Genesis 32:9-12, 24-32
Preached Sunday Morning February 26, 2012

Introduction:

I am told that High School wrestling is one of the most physically challenging sports in which a teenager can compete. In one 6 minute 3 round match, more energy is spent than if one were to participate in 4 football games or two back to back full court basketball games. Wrestling takes endurance and a unique personal resolve not to quit under any circumstances.

I find it interesting that of all the ways the Bible could picture fervent prayer, God chose to use the picture of wrestling with God. In our passage this morning Jacob, the schemer, is turning the corner on his trust in God. He has been to the school of hard knocks for 20 years under Laban. He has learned what it was like to be victimized by underhanded business practices. He has also seen God deliver him. Jacob is learning to trust in God. Last week we saw that after 20 years, God told him that he has graduated from this school of hard knocks and it is time to go back home. The problem was that if he went home, he would have to face his brother Esau who promised to kill him the next time he saw him. Jacob deserved this hatred in a way because of the deceitful way he treated his own brother in times past. Jacob was in a tough spot. Laban’s people did not want him and Esau hated him. God told him to go home, so he was obeying, but he was afraid.

It is with this backdrop that Jacob learned the final element in completely trusting God, fervent prayer. This morning we will see how Jacob wrestled with God for blessing. We will see that there are some things we can gain, not by an occasional mention at the supper table in casual prayer. There are some things for which we must wrestle God.

James 5:16
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

I. Wrestle with Skill – know the specific moves which are effective in your wrestling match with God.

A. Plead the promises of God

Genesis 32:9,12
9 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:

12 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.

Nehemiah 1:8–11 (AV)
8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: 9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. 10 Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. 11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.

Psalm 138:2
2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

B. Plead for mercy

Genesis 32:10
10 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.

1. Acknowledge your sinfulness
2. Confess your sin

1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

3. Cry out for mercy

C. Plead for deliverance –specifically

Genesis 32:11
11 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.

1. From your enemies
2. From the forces of darkness

Ephesians 6:12
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

3. From your circumstances
4. From yourself

II. Wrestle with Tenacity

A. Get alone with God

? Undistracted

Genesis 32:24
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

B. Do not let go of God

Genesis 32:25-26
25 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. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

1. Pray all night if you have to
2. You may be permanently changed as a result of this kind of prayer
3. Don’t stop

Luke 11:5-8
5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? 7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. 8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

III. Wrestle to Win

A. You will stop trying to scheme for results

Genesis 32:27-28
27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 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.

B. You will prevail and get the victory

Galatians 6:9 (AV)
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Conclusion:

Do you lack life changing power of God in your life or in the lives of your loved ones? Do you long for deliverance, for boldness, for fruit, or for wisdom? God in the Bible and discover the promises that God has for you. Boldly come to the throne of God, praying those promises back to Him, claiming them for your own. Confess your sins, plead the Blood of Jesus and seek His love and mercy. Once you get a hold of God, do not let go! Keep wrestling until you get a specific answer. God will bless you, but you need to learn that it is fervent prayer that will unleash God’s power. You must learn to wrestle with God.