Facing the Past and Limping with God

Facing the Past and Limping with God

08 March, 2026

Thesis: God's ultimate goal is to break humanity down, rendering them helpless and dependent on Him, so that He can remake them into the men and women He has called them to be through a process of surrender, prayer, and dependence on His promises.

Summary: Here is a summary of the sermon in one paragraph:

The preacher explores Jacob's encounter with God at Peniel, where he wrestles with an angel who later reveals himself to be the Lord God Almighty. Through this story, the preacher illustrates how God often brings people to the end of themselves before changing them, and how Jacob's struggles with God ultimately led to his transformation into Israel. The preacher also draws parallels between Jacob's experience and Jesus' own journey, noting that both were willing to humble themselves and face humiliation in order to bring others to God. Ultimately, the preacher emphasizes that only through surrendering to God and trusting in His promises can we prevail with Him, and that Jesus Christ is the way into the promised land of salvation.

Sermon

We're in Genesis chapter 32 this morning, so welcome! If you're a first-time guest, we're glad to have you here. We've been on a journey through Genesis, and it's been quite the ride. Today, we've got another good one for you.

"Today, we'll explore Genesis 32 and 33 together in a two-part series called 'Facing the Past and Limping with God'. We'll focus on chapter 32 today."

"And here's the main point for chapter 32 today: When God intends to change a person, He often brings them to the end of themselves. He breaks them, renames them, and claims them as His own. That's what we'll see happen with Jacob this morning."

"But let's go to the Lord in prayer, and then we'll jump into the Word. Father, we thank you so much for another time in Your house. Lord, we pray this morning that Your name would be hallowed, that You would be reverenced and glorified. Father, we pray that our eyes would be upon You, to see Your majesty, Your glory, Your beauty, Your infinite worth. Lord, let us treasure You above all things."

Father, we pray that your kingdom would come, that your will would be done on this earth, Lord. We say, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." As we surrender our lives under the reign of King Jesus, let your will be done on this earth within us, in this church, and in each home.

Father, we pray that you would forgive us of our sins, Lord, and help us to forgive those who sin against us, Lord. Give us this day our daily bread, Lord. Meet our needs. Be our provider, Lord, as you desire to break us down and make us dependent on your goodness. Be our protector, Lord. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, Lord. Because we remember that yours is the power and the kingdom and the glory, Lord, forever and ever.

We pray, God, lead us and guide us today, Lord. We pray for those who are lost, that You would move upon them, draw them to Yourself, Lord. May we all be brought to the point of full surrender in Jesus' name. Amen.

All right, guys. Chapter 32 of Genesis. I want to start this sermon with a question for you this morning. Have you ever faced a problem that seems impossible to solve? You're stuck between two bad options, unsure which way to go. It's like there's no good decision in sight, and you're left thinking, "I don't know what to do."

Well, this is called a dilemma. It's a problem with two wrong answers. And Jacob finds himself in such a dilemma. Now, if you've been following along, recall that Jacob has spent 20 years in exile, fleeing from his brother Esau after deceiving him into giving up his birthright and blessing. He's lived under the manipulation and exploitation of his father-in-law Laban for these two decades.

"And Jacob is finally returning home, but his future seems uncertain. Behind him lies Laban's threat: 'Cross this line, and we'll have trouble.' Ahead looms Esau, the brother he deceived, now marching towards him with 400 men."

The deceiver is about to meet the one he deceived. The thief is about to face the one he robbed. And the runner is out of road. He can't go back; if he moves forward, he meets Esau. He's in a dilemma: which way does he go? Well, there's only one person he can turn to for help—the Lord.

He can't scheme his way out of this predicament. He can't manipulate his way through this dilemma. He has to learn to trust. So what happens when we can't run anymore? We must run to the Lord. Sometimes He brings us to that point in our lives where we have no other option but to turn to Him.

So let's look at chapter 32, verse 1. As Jacob went on his way, he encountered the angels of God. Upon seeing them, Jacob exclaimed, "This is God's camp!" And he named that place Mahanaim.

Now, consider this: twenty years ago, Jacob fled for his life, didn't he? He left the promised land with nothing but a staff in his hand. He was running from the brother he had wronged. But God met him there at Bethel, made promises to Jacob—to bless him and to bring him back to the land.

Now, for 20 years, Jacob had been in exile. Remember, he meets his father-in-law, and Jacob the deceiver spent 20 years being deceived. The schemer was schemed against. But through all this time, Jacob learned to lean on the promises of God rather than his own cleverness. God used this season of exile to mold him and break him, so that he might be remade into the man God had called him to be.

Well, now God calls him home, so Jacob obeys but is terrified. He knows Esau will meet him, yet he continues on his way. We notice that angels of God met him; they were camped around Jacob's camp. God had His own camp right beside Jacob.

You know, David later wrote in Psalm 34:7, "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And delivers them." Just as angels surrounded Jacob, they still surround us today, which is a comforting thought. The writer of Hebrews tells us that angels are ministering spirits sent to serve those who inherit salvation, and Peter informs us that even angels desire to understand the salvation we have.

"I remember in 2 Kings 6, Elisha and his servants were surrounded by the enemy. And Elisha prayed, 'Lord, open my servant's eyes.' When God opened his eyes, what did he find? He found warrior angels and chariots of fire all around the mountain. Friends, the angels of the Lord encamp around those who fear him, to protect them and deliver them."

So, friends, there's an invisible reality surrounding us right now. We're not alone. We're not unprotected. God's angels observe our worship. They are sent to minister to us in ways we can't possibly understand. That's a comforting thought. God and His army are with us. God is telling Jacob, "I know you're afraid. I know you're having to face the past. But you're not going home alone. I am with you."

Now, verses 3 through 21. I won't read it aloud for brevity's sake, but let me recount the story for you. Jacob hears that Esau is approaching with four hundred men, and he is seized by a profound terror. Verse 7 tells us, "Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed." In his fear, Jacob reverts to what he knows best: scheming. He divides his people into two camps, thinking, "If Esau attacks one camp, the other might escape." It's a desperate attempt to protect himself and his family.

Notice the psychological depth of Jacob's actions. He is not merely strategizing; he is also grappling with his past, with the brother he wronged, and with the uncertainty of the future. Yet, even in this moment of fear and desperation, God had already revealed His presence: "I am with you." But Jacob struggles to trust fully in that promise. He hedges his bets, planning for loss, preparing for the worst. It's a poignant reminder of our own human tendency to rely on our own understanding rather than trusting completely in God's care.

In this contemplative moment, let us reflect on Jacob's struggle as our own. Like him, we too wrestle with fear and uncertainty. We too grapple with trusting fully in God's promise. But remember, it is in our surrender, in our dependence on Him, that true transformation occurs—as Jacob discovered when he wrestled with the angel and prevailed.

Now, notice what he does. He hedges his bets, planning for loss, preparing for the worst. The irony is that God had already revealed to him, "I am with you," and there are two camps: your camp and the angel army's camp. Yet, despite this revelation, Jacob still struggles to trust that God will deliver him.

"And so, what does he do? He divides his family as much as possible. Then he sends wave after wave of gifts ahead to appease Esau. He gives a substantial gift—220 goats, 220 sheep, 30 camels, 50 cattle, and 30 donkeys, each sent in separate groups with spaces between them. It's clear that Jacob was indeed a wealthy man."

And he thinks to himself, surely if I give gift after gift, maybe my brother will not be angry with me anymore. Perhaps he will not seek revenge for what happened 20 years ago. Maybe, just maybe, he will receive me as I approach him. But Jacob, in his calculations and strategies, is still trying to control the outcome, still attempting to earn favor through his own efforts. Yet, even in this flawed human effort, God meets Jacob where he is, offering a chance at transformation. For it is in our surrender, our dependence on Him, and our desperate cries for mercy that we find true change. Like Jacob, we must wrestle with God, cling to His promises, and hold fast until He blesses us. Only then can we be remade in His image, broken down and rebuilt by the power of His grace.

And notice also in the text, he calls Esau not my brother, but refers to him as my lord. It's striking, isn't it? Jacob, who has always been so independent, so calculating, now adopts this posture of humility and submission. He's hoping to earn Esau's favor, to avert judgment, to purchase peace. But deep down, he knows that his gifts cannot atone for the past. His strategic planning cannot change what was done. In this moment, Jacob is faced with his own limitations, his need for surrender, his dependence on something greater than himself. He is wrestling with the reality that he cannot control everything, that he must trust in God's mercy and grace. This is a powerful reminder of our own struggles with God, isn't it? A testament to how God can bring about transformation through our wrestling, our prevailing with Him.

So the past is catching up to him. He's terrified that Esau will wipe out his entire family—his wives, children, servants. He feels hopeless, exposed. And that makes him pray. That prayer is, "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, Lord who said to me, 'Return to your country and your family,' I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies You have shown Your servant. For I crossed this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies.'"

"Now, what prayer does he pray? And what can we learn from Jacob's prayer? Look in verse 9. Jacob cries out to God, saying, 'O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, "Return to your country and to your family," and I will deal well with you. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truths which You have shown Your servant.' For I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies.'"

Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I fear him. Lest he come and strike me down, harming both myself and those who accompany me—my mother and my children. For you have promised, O God, saying, 'I will surely treat you well, making your descendants as numerous as the sand on the seashore.' Truly, in our weakness and need for deliverance, we find ourselves echoing Jacob's plea, seeking refuge in Your mercy. As he wrestled with You, so too must we strive to prevail, allowing You to break us down that we might be remade in Your image.

Number one, he remembers who God is. He remembers that God is the faithful covenant-keeping God of his fathers Abraham and Isaac. Friends, when we pray, let us remember whom we address. That our Father in heaven is beyond our comprehension, yet intimately involved in our lives. Let us understand His greatness as we surrender to His will, trusting Him even in our struggles.

Secondly, he reminds God of His promises. Twenty years earlier, God had met him and said, "I will bless you. I will be with you. I will bring you back to the land." So he's calling God to keep His word. Friends, we should trust God and we should trust His promises. Prayer is simply taking God at His word and trusting Him to keep His promises.

Prayer is taking God at his word and trusting him to keep his promises. It's not manipulating God nor trying to control him. Instead, it is simply clinging to what he has already told us in his word.

Now, when Jacob recounts that promise, he actually revises the words that God had spoken to him, emphasizing his own desire for prosperity. Jacob claims that God promised to bless or prosper him, to make him prosperous. Even now, Jacob is still measuring God's presence by prosperity and success, a habit he has cultivated throughout his life. He has always craved safety, wealth, and blessing, often at the expense of understanding God's true nature. Yet, in this moment of wrestling with God, Jacob begins to grapple not just physically but spiritually, hinting at the transformation that will ultimately lead him to embrace God's presence above all else, as the sermon's thesis suggests: God breaking humanity down and remaking them in His image through surrender and dependence.

"But what we'll see later in this chapter is that the greatest blessing God can give Jacob is Himself. The greatest blessing is His presence with him. Here, in this darkness, by the river, Jacob finally encounters what he truly needs: not prosperity or wealth, but the one he truly needs - God's presence."

So he sends his family over the river Jabbok. He crosses back over, leaving himself alone in the darkness by the river. It's here, in this solitude, that Jacob encounters what he truly needs. As he arises that night, he takes his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, crossing them over the ford at Jabbok one by one, sending over all he has until nothing remains but himself. Then, alone in the darkness, a man appears, wrestling with Jacob until the breaking of day. This struggle is not just physical; it's spiritual, a reflection of our own struggles with God. It's here that God breaks down Jacob, revealing His ultimate goal for us all: transformation through surrender and dependence on Him.

You might notice that the word "Man" is capitalized. A Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip. And the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as he wrestled with Him. And He said, "Let me go, for the day breaks." Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." And He said, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed." And Jacob asked, saying, "Tell me my name, I pray." And He said, "Why do you ask My name?" And He blessed him. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

In this profound encounter, Jacob's name is forever changed at Peniel. He declares, "I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." As he crosses over Peniel with the sun rising upon him, we find him limping on his hip. This limp serves as a perpetual reminder of his struggle and triumph, a testament to his wrestling match with God that left him forever transformed.

Well, what a story. He sins against everything he owns. Left alone with no schemes, strategies remaining, no one but him and this man who meets him.

Now, first off, we realize that Jacob has been afraid of the wrong person all along. He fears Esau, but he is about to meet someone much mightier than Esau. He had feared Laban's retaliation when he stole away secretly with his daughters. He fears Isaac now. He fears Esau and Esau's 400 men. He fears being wiped out. But neither Laban nor Esau, nor Esau's 400 men, are the ones he should fear most. He should fear God. He should truly fear God.

Now, remember, Jacob is trapped between his past and future. Esau stands before him, Laban behind, with nowhere to run or escape. Desperately needing God's blessings, he cannot face what lies ahead in his own strength or undo the past. He stands alone in the wilderness, at the end of himself, when this man appears. This encounter is not about comfort or deliverance; it's about confrontation and domination. Jacob must wrestle with God to receive His blessing.

"And it is right there, when he is at his wits' end, alone in the wilderness, fearing for his life, that this man comes to him. Now, we must understand that this man doesn't come simply to comfort Jacob; he comes to confront him. He doesn't come merely to deliver Jacob; he comes to dominate Jacob."

Now, yes, he will bless him, but first, he must break him. And out of the shadows comes a man whom Jacob cannot conquer. Despite Jacob's strength—remember how he moved huge rocks from covered wells?—he is not strong enough to do anything with this man. This man is unafraid, unmanipulable, and in complete control.

Now, Jacob had wrestled his whole life. Let's just consider that. He'd wrestled with his brother in the womb; Rebekah felt those twins tussling around. And when Esau was born, Jacob held onto his heel, trying to prevent him from being born first so he could claim the birthright. Later, he exploited Esau's hunger to obtain it, then lied and deceived his father to steal the blessing. So, it's fitting that this man would come and wrestle him—not engage in dialogue—but do to Jacob what he'd done to everyone else throughout his life.

"So all his struggles with Esau, Isaac, Laban—he's tried to get a blessing by any means necessary. So it's fitting that now, this man appears and wrestles him. Not engages him in conversation, but does exactly what Jacob has done with everyone else throughout his life."

Now, picture this scene with me. You're standing there with Jacob on the banks of the river, the foggy darkness beginning to lift. Suddenly, a man emerges from the shadows, his gaze locked onto Jacob. He approaches deliberately, each step echoing in the early morning quiet. Where does Jacob turn? Does he shrink back in fear or flee into the night? No, he stands his ground, facing this mysterious figure head-on, ready to engage in a struggle that will change him forever. For Jacob doesn't know it yet, but God has come not just to bless him, but to transform him through this wrestling match, to teach him dependence and surrender, just as He desires for each of us.

Well, finally, the two engage in a fierce struggle. Anyone who's wrestled knows the feeling—you lock eyes, grip your opponent's collar, and it's on. They're locked together, like two bulls going at it, neither willing to back down. The dust flies around them as they grapple, each trying to gain the upper hand. This isn't a quick match; it's a test of endurance, a battle that rages all night long. It's Jacob's chance to truly wrestle with God, to surrender his pride and find dependence in Him.

Now, as they engage in this intense struggle, it's noteworthy that the Hebrew word for wrestle is related to dust. This isn't a gentleman's sparring match; Jacob and his adversary are locked in mortal combat on the ground, stirring up dust with every movement. And this isn't a quick bout either—they wrestle all through the night. Those familiar with wrestling or jiu-jitsu know that five minutes can feel like an eternity, let alone hours. This is a test of endurance, of conditioning, of Jacob's resolve to prevail.

In this struggle, initially it seems as though Jacob and his opponent are evenly matched in size and strength. Yet we've seen the power of this man; he can touch Jacob and dislocate his hip with ease. So why does he allow Jacob to wrestle all night long? Why doesn't he simply overpower him at the outset? Could it be that God, in this guise, is allowing Jacob to wrestle, to struggle, to fight for his blessing? Is He giving Jacob the chance to prove his dependence on Him, his need for surrender, just as we too must acknowledge our own limitations and rely on God's strength?

Now, initially, this man seems Jacob's equal in size and strength. Yet we know his power; he can dislocate Jacob's hip with just a touch. So why does he let Jacob struggle all night? Why toy with him?

I believe there are several reasons for this. Firstly, God is condescending to Jacob's level, descending to where he is, humbling Himself even to the point of allowing Jacob to seemingly gain the upper hand. This isn't about power or strength; it's about God meeting Jacob where he is in his pride and schemes. Secondly, God allows Jacob to exhaust himself, breaking him down, bringing him to the end of his own resources. It's only then that Jacob begins to realize who he's truly wrestling with—not an equal, but the Almighty. None of Jacob's old tricks or strategies will work here; this is a battle Jacob cannot win on his own.

