Genesis 32 22 32 Close Encounters with God

Genesis 32: 22 -32 Close Encounters with God

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. (Genesis 32: 22 -24, ESV)

24 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 of joint as he wrestled with him. (Genesis 32: 24 -25, ESV)

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. ” (Genesis 32: 26 -30, ESV)

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. (Genesis 32: 31 -32, ESV)

Main Point • This describes Jacob wrestling with God • Jacob was victorious and was blessed • The encounter, however, left it’s mark on Jacob • Jacob recognized God’s grace in being delivered after seeing God face to face

Application Points • Close Encounters with God • This text is interesting • With his encounter with God, He is changed • We seem to have forgotten that when someone has an encounter with God it leads to something more • Because of this there are many who believe they are right with God, but in truth they have no true experience with Him • Confession of Lord leads to be declared saved, no strings attached • This leads to a “get of hell free” understanding of salvation • Because we’ve placed so much emphasis on confession, many think they are believers, yet they are far from God

Application Points • Close Encounters with God (2) • Even more unfortunate is that this is one of the oldest tricks of the Devil • It takes something good, and turns it into a cliché at best, or a downright lie at worst • This is why today’s text is so important • If one is truly to encounter God, that encounter will have an effect on you • It causes the individual to desire that which it once hated • Consider the way it is expressed in Romans 6

“ 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6: 12 -23, ESV)

Application Points • Close Encounters with God (3) • Paul reminds us that grace changes us • We look radically different because we are radically different • It is by God’s grace that this is the case • It is only because God has made an encounter with us • In this we are like Jacob • We have a different Lord, the Lord of all • All of this is making an important point to us • God will not be mocked • The greatest evidence is bearing good fruit in keeping with repentance (see Matthew 2 -7)

Application Points • Close Encounters with God (4) • Thus, Jesus becomes the Lord of all things in your life • Some consider Him to be lesser, but those who have truly experienced Him will know that He is all we rely on • God does not want pieces of us • He will only be satisfied with the whole of who we are • Some will consider this to be a bit demanding • If God is wholly good, great and wonderful, and His ways are perfect, then to be wanted by God completely should cause us to rejoice

Application Points • Close Encounters with God (5) • I know myself, and I know there are things I don’t like • I can think, “God doesn’t want that. ” • He wants the good with the bad • It isn’t God being overbearing which causes Him to desire all of us • It is His great love for us • For so long we have ignored this very simple reality of salvation • We have neglected the great significance of a loving God who wants all of our lives • Because His ways are simply that much better than our own

Application Points • Close Encounters with God (6) • When we experience God we can expect to be changed because God is great • He changes us, and that is a good thing, because He is good • We oftentimes think we know what is best • We fight to maintain control • Enough! • Let us desire to glorify Him with all of who we are now and forever • So what can we say other than, pray for encounters with God • Whether in the dark, or in peace, on the mountain, or with friends • Desire encounters and take joy in your experiences with Him

Application Points • Close Encounters with God (7) • Likewise, pray for the world around you • Pray that God would encounter everyone in this town • So that we and everyone else would see Him face to face • Finally, rejoice • We have each encountered the love of God given through His Son Jesus Christ • Rejoice, for the encounters which God gives us • And for the encounter we hope for in the future • Where we will be with Him, and experience Him face to face forever

Application Points • The Gospel of Christ • Origins • Fall • Redemption • Glorification