them tired. 00:08:57.039 --> 00:08:57.259 Okay? 00:08:57.620 --> 00:08:59.740 So fatigue makes cowards of us all. 00:08:59.820 --> 00:09:05.379 You can beat anyone if you get them tired, which is part of what's incredible about this passage. 00:09:05.799 --> 00:09:07.419 Jacob doesn't give up. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:11.639 He's going all night, presumably for hours. 00:09:11.779 --> 00:09:14.100 He is almost superhuman. 00:09:14.980 --> 00:09:19.740 Now, if you've been tracking with us, you know that Jacob is a man of great physical strength. 00:09:19.960 --> 00:09:22.820 You do not want to meet Jacob alone in a dark alley. 00:09:23.580 --> 00:09:28.740 And if you get into a bar fight, you want Jacob there covering your back. 00:09:29.320 --> 00:09:30.639 Think back to chapter 29. 00:09:30.899 --> 00:09:36.279 He wants to impress Rachel, so he single-handedly moves the stone away from the well. 00:09:36.279 --> 00:09:40.339 This stone that's supposed to require many men to move. 00:09:41.059 --> 00:09:43.059 But it's not just that Jacob is strong. 00:09:43.299 --> 00:09:44.539 He's also fit. 00:09:45.220 --> 00:09:45.360 Okay? 00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:46.899 Those are two different things, by the way. 00:09:47.199 --> 00:09:48.519 He's got stamina. 00:09:48.839 --> 00:09:50.319 He's able to stay in the game. 00:09:50.659 --> 00:09:57.399 So you might remember Genesis 31 when he's complaining to Laban about all the ways he's been used and abused. 00:09:57.399 --> 00:09:58.319 He says this, 00:09:58.319 --> 00:09:59.959 There I was. 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:08.279 By day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes. 00:10:09.620 --> 00:10:11.939 Jacob is a tough dude. 00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:16.179 Jacob is a manly man. 00:10:16.179 --> 00:10:25.019 He's able to do what almost no one else is capable of doing, which is hold in the fight hour after hour. 00:10:26.099 --> 00:10:28.239 It's not just Jacob's endurance, though. 00:10:29.479 --> 00:10:35.559 The man, the mystery man, has stamina as well. 00:10:35.559 --> 00:10:39.639 So Jacob here has met his match. 00:10:40.099 --> 00:10:48.459 And he's met his match not just in strength, but also in cunning, because just like Jacob, this wrestler knows how to play dirty. 00:10:49.819 --> 00:10:50.819 Verse 25. 00:10:52.019 --> 00:10:58.579 With just one touch, he dislocates Jacob's hip. 00:10:58.580 --> 00:11:05.060 By the way, this is our first hint that Jacob is not wrestling with a mere mortal. 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:12.379 You don't typically meet people who are able to just touch you and dislocate your hip. 00:11:13.540 --> 00:11:16.060 You also, by the way, need your hips to wrestle. 00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:21.820 And so you would think at this point that the fight is over, right? 00:11:22.060 --> 00:11:23.700 Jacob needs to tap out. 00:11:24.500 --> 00:11:25.520 But he doesn't. 00:11:25.519 --> 00:11:30.919 Even that is not enough to take Jacob out. 00:11:31.500 --> 00:11:36.120 That's what we find out in verse 26, because this mystery man says, let me go. 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:39.860 In other words, even though he's lost his strength, his hips are out. 00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:41.379 There's no way he can win. 00:11:41.819 --> 00:11:44.799 Jacob refuses to give up. 00:11:45.139 --> 00:11:47.439 We might say Jacob has no quit. 00:11:48.699 --> 00:11:51.579 There's nothing that's going to stop him. 00:11:51.580 --> 00:11:58.240 And it's at that point where he delivers one of the most famous lines in all of Scripture. 00:11:58.960 --> 00:11:59.879 Verse 26. 00:12:01.180 --> 00:12:06.460 I will not let you go unless you bless me. 00:12:06.460 --> 00:12:24.759 That sentence, I will not let you go unless you bless me, tells us what this whole story is actually about. 00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:28.860 But this is not about one night. 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:37.539 Jacob has spent his entire life wrestling for blessing. 00:12:37.539 --> 00:12:41.259 That's the whole Jacob story. 00:12:42.459 --> 00:12:47.399 And God, in this one episode, is bringing this to a climax. 00:12:47.579 --> 00:12:50.240 He's bringing it to a head once and for all. 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:54.759 Jacob's pursuit of blessing is the entire reason he has this tension with Esau. 00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:58.159 Remember, chapter 25, he steals Esau's birthright. 00:12:58.279 --> 00:13:00.459 Chapter 27, he steals Esau's blessing. 00:13:00.460 --> 00:13:05.300 And so this all-night wrestling match is poetic. 00:13:06.540 --> 00:13:11.580 It's an image of Jacob's entire life. 00:13:13.560 --> 00:13:17.460 Jacob has been wrestling since before his birthday. 00:13:19.060 --> 00:13:21.920 Jacob was wrestling Esau in the womb. 00:13:22.800 --> 00:13:24.600 Remember back to chapter 25. 00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:26.540 It tells us this. 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:29.680 The children struggled together within her. 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:30.899 Speaking of Rebekah. 