Secondly, I believe he's allowing Jacob to exhaust himself. He's breaking down Jacob's defenses, bringing him to the end of his own strength and resources. It becomes clear that this is no ordinary being Jacob is wrestling with. This is not a battle Jacob can win through cunning or deceit. The man is too powerful, too relentless. Jacob cannot overpower him on his own.

"And yet, Jacob is strong and stubborn; he refuses to release him. They wrestle throughout the night until, as dawn approaches, the man touches Jacob's hip, dislocating it. That night, God marks Jacob, forever changing his life."

He's crippled, weakened, helpless, but he clings to the man in desperation. The man says, "Let me go, for it's daybreak." But Jacob replies, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." He realizes there is something about this man; he has the ability to bless him, to do what only God can do. This man has what Jacob has been after all his life.

"I've tried wrestling it from Esau, my father, and Laban. Yet, I'm still unsatisfied. This man has what I want, what I desperately need."

Now, why did the man need to leave before daybreak? What's the significance of that? We'll see that in a moment. But first, the man asked Jacob a question: "What is your name?" And Jacob replied, "I am Jacob."

Remember, Jacob had been asked this question before, by his father when he dressed up in Esau's clothes and wore the goat skins. "What's your name?" No doubt, it triggered a memory. "I'm Jacob," he admitted. "I've been the one who's tried to trick and manipulate, who's schemed my whole life." Only then did God give him a new name: "Your name will no longer be Jacob but Israel because you have prevailed with God and with humans and have overcome."

Introspective, isn't it? "Who are you?" "I'm Jacob," he confesses. "I'm the one who's tried to trick and manipulate and scheme my whole life." Only then does God give him a new name. He says, "'Your name will no longer be Jacob but Israel because you have prevailed with God and with humans and have overcome.'"

Israel. His name is Israel. He's changed from heel catcher or deceiver to one who struggles with God, a fighter of God. God renames him, saying, "You've been successful; you've struggled with humans and prevailed, but now you've prevailed with me." By renaming Jacob as Israel, God shows His authority over him, declaring, "Boy, you're no longer your own; you are mine. I have the right to rename you and do with you whatever I want."

"So to receive a new name from God is to acknowledge His lordship, His ownership, and His sovereign right to rule over our lives. He's saying, 'Jacob, you're no longer in control; you belong to Me.'"

Now, in scripture, in Hebrew culture, names indicated identity, character, and calling. They weren't just labels; they revealed who and what a person was, and their destiny. For instance, God calls Israel His own people. In Isaiah 43:1, He says, "I have redeemed you, I have summoned you by name; you are mine."

So when God gives you a new name, He's not just labeling you; He's transforming your identity, calling, life, and purpose. Hasn't He done that for us as believers? We're called by Christ's name, aren't we? Christian. And if you're in Him, your past doesn't define you. You're accepted, forgiven, beloved, His friend, His child. But remember, God's ultimate goal is to break us down and remake us through surrender and dependence on His promises. That's what happened to Jacob. He wrestled with God, clung to Him, and emerged blessed but broken, renamed Israel. And that's our call too—to wrestle, prevail, and be remade in Christ's image.

God gives us a new name, a new nature, a new purpose, and a new identity. Jacob said, "Tell me your name." In those days, calling someone's name meant having power over them. Remember when Jesus encountered demon-possessed people? The demons knew His name but couldn't speak it aloud because they had no power or authority over Him.

And the demons knew his name, Jesus, for it held power over them. They would try to speak it aloud, saying, "You're the Son of God," but Jesus refused to let them do so. He rebuked them, saying, "Shut your mouth. You're not in control here." Why? Because the demons had no authority over Jesus. His name held power because he was the Son of God, and they knew it. This is what God wants for us too—to break us down through surrender and dependence on his promises, so that we may find our true identity and purpose in him, just as Jacob did when he wrestled with God and received a new name and blessing.

So when he says, "What is it to you?" He's showing Jacob what God wants for us all. Why do you ask my name? The man will not give his name. Just as Jesus refused to let demons speak His name, this man refuses to reveal Himself until Jacob surrenders and depends on His promises. Jacob has no power over him, no authority, he is not in control. This man is showing Jacob—and us—that God desires to break us down through surrender and dependence on Him, transforming us as He transformed Jacob that night.

"Now, we'll learn the name of this man centuries later. And we'll discuss that shortly. His name will be revealed in due time. And incidentally, you already know his name."

