Face to Face

Dr. CJ Walker

BBBI - OT101.3 - Genesis III • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

Genesis 32:22–32

Jacob wrestles with God

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What’s keeping you from God’s blessings? How much are God’s blessings worth to you? Why would God bless you?

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Genesis 32:1–33:20 KJV 1900

And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim. And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom. And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now: And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight. And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands; And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape. And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother; Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams, Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals. And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove. And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee? Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob’s; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us. And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him. And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me. So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company. And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank. And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant. Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves. And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself. And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it. And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee. And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir. And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord. So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city. And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money. And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel.

Gen

Genesis 32:22–32 KJV 1900

And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.

See Favorites:BBBI/Genesis/Chapters 32-33 for research trail. Highlights include the article from Maranatha Baptist Journal and Allen Ross’ article in B.Sac, reproduced in “From Creation to Blessing” commentary.

Introduction:

Genesis 32:30 KJV 1900

And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Gen. 32:

Illustration -

What is humility? It is that habitual quality whereby we live in the truth of things: the truth that we are creatures and not the Creator; the truth that our life is a composite of good and evil, light and darkness; the truth that in our littleness we have been given extravagant dignity.

Humility is saying a radical yes to the human condition.

—Bishop Robert F. Morneau, Green Bay, Wisconsin [Craig Brian Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof, 1001 Illustrations That Connect (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2008), 502.]

Craig Brian Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof, 1001 Illustrations That Connect (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2008), 502.]

Main Thought: See yourself in Jacob:

1. What’s keeping you from God’s blessings? ()

2. How much are God’s blessings worth to you? ()

3. Why would God bless you? ()

a. To reveal Himself more personally to you

b. To bring deep gratitude for salvation and greater dependence on His grace

c. To pass His testimony to generations to come

Expositional Outline of :

Sub-intro:

Discuss the Context of Jacob’s Return to Canaan and how that impacts the narrative

Body:

I. Blocked from Blessing ()

A. Getting Alone with God ()

Genesis 32:22–24 KJV 1900

Note - Illustrate this blockage by referencing where Moses and his family too were blocked until sin had been dealt with and how that could apply to Jacob’s experience

B. Getting Humbled By God ()

Genesis 32:25 KJV 1900

And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

Application: God visits Jacob on the way to Haran and promises to bring him back to Canaan; God then reveals to Jacob that the time had come to return to Canaan; on the way back to Canaan, God blocks Jacob from entering… Friend, God has promises for you in His word; He’s glad when you acknowledge His leading and will in your life; but He’s not going to allow you to be setup for failure by allowing you to bring your bad-baggage with you into His blessings. You’ll not make there in your own strength like you have in the past. You’ll have to learn that the arm of flesh will fail you.

Transition: Jacob’s being blocked was only temporary until God could bring Jacob along, now consider...

II. From Embattled to Begging for Blessing ()

A. Conceited Victor Becomes Clinging Victim ()

Genesis 32:26 KJV 1900

And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

Note - Think of Nicodemus coming to Jesus by night () and illustrate this account with the way Jesus handled him there

B. Face to Face with Past Sins ()

Genesis 32:27 KJV 1900

And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

Note - Jacob is compelled to acknowledge and confess his past rotten character

C. Prevailing with God and Man ()

Genesis 32:28 KJV 1900

And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Note - Jacob’s faith in God wouldn’t allow him to let go of the God that had come to him; what before was prideful self-sufficient strength now has become weakness that refuses to let go of God

D. Learning the Limitations of Self ()

Genesis 32:29 KJV 1900

And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

Application: When will you realize that you are no match for God? What does God have to “touch” you with to bring you to dependence on Him alone for what you need? That circumstance, that event, that thing you keep pushing for, that will you keep exerting in your own strength… when will you stop fighting and start clinging? God has forever, but for you, He knows the Son’s coming is near.

Transition: The Roadblock has led to battle and the battle has now ended in brokenness, but this is just ...

III. A Blessed New Beginning ()

A. Face to Face with God’s Deliverance ()

Genesis 32:30 KJV 1900

And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Note Dr. Morris’ insight on “face to face”

Jacob named the place “Peniel,” meaning “The Face of God.” Jacob marveled greatly that he had actually been allowed to see and touch God, and that he had survived to tell the experience. This would have been utterly impossible, had not God veiled Himself in human form, of course (; ). [Henry M. Morris, The Genesis Record: A Scientific and Devotional Commentary on the Book of Beginnings (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1976), 502.]

Henry M. Morris, The Genesis Record: A Scientific and Devotional Commentary on the Book of Beginnings (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1976), 502.]

B. Reminders of His All-Sufficient Grace ()

Genesis 32:31 KJV 1900

And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

Note - Cross-reference Paul’s “Thorn in the flesh” and God’s grace

“It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (, KJV 1900)

C. A Lasting Legacy to the Generations to Come ()

Genesis 32:32 KJV 1900

Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.

Application: What about you has changed since Jesus saved you? How have you learned to lean on His grace for life? What has that brought to your home, family and work? How have you seen the Lord calm your fears when confronted with your past? Who have you yet to make amends with? Leave your gift at the altar, go and make it right, then come again and be received of God.

Conclusion:

See yourself in Jacob: