Comments on Genesis 32:22-32

What’s the earliest sport mentioned in the Bible?

baseball (“in the Big Inning”) or tennis (Joseph served in Pharaoh’s court)

passage today earliest athletic competition mentioned in Bible: wrestling

one of strange, mysterious passages in Bible: don’t exactly know what it means

life-changing event for Jacob: such events often confusing or strange

If doing YOB readings, know that Jacob was an “interesting” character

nobody would want him as role model: no example of faith

name “Jacob” means trickster: always looking for a way to pull a fast one

even before born, fighting w/ brother

wouldn’t feed him unless signed over inheritance

tricks father on deathbed to get blessing: has to run away from home

goes to uncle Laban: another schemer

for 20 years, 2 try to pull wool over each others’ eyes

tricks about marrying daughters, about dividing herds

not the kind of person you’d want to have as a role model for children or self

used any trick he could find to take advantage of another person

self-seeking: do whatever it takes to get ahead: doesn’t matter who you hurt

something interesting about Jacob: compare w/ others we’ve been reading about

no mention of faith in God, like grandfather Abraham (last week)

Lord didn’t have anything to do w/ way he led his life

before today’s passage, only 2 times in life when had anything to do w/ God

1. When running away from brother Esau, after stole blessing from dying father

stopped to sleep for night, had dream of ladder to heaven

(songs: “Jacob’s Ladder,” “Stairway to Heaven”)

promise from God to care for him

Jacob made promise: if return safely, will give 10% to him, worship him

a promise, but didn’t change how he lived his life

2. Now, running away from uncle Laban 20 yrs later

tricks caused bad blood, had to leave

going back home: gets word that brother Esau approaching w/ army of 400

terrified: prayed to God

“You promised 20 yrs ago to take care of me! Save me!”

Apart from those 2 incidents, Jacob pretty much lived life w/out God

handle life with his own wits

even these 2 times: not like God most important thing to him

God touches his life w/ dream, but flash in a pan

then, in moment of desperation, dug himself in hole he couldn’t get out of

turns to God for help: final ace in the hole: last ditch attempt

even so, not exactly humble

“You told me you’d make me prosper. Well, live up to the deal!”

We turn to God in this way sometimes, too

insurance policy, last card to play

but then, like Jacob, go on to plan life on our own, as best as we can

Jacob: sent generous gifts to brother, divided family/flock into 2 groups

Last night before meet brother (& maybe doom), spent alone, along side of river

“a man wrestled with him till daybreak:” who?

angel? God? don’t know: some emissary from God

Jacob may have turned to God as last resort, and still made own plans

but God came to Jacob, forced him to confront him

changed his life: name changed from “trickster” to “wrestler w/ God”

a different person the next morning, when went to meet Esau

humility & generosity, instead of scheming and trickery

continue to read life of Jacob: lived up to name change

Image for us: wrestling w/ God

often told that being Xn easy: turn life over to God, will guide like gentle shepherd

not always that easy

so far this year, have talked about accepting God’s claim on our lives

about finding our special place in God’s plan

you can’t do those w/out changing who you are

when you come before God, follow where he leads, will never the same again

Jacob the Trickster became Israel the Struggler

for all those years, Jacob thought he knew who he was

lived according to particular identity

that night beside the Jabbok River, found out for 1^st time who he really was

come to God now: discover who we are