Lessons from a Limper (Outline)

Introduction

Jacob teaches us the pain of wrestling with God”

I. Jacob’s Night of Emptying (Jabbok means “emptying”)

Gen 32:22 KJV - 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.

Gen 32:23 KJV - And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.

Gen 32:24 KJV – (a) And Jacob was left alone;

A) His Painful Separation “He had nobody Left”

B) His Penetrating Isolation “He had nothing Left”

II. Jacob’s Night of Wrestling

Gen 32:24 KJV – (b) and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

Gen 32:25 KJV - 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.

A) The Reason of his Wrestling

1 – Jacob’s Agenda needed Alignment

2 – Jacob’s Attitude needed Adjusted

B) The Results of his Wrestling

1 – The Stubbornness of Jacob was Revealed

2 – The Strength of God was Recognized

III. Jacob’s Night of Confessing

Gen 32:26 KJV - And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

Gen 32:27 KJV - And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

Gen 32:28 KJV - 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.

A) The Confession of His Name

1 – The youngest of Isaac’s twin sons

Gen 25:25 KJV - And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

Gen 25:26 KJV – (a) And after that came his brother out,

2 – The heel holder

Gen 25:26 KJV – (b) and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

3 – The supplanter

Gen 27:36 KJV - And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?

4 – The layer of snares

B) The Confrontation of his Nature

1 – Jacob had to “Confront his Past Faults”

2 – Jacob had to “Consider his Powerful Foe”

IV. Jacob’s Night of Limping

Gen 32:29 KJV - 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.