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:32.120 So Rebekah's pregnant. 00:13:32.239 --> 00:13:33.419 She has these twins. 00:13:33.659 --> 00:13:35.719 And she goes to the Lord in prayer, if you remember, 00:13:35.839 --> 00:13:39.659 because it's so uncomfortable to have these two boys fighting inside her womb. 00:13:41.059 --> 00:13:44.379 So it's been like this from the very beginning. 00:13:44.539 --> 00:13:47.279 Jacob has always been working and striving. 00:13:47.479 --> 00:13:50.399 He's trying every trick in the book to get the upper hand. 00:13:51.479 --> 00:13:53.099 With Esau, with Laban. 00:13:54.079 --> 00:13:56.899 That's why Esau wants to kill him. 00:13:56.899 --> 00:14:00.439 The point is this. 00:14:02.199 --> 00:14:07.480 Jacob has been seeking blessing the wrong way. 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:17.000 Jacob has been wrestling with man when he should have been wrestling with God. 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:28.879 For his entire life, Jacob has relied on his power rather than God's power. 00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:37.740 And now, God is working to bring that to an end. 00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:46.180 That explains for us what happens next. 00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:47.659 We're now in verse 27. 00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:50.159 So Jacob's asked for the blessing. 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:52.360 And this man says to him, 00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:54.139 What is your name? 00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:56.379 Jacob answers. 00:14:57.060 --> 00:14:58.340 And he said, Jacob. 00:15:00.220 --> 00:15:02.919 Do you remember why Jacob is called Jacob? 00:15:02.919 --> 00:15:07.259 Do you remember what the word Jacob means? 00:15:07.959 --> 00:15:13.419 We have to go back once again to chapter 25 when Jacob is wrestling with Esau in the womb. 00:15:13.719 --> 00:15:15.559 Remember, Rebecca gives birth. 00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:17.459 Jacob comes out second. 00:15:17.659 --> 00:15:18.539 He's the second born. 00:15:18.620 --> 00:15:19.360 He's not the oldest. 00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:20.959 That's why he has to steal the blessing. 00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:23.919 And he's holding on to Esau's heel. 00:15:24.959 --> 00:15:25.579 He comes out. 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:26.740 That's how aggressive he is. 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:30.139 That's how much strength he has, even as an infant. 00:15:30.139 --> 00:15:35.720 And so if you look back and you have an ESV Bible, this is chapter 25, verse 26. 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:39.639 It has a little footnote where it says what Jacob means. 00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:45.139 He takes by the heel or he cheats. 00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:50.059 When the man says, what is your name? 00:15:50.100 --> 00:15:51.559 That is not a pleasantry. 00:15:52.659 --> 00:15:54.139 He's not asking for facts. 00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:57.179 He's not saying, you know, it's been fun wrestling with you. 00:15:57.259 --> 00:15:58.840 Maybe we should like introduce ourselves. 00:15:58.840 --> 00:16:03.580 No, he already knows Jacob's name. 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:07.200 But remember, names give and reveal identity. 00:16:07.700 --> 00:16:10.879 What he's saying is, tell me the truth about yourself. 00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:14.019 Who are you really? 00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:21.120 And Jacob has to give this introduction in a sense that sounds like the beginning of an 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:22.600 Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:25.940 My name is Jacob. 00:16:28.060 --> 00:16:30.080 Which means that I'm a cheater. 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:34.519 I'm a dirty little cheater. 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:41.039 And I've been grabbing things by the heel my whole life. 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:46.240 That's what the man wants him to admit and say out loud. 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:50.740 And so Jacob's admission means now we're finally speaking the truth. 00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:53.139 Now we can get somewhere. 00:16:53.799 --> 00:16:57.480 Now we're being honest about what's really happening. 00:16:57.480 --> 00:17:06.140 It's not just one wrestling match that's coming to an end. 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:15.240 Jacob's entire life of wrestling is coming to a close. 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:19.539 Yes, I've gotten by this far. 00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:22.960 I've gotten by on my strength and my trickery. 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:27.079 And it's as if God is saying to him, yes, that's true. 00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:30.180 But not this time. 00:17:31.140 --> 00:17:32.079 Not tonight. 