Wrestling with God

WRESTLING WITH GOD
GENESIS 32:22-32

22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 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. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 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.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 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.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. 32 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.

In the name of Jesus:
What we have cited in our text for today is a sporting competition, which is one of the oldest known to mankind. Wrestling is one of the first forms of human competition and one of the oldest forms of combat. Archeologists have seen wrestlers depicted on cave drawings in France, Babylonia, and Egypt. Olympic wrestlers were living legends in ancient Greece. Wrestling as a sport has had a simple premise: that is, to pin both of the opponent’s shoulder’s to the ground for a certain number of sections. The victor in wrestling shows domination and supremacy over an opponent by pinning both of the opponent’s shoulders to the ground. The one aspect that has made wrestling a favorite sport is the sheer will and drive that the participants have in the sport. To forfeit or to give in is to quit, and there is no glory in quitting, rather, the glory is in the participation and in the drive keep on going, even against all odds.
In our text Jacob is seen all alone. He had sent his family across the river for protection. Jacob, previous to this, had stolen the birthright from his brother Esau and was now about to meet him for the first time face to face. Jacob feared for his life, for he remembered that Esau was madder than a hornet once he found out that Jacob stole the birthright. You see, the birthright was THE THING, for Jacob and Esau. With it came the blessing from God that from that person’s lineage would come the Savior. With the birthright all sorts of rights and privileges and possessions were given solely because of one’s standing as the first-born. To have the birthright meant EVERYTHING, and Jacob had it, and Esau was left with the crumbs.
So Jacob took it for granted that Esau was going to kill him. So Jacob put his house in order, so to speak. Once his family was cared for, and sent across the river for protection, Jacob remained on the other side alone in his thoughts and worries.
Out of nowhere came a man to literally do battle with Jacob. It was night, so Jacob couldn’t see all around him. It is as if a man fell on him from behind. It is noteworthy to see that Moses records: “24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.” This was a battle, the type where Jacob feels as if he is attacked. You can well imagine the thoughts running through Jacob’s mind and he struggles mightily with his Opponent. The wrestling is of such a nature that there is dust flying. Jacob is literally fighting for his life, for his birthright, for that which was promised to him. That is why he did not quit, for Jacob knew the promises of God. He had no idea who he was wrestling with at the time, for all he knew Jacob thought that his very life was at stake! But this One whom He wrestled played with him.
And then we read “25 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. “ It is common in wrestling for a wrestler to perform a move, which would give Him the victory. Now, this One could have killed Jacob, but rather than kill him, He was playing with him. So the Unknown Wrestler puts pressure on the joint and Jacob’s hip sock is dislocated. “26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” Jacob may be physically weakened but he clung to the promise of God. He still had no clue as to whom he was battling with, so he battled for a blessing. He was not going to let go UNTIL he received that blessing.
“27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 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.” And know Jacob knows, he realizes that he had been wrestling with the true God-man, Jesus, all night. Jesus could have killed him, but instead played with him so that Jacob, in the end, would seek the blessing of God. Jacob would not let go until he got that blessing from God, and God blessed him telling him that he had striven with the God-Man, Jesus, and because he asked for God’s blessing, Jacob received God’s blessing.
All to often in our lives we are overcome by worry, fear, and the terrors of darkness. The terror and worries of life can at times be mind numbing. An earthquake in Japan, nuclear meltdown, and radiation contamination are just the three hot items from this past week that can cause all sorts of worry and concern. Then there is the fall off in stock prices, the national debt, the economy, and unemployment on the national scene. And that doesn’t include the worry over your own personal finances, your own health and well being, the health and well being of your family, your children, and your grandchildren. The bad news that has hit us over the past three months has been overwhelming. There is personal sickness, the grief over the death of a loved one, the uncertainty of the future which can leave even the most in tuned person feeling tuned out, desensitized, and perplexed. Where is God in all of this bad news? Where is He in my life now, when I feel, as the Psalmist describes: “I am up to my neck and feel like I am drowning!”
Where is God in our darkness and in the times of our despair? He is in the cross of Christ. For there on the cross God became man to wrestled with and defeat the darkness called sin, Satan, and death. There on the cross God tasted death for you! There on the cross God the Father forsook His Son making Him to be the sin offering for every sinner who has ever lived. There on the cross Jesus went through the valley of the shadow of death, there on the cross God walked in your place so that in your dark times you might know for certain that God has given to you an overwhelming victory.