Now, how do we prevail with God? We become Israel by recognizing that our past struggles with others are indicative of a deeper issue: we have been struggling with God all along. Our wrestling, manipulation, and scheming reveal that we have been fighting against Him. But now, Jacob is overcome because he refuses to let go of God's grace. He clings to the Lord in desperation, acknowledging his need for God's blessing. What he has truly been searching for is God Himself.

"But notice how he prevails. He doesn't prevail by overpowering God or controlling Him as he had others. He prevails because he refuses to let go of God's blessing. Desperate, at the end of himself, Jacob clings to the Lord, crying, 'I need you, Lord. I need your blessing.' All along, what he'd been searching for was You."

He will not let go until he is finally mastered by God. It's not that he was strong enough to pin this man or get him in a chokehold. The Lord didn't tap out. But yet, He says, "Alright, you've won." Really? He's crippled for the rest of his life and he wins? In God's book, he wins. Why? He becomes strong by becoming weak. He wins by losing. He overcomes by tapping out. He conquers, finally, by learning to surrender and trust God.

You see, that's how we wrestle with God, not by demanding our way or relying on our strength, but by clinging to His promises, admitting our weaknesses, and receiving His blessings by faith. This process of wrestling ultimately leads us to surrender and trust fully in Him, as Jacob did when he realized his own weakness and clung to the Lord, saying, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." It's in this act of letting go that we find our true strength and dependence on God.

So I want to ask you, have you wrestled with God? Have you come to the end of yourself, realized your own weakness, inability, and come to the point of full surrender? Have you begun to cling to him, saying, "Lord, you're all that I need. I fully trust in You"?

"What does it mean to wrestle with God today? I believe it means coming to Him in desperate prayer when you feel helpless—not with a list of demands, but clinging to Him by faith. It means refusing to let go of His promises even when circumstances seem impossible. It's like a parent praying for a prodigal child and saying, 'Lord, I won't let You go until You save them.' It is wrestling with the Lord."

Struggling with him through the dark night of the soul when you are all alone like Jacob, even when God seems silent or distant. You say, "Lord, I will not let you go." In these moments, it's as if we're storming the gates of heaven with mighty bold petitions, refusing to give heaven any rest until we've wrestled with him and learned to surrender to him.

Friends, sometimes God will bring you to that place where you're at the end of yourself. You have no control left; all you can do is cling to Him and cry out to Him. Struggle with Him until you eventually learn to surrender to Him.

So I want to encourage you this morning, friends. Have you ever truly agonized in prayer? When was the last time you poured your soul out to the Lord, got desperate, called out to Him fervently? The Bible tells us that it's not just about giving God a laundry list of complaints and needs, but about recognizing His greatness and wrestling with Him until we learn to surrender. Because ultimately, God wants to transform us, as He did Jacob, through our struggle with Him in prayer.

When's the last time you recognized the greatness of God? When's the last time you fell upon your face and just worshipped Him for who He is? When's the last time, friends, you did like Jacob? You agonized, labored, wrestled in prayer until you prevailed with God?

Notice the mark of grace, friends. When God overcomes a man, when life has truly been touched by grace, that life is never the same again. Jacob never walked the same; he was limping because of his hip, as verse 31 tells us. This limp wasn't a punishment, it was his testimony.

Every step Jacob took thereafter reminded him of when God conquered him, subdued him, and made him a new creature. Friends, if grace has touched your soul, you won't walk, talk, or live the same way. Your desires and passions will be different.

You will be changed forever if anyone is in Christ. He is a new creature. Has that happened to you this morning? Has he touched your soul? Do you live differently? Are you uncomfortable with sin? Do you cling to Christ? Do you crave righteousness? Are you growing in sanctification? Are you walking with the Lord, limping because of his touch upon you?

"It's the only way to walk with Him. If you're not limping, if He hasn't left His mark upon you, then you've never truly been touched by Him."

Years later, in Genesis 47 and 48, we find old Jacob in Egypt at the end of his life. He is worshipping, leaning on his staff, a broken man but one made whole. From this point forward, he limps, a mark of his time with the Lord. We find him not scheming, but believing, worshipping, and leaning upon God.

"So this man who once wrestled and grasped for blessing now gives it freely. The man who once relied on deception now leans upon God. Friends, the same thing is true for us. It's a paradox, this Christian life, because it's only when we are weak, when we realize our inability, when we are desperate, that we are strong, for his strength is made perfect in weakness."