00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:36.839 Tonight you're not going to get by on your strength and your trickery. 00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:41.039 Blessing will not come from your cunning or your skill. 00:17:42.679 --> 00:17:44.559 I'm the one who gives blessing. 00:17:45.919 --> 00:17:47.139 I'm the source. 00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:53.720 You're going to get blessing and you're only going to get blessing when you hang on to me. 00:17:56.179 --> 00:18:01.139 Blessing comes when you refuse to let go of me. 00:18:03.699 --> 00:18:06.139 And in a sense, Jacob finally gets it. 00:18:06.839 --> 00:18:11.000 He finally gets it for the first time when he says, 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:15.899 I will not let you go unless you bless me. 00:18:16.939 --> 00:18:21.299 I recognize the way I've been living this whole time has been wrong. 00:18:21.399 --> 00:18:23.559 That blessing comes from you. 00:18:23.679 --> 00:18:27.059 That everything that's happened that's been successful is because of you. 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:30.000 You're the one who protected me with Laban. 00:18:30.879 --> 00:18:35.599 You're the one who's kept my life even though Esau wants to kill me. 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:42.059 And so it's time for a new chapter. 00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:45.039 Not even a new chapter, a whole new volume. 00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:50.139 A whole new book in Jacob's life. 00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:57.019 And so that's why God, through this angel, gives Jacob a new name. 00:18:57.019 --> 00:18:59.500 Verse 28. 00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:01.440 Then he said, 00:19:01.639 --> 00:19:04.980 Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, 00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:10.539 for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed. 00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:18.039 Remember, a new name means a new identity. 00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:22.379 We talked about this last summer when we were in Genesis chapter 17. 00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:26.799 In chapter 17, God comes to Abram and makes him Abraham. 00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:29.099 He comes to Sarai and makes her Sarah. 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:30.440 And it's not an accident. 00:19:30.639 --> 00:19:31.599 It's not casual. 00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:33.180 God's telling them, 00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:35.220 You have a new future. 00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:38.500 Same thing for Jacob here. 00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:40.039 He's got a new identity. 00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:43.460 Yes, Jacob, you've been a little cheater. 00:19:44.819 --> 00:19:46.019 That's your past. 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:48.519 That's why they call you Jacob. 00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:49.379 But you know what? 00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:52.099 That's not your future. 00:19:53.399 --> 00:19:56.659 Your future is Israel. 00:19:58.480 --> 00:20:01.159 And again, if you look at the footnote in your Bible, it says this. 00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:07.579 Israel means he strives with God or God strives. 00:20:07.579 --> 00:20:11.819 And the idea is this. 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:17.460 Now, Jacob will run to God. 00:20:20.379 --> 00:20:24.839 Now, Jacob will look to God for the blessing. 00:20:25.859 --> 00:20:30.619 Now, Jacob will wrestle with God, not man. 00:20:31.879 --> 00:20:34.939 Jacob is not going to fight Jacob's battles anymore. 00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:40.220 God is going to fight Jacob's battles. 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:47.220 By the way, that's the only way he's going to survive this upcoming encounter with Esau. 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:55.920 Esau is to let God do what only God can do, which is to soften and change Esau's heart. 00:20:57.920 --> 00:21:00.799 No trick from Jacob will do that. 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:07.400 And so that's why it's not an accident that this story is placed in between the encounter of Esau. 00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:15.080 Because this is what has to happen before Jacob sees his brother face to face. 00:21:15.940 --> 00:21:17.259 He has to surrender. 00:21:18.080 --> 00:21:19.440 He has to give it up. 00:21:20.019 --> 00:21:25.019 He has to recognize he has reached the end of himself. 00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:31.139 He's not going to be a dirty little cheater anymore. 00:21:34.099 --> 00:21:37.180 And that, in a sense, is the question of Jacob's life. 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:40.160 Where's the blessing come from? 00:21:41.099 --> 00:21:43.559 What's the source of the blessing? 00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:50.619 Jacob finally learns, loud and clear, the source of the blessing is not scheming, but God's mercy. 