So, why then, doesn’t it feel like it? Yes, God promises that goodness and mercy will follow all the days of our lives and we will live in the house of the Lord forever. But…it certainly doesn’t feel like it. More to the point, it is as if God has hidden Himself and is nowhere to be found. Evil and suffering and death seemingly have its way with the world and us. Is God playing with us?
In a sense, yes. On Easter morning the Davidson household had a tradition. The Easter bunny would come bearing gifts of candy, colored eggs, and gifts. But the Easter bunny would not just put the basket out in the open for all to see. No, the fun would be in the hiding of the baskets and the finding of them. My parents got great joy out of seeing my sister and I hunt high and lo for our baskets, and they would be hidden where we COULDN’T find them. But what joy we had when we found them. It was if our parents were playing with us, only to share the joy and magnify the joy in the end.
God loves you. That is why He sent Christ to die on the cross. Look at the crucifix and know for certain that God loves you so much that He sent Christ to be your Savior. God loves the world THAT MUCH! And so to deepen our love for Him, God in a sense plays with us, toys with us, so that we might know the joy of following Him.
Just look at the case of the Canaanite woman. Jesus was in the region of Tyre and Sidon, when a Canaanite woman, one who would be considered “unclean” and unworthy to be a child of God, approaches Him in desperation. Her child is sick and near death and she, as a mother, is reaching for straws, grasping for help and Jesus is her help. She cries out: “ “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But note, 23 But he did not answer her a word.” Jesus disciples wanted her out of sight and out of mind, saying to Jesus: ““Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” And Jesus answered the desperate woman saying: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” On the surface, this seems so cruel. Doesn’t God love all and want all to become His children? Why treat her in such a way? Only because Jesus knows all things and is seeking a stronger faith for this woman. So she kneels before Him and requests, “Lord, help me.” And Jesus again hides His love for this woman, toying with her so that she might find delight in Him. Jesus answered saying: “ “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” And then this woman exhibits her faith. This is what Jesus was seeking. This is what He wanted for her, for she says: “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” Yes Lord, even the dogs get a break now and then and I am a poor dog who deserves no good thing from you, but I still believe in your mercy and grace, and so I beg you I plead with you, please helps me.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
Jacob wrestled with God; he would not let Him go until he received a blessing from Him. The Canaanite woman as well asked for a blessing. Even though Jesus seemingly ignores her and rejects her, she continues to wrestle with Jesus, asking for His mercy, not letting Him wriggle out of His Word of Promise. Dear friend, this is what God desires of you and for you as well. For in the darkness of life, and in the desperate times that you may be facing God wants you to know that He loves you. His will is that you now and forever trust and love Him. God allows difficulties, struggles, and temptations to come your way to test your faith so that your faith might be refined and strengthened. In your times of trouble, God doesn’t want you to forget that He is God and you are not. You are His creature and He holds you in His hands. He sent to you His Son to be your Savior and God is presently at work to bring good from evil. God doesn’t will evil, but uses all things to His glory so that you might ever and always remain His child. To that end God binds Himself to His Word, to Baptism and the Lord’s Supper so that you might be able to find Him in these Means. Do you doubt that you are God’s child? Look to your Baptism for in your Baptism God has claimed you to be His own. Are you desperate and in need of God’s mercy? Hear His Word for God has had mercy upon sinners in His Son Jesus Christ. Are you hungry and thirsty for God’s presence in your life? Taste and see that the Lord is good in His supper, and that His loves lasts forever! God hides Himself, binds Himself in Word and Sacrament so that you will know for certain of His love for you in Jesus.
Jacob only saw the face of God AFTER he wrestled with God. How would you and I know of God’s love and power in our lives if we lived without any trouble? If we had no trial or trouble or tribulation, if there was no cross to bear, how would we then know God? How would there be any resurrection is there was no death? If Jesus didn’t suffer and die, He would not have been able to rise from the grave. So also for each one of us we God permits suffering and even death, all so that we might know of God and His love. If things always went our way in life, why then would we need God? We wouldn’t think of Him, for we would be too wrapped up in our own little heaven on earth. Is it any wonder why people forget God today, when they seek to live in a heaven here on earth? You see, that is why we suffer, that is why we experience trials and tribulations, so that we might learn to trust in Christ. For in our trial we learn of our frailties, we remember that we are dust, and God then points us to Christ, who is our only Hope and Help in times of trouble.
So when you are faced with various trials, and wrestling with God in and through them, know for certain that God is your ever present Help. He spared not His only Son but delivered Him up for you. He has mercy upon you in Christ. And His promise is this:
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
Amen