Wrestling with God, Genesis 32:22-32

The Story of Jacob

*The audio recording is poor quality because of an issue with the microphone.

As Jacob faces his fear of his brother Esau and desperately attempts to appease him, he is doing all that he can to save himself. However, in Genesis 32:22-32, Jacob has an experience that will change his name and the rest of his life.

He sends his wives, children, and all he possesses over the stream Jabbok while he stays back to be alone. He thought that he would spend the night alone, but he would spend the night wrestling with God. At the end of the long night of struggle, Jacob would come to know two fundamental truths; he is weak, but God is strong.

But before God prospered Jacob's children to become patriarchs of great tribes or grew these tribes into a great nation, He first humbled a schemer and cheater named Jacob. He humbled Jacob so that he would know that he was weak, but God is strong. There is great grace when God wrestles with us that we, too, come to know that we are weak, but He is strong.

Ben Smith

Originally from Columbus, GA, pastor Ben Smith has served churches in Texas, South Carolina, and Georgia. Ben and his wife Dana make their home in Waycross, GA, where Ben has pastored Central Baptist Church since 2012.

Pastor Ben preaches each Sunday at Central Baptist. An audio podcast of his sermons is published weekly. Pastor Ben also posts weekly to his blog, Ponderings.

https://bensmithsr.org
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Finishing Well, Genesis 35:1-15

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Learning the hard way, Genesis 29:1-30