"So if dependence is the objective, weakness becomes an advantage. Friends, God's goal is not to make you happy and successful. It's to make you desperate, to cling to Him, to break you down so that He can remake you into the man or woman He's called you to be."

Friends, before God can use a person mightily, he must wound them deeply. God must break a person before he can use them. He must bring them to the end of themselves, to the place of total surrender.

We see it throughout the Bible. He broke Moses with 40 years in the wilderness. He broke Joseph through slavery and prison. He broke David by having him run from Saul for years. Friends, God doesn't need your strength; He wants your surrender. There's no room for hot shots or celebrity pastors in His service. God needs no heroes—there's only one Hero in this story, and that's the Lord Himself.

"What He uses are broken men and women who will rely upon Him. That is the man or woman He can use. And He cannot use you until you recognize you are nothing without Him. When you are weak, He is strong."

The limp, it wasn't Jacob's weakness. It was his testimony. It was a source of strength. Now, it's a lasting memorial. Therefore, to this day, the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip in the muscle that shrank.

Now, this likely refers to the sciatic muscle or tendon. Moses recorded this observation, which was still practiced in his time. So, evidently, the nation of Israel had a tradition: they wouldn't eat this part of the hindquarter. However, it's not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible or in the Mosaic Law. It was simply a tradition passed down at their dinner tables, with a reminder that "we're not going to eat this piece of meat."

You know why, kids? Because we're called Israelites, after this one man named Israel, who God renamed after he wrestled with Him all night and popped his hip out of its socket. You see, Jesus had quite the leg lock, didn't He? That wrestling match became a testimony that's lasted for generations.

Friends, your walk with the Lord will become a testimony for generations to come. The seeds that you're sowing right now—being faithful to the house of God, showing your children how to live the Christian life, praying with them, reading the word with them—even though it seems like they're not paying attention, they're watching what you do, your habits, your behaviors. They're learning to value what you value. And you are creating a testimony that will last for generations.

Now, who is this man? Well, it's intriguing because he names the place Peniel. "I have seen God face to face," he says. You caught that reveal earlier, didn't you? The Scripture testifies to this event.

Hosea 12:3-6. Centuries later, the prophet Hosea sheds light on this event. He tells us who this mysterious figure was. In the womb, Jacob grasped his brother Esau’s heel. As a man, he wrestled with God—or, more accurately, with an angel—and prevailed. Then, Jacob wept and begged for divine favor.

"What was Jacob doing? He wept and begged for his favor, finding him at Bethel and speaking with him there—the Lord God Almighty, the Lord being His name. So who was this man? Hosea reveals it: none other than the Lord God Almighty Himself."

Hosea calls this figure God's angel, or the Moloch, God's messenger. We've encountered this angel before in Genesis 16; it's the same one who appeared to Hagar in the wilderness. Sometimes referred to as the captain of the Lord's host when he appears to Joshua, this figure also interacts with Gideon, Samson's parents, and Isaiah. Throughout Scripture, he is known as the Angel of the Lord.

And this messenger, this angel, always acts in the capacity of God. He performs works that only God can do, such as blessing his people, making divine promises, guiding and protecting them, even wrestling with them—as we see here with Jacob. He receives worship as God, feasts with people, and is known throughout scripture as the capital A angel of the Lord. In this way, God breaks down our self-sufficiency, inviting us to surrender and depend on Him, just as Jacob did when he wrestled with the angel and prevailed.

Jacob realized who this man was because he lifted up his voice, wept, and sought favor from him. For this is none other than the God of Bethel who had appeared to him years before—the Lord God of hosts, Yahweh, God Almighty. Friends.

This is a pre-incarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is what theologians call a Christophany. And it shows us that the Lord has always desired to be among his people, just as he walked with Adam and Eve in the garden, wrestled with Jacob by the river, or came and made promises to the people in the time of the judges. God has always desired to be among his people.

So this is a Christophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is not just Him trying on the clothes of the incarnation before Bethlehem, but rather, it's God rehearsing His future role among humanity. It's as if He's saying, "This is how I will come to you, this is how I will wrestle with you, so that you might be transformed." This is not merely a dress rehearsal; it's a preview of the divine drama that will unfold