00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:54.619 It is not Jacob's strength, but God's grace. 00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:59.500 By the way, this helps explain for us who the mystery man is. 00:22:00.339 --> 00:22:04.659 Only God is able to give us new names, new identities. 00:22:06.200 --> 00:22:07.980 Now, I'm not going to spend too much time on this. 00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:10.579 I'll just say briefly on the man Jacob wrestles with. 00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:14.039 In verse 28, the man says that he is God, because he says, 00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:16.279 you've striven with God and with men and have prevailed. 00:22:16.819 --> 00:22:19.759 And then verse 30, Jacob says the man is God, because he says, 00:22:19.899 --> 00:22:21.679 he called the name of the place Peniel, saying, 00:22:22.099 --> 00:22:25.919 for I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been delivered. 00:22:26.859 --> 00:22:29.439 I might be thinking, that doesn't really make sense that God appears as a man. 00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:34.279 Hosea chapter 12, the prophet Hosea gives us a little bit more clarity. 00:22:34.419 --> 00:22:38.960 He says this, he strove with the angel and prevailed. 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:41.579 He wept and sought his favor. 00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:46.100 He met God at Bethel, and there God spoke with us. 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:50.559 So what Hosea helps us understand is this is an angel he's been wrestling with. 00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:55.539 There's a sense in which somehow this angel represents God himself. 00:22:56.819 --> 00:22:58.900 And so that's how he can say, okay, I've wrestled with God. 00:22:58.960 --> 00:23:01.720 I've seen him face to face. 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:11.579 God has given us a new name as well. 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:15.059 We're called Christians. 00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:19.980 2 Corinthians chapter 5 says this, 00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:35.880 What's the new creation? 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:40.599 It's the one who surrenders to God. 00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:45.139 It's the person who trusts God. 00:23:46.179 --> 00:23:51.139 The person who recognizes that blessing comes from God. 00:23:52.879 --> 00:23:57.099 The one who knows that victory comes from God's grace, 00:23:57.419 --> 00:23:59.419 not from our effort. 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:06.899 Jacob did not get this blessing because he won the wrestling match. 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:08.619 In fact, he didn't. 00:24:08.619 --> 00:24:09.779 He lost. 00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:17.059 Jacob got the blessing because he refused. 00:24:17.419 --> 00:24:19.939 He refused to let go of God. 00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:25.159 Are you there yet? 00:24:28.459 --> 00:24:32.619 Are you ready to hang on to God no matter what, 00:24:32.619 --> 00:24:39.799 knowing, recognizing that he is your only hope in life and in death? 00:24:40.399 --> 00:24:41.779 Not just to confess it. 00:24:42.199 --> 00:24:43.919 Not just to say it in a worship service, 00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:46.099 but as we've talked about over the last couple weeks, 00:24:46.179 --> 00:24:47.079 to believe it. 00:24:47.459 --> 00:24:50.639 To believe it deep down. 00:24:50.640 --> 00:25:01.580 Of course, as we've seen the last couple weeks, 00:25:01.640 --> 00:25:08.960 it's actually God who has refused to let go of Jacob. 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:14.579 And so that's why he gives him not just a new name. 00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:19.299 Jacob also receives a new limp. 00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:21.600 This is verse 31. 00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:25.340 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, 00:25:26.059 --> 00:25:29.120 limping because of his hip. 00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:34.620 Wrestling for blessing, remember, has been Jacob's entire life. 00:25:34.619 --> 00:25:36.719 He's been doing it since the womb. 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:39.639 Now he needs to change. 00:25:39.739 --> 00:25:41.779 He has to wrestle with God. 00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:45.859 And just in case he ever forgets, 00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:51.459 he has a limp to remind him. 00:25:51.460 --> 00:26:00.860 He takes away from his night with the angel a little souvenir. 00:26:03.380 --> 00:26:06.400 Jacob has to be brought to the end of himself 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:08.840 to be willing to rely on God. 00:26:09.840 --> 00:26:12.059 And old habits die hard. 00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:17.920 Jacob's strength will not work for him anymore. 00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:21.460 Turns out, you can't be a good wrestler 00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:23.539 if your hip is dislocated. 00:26:24.580 --> 00:26:25.860 It's just science, okay? 00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:31.100 He can no longer physically wrestle. 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:36.920 God is forcing him to wrestle spiritually. 00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:41.080 And so there's a sense in which God's saying this, 00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:42.660 look, Jacob, I'm going to cripple you. 00:26:42.660 --> 00:26:47.000 So that you can't rely on yourself 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:49.019 even if you want to. 00:26:53.640 --> 00:26:55.960 You're not going to get by anymore on your own power. 00:26:57.080 --> 00:26:58.340 In fact, I've removed some of it. 00:26:59.160 --> 00:27:00.940 Removed some of it for your own good. 00:27:02.300 --> 00:27:05.960 And so every time Jacob goes on a walk, 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:09.019 he gets to be reminded, 00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:11.960 blessing comes from God. 00:27:12.660 --> 00:27:15.600 I don't wrestle with man. 00:27:16.100 --> 00:27:18.019 I wrestle with him. 00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:22.240 Same thing becomes true of the entire people of Israel. 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:23.060 Verse 32. 00:27:24.060 --> 00:27:25.080 Therefore, to this day, 00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:28.080 the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh 00:27:28.080 --> 00:27:29.259 that is on the hip socket, 00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:32.480 because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:35.380 on the sinew of the thigh. 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:41.200 Every time Israelites come to muscle that's on the hip 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:42.059 and they're having a meal, 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:44.120 what do they remember? 00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:48.759 Blessing comes from God. 00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:54.279 Jacob has a new limp. 00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:59.259 God's forcing him to give up. 00:28:02.860 --> 00:28:04.120 Jacob has to say this, 00:28:04.119 --> 00:28:04.839 I'm a cheater, 00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:06.979 but it hasn't worked. 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:10.859 I've come to the end of myself. 00:28:11.939 --> 00:28:12.179 Help. 00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:16.379 And God is saying to him, 00:28:16.479 --> 00:28:19.559 look, cling to me for blessing. 00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:23.759 Wrestle with me for blessing. 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:29.200 The point of all of it is this. 00:28:31.299 --> 00:28:37.819 God's grace must be received as a gift. 00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:43.539 God's grace cannot, 00:28:44.159 --> 00:28:47.019 will not be earned or won. 00:28:49.179 --> 00:28:50.980 God is not impressed with you. 00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:55.059 He doesn't want to see your resume. 00:29:00.179 --> 00:29:01.579 He wants to see your need. 00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:05.460 He wants you to give up wrestling, 00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:10.019 trying to earn the blessing, 00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:13.000 and to receive it. 00:29:15.439 --> 00:29:16.799 I've mentioned a couple times 00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:18.659 that the night of wrestling is poetic. 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:20.559 It's poetic because it represents 00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:22.139 Jacob's whole life. 00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:25.500 But there's a final piece of poetry 00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:27.899 as the story ends. 00:29:27.900 --> 00:29:31.800 Many commentators point out 00:29:31.800 --> 00:29:34.300 that in verse 31, 00:29:35.300 --> 00:29:36.360 when it says, 00:29:36.560 --> 00:29:38.240 the sun rose upon him 00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.640 as he passed Penuel, 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:42.280 limping because of his hip, 00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:45.460 the sun is rising 00:29:45.460 --> 00:29:48.500 in more ways than one. 00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:52.840 Jacob's dark night 00:29:52.840 --> 00:29:57.640 is finally over. 00:29:57.900 --> 00:30:00.920 And it's over 00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:03.420 because he is willing 00:30:03.420 --> 00:30:05.720 to receive God's blessing 00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:07.160 as a gift. 00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:12.060 Do you want 00:30:12.060 --> 00:30:13.860 the sun 00:30:13.860 --> 00:30:15.880 to shine on you? 00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:20.780 Do you want a new day 00:30:20.780 --> 00:30:22.740 in your life? 00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:26.779 Do you want God's grace 00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:28.539 more than you've ever 00:30:28.539 --> 00:30:29.599 known it before? 00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:33.799 You have to admit your need. 00:30:35.160 --> 00:30:37.019 You have to come 00:30:37.019 --> 00:30:38.400 to God 00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:40.700 and only God 00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:42.279 for the blessing. 00:30:43.140 --> 00:30:44.620 You cannot win it. 00:30:45.620 --> 00:30:46.740 You can only be received 00:30:47.380 --> 00:30:48.740 as a gift. 00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:50.900 Our Lord Jesus 00:30:50.900 --> 00:30:51.640 tells us 00:30:51.640 --> 00:30:52.339 the same. 00:30:53.339 --> 00:30:54.380 Jim read this for us 00:30:54.380 --> 00:30:54.779 this morning 00:30:54.779 --> 00:30:55.299 from Luke 00:30:55.299 --> 00:30:57.000 chapter 18. 00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:58.799 Now they were bringing 00:30:58.799 --> 00:30:59.839 even infants to him 00:30:59.839 --> 00:31:00.839 that he might touch them. 00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:02.440 And when the disciples 00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.059 saw it, 00:31:03.120 --> 00:31:03.980 they rebuked them. 00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:05.839 But Jesus called 00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:06.519 them to him 00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:07.059 saying, 00:31:07.859 --> 00:31:09.079 let the little children 00:31:09.079 --> 00:31:10.120 come to me 00:31:10.120 --> 00:31:12.259 and do not hinder them 00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:13.740 for to such 00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:14.599 belongs 00:31:14.599 --> 00:31:15.240 the kingdom 00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:16.420 of God. 00:31:17.599 --> 00:31:18.700 Truly I say 00:31:18.700 --> 00:31:19.359 to you, 00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:20.960 whoever does not 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:22.180 receive the kingdom 00:31:22.180 --> 00:31:23.379 like a child 00:31:23.379 --> 00:31:25.500 shall not 00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:26.879 enter it. 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:30.039 God's blessing 00:31:30.039 --> 00:31:32.200 must be received 00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:33.759 as a gift. 00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:35.799 Let's pray. 00:31:37.099 --> 00:31:38.559 Our Father in heaven, 00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:39.099 we do 00:31:39.099 --> 00:31:39.879 thank you 00:31:39.879 --> 00:31:40.500 for your great 00:31:40.500 --> 00:31:41.039 mercy 00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:41.879 and grace 00:31:41.879 --> 00:31:42.480 and love 00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:42.980 to us 00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:44.000 in Jesus Christ. 00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:46.420 We ask 00:31:46.420 --> 00:31:46.740 that you 00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:47.379 would turn us 00:31:47.379 --> 00:31:47.779 away 00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:48.879 from our own 00:31:48.879 --> 00:31:49.420 efforts 00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:50.159 and striving 00:31:50.159 --> 00:31:50.859 and cunning 00:31:50.859 --> 00:31:51.519 our attempts 00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:52.259 to earn 00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:53.839 favor from you 00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:54.639 and from others 00:31:54.639 --> 00:31:55.200 and instead 00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:56.359 that we would 00:31:56.359 --> 00:31:57.119 grasp 00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:58.700 only to you 00:31:58.700 --> 00:31:59.359 and your grace. 00:31:59.940 --> 00:32:00.480 We ask that you 00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:00.940 would do this 00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:01.740 as you show us 00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:02.920 your son 00:32:02.920 --> 00:32:03.460 and our savior 00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:04.339 our Lord Jesus 00:32:04.339 --> 00:32:06.039 that he's taken 00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:06.659 the punishment 00:32:06.659 --> 00:32:07.700 that we deserve 00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:08.279 and give us 00:32:08.279 --> 00:32:08.980 the life 00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:09.920 that he lived. 00:32:10.019 --> 00:32:10.659 It's in his name 00:32:10.660 --> 00:32:11.140 that we ask 00:32:11.140 --> 00:32:11.620 all of these 00:32:11.620 --> 00:32:11.980 things. 00:32:12.440 --> 00:32:12.680 Amen. 00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:12.779 Amen. 00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:13.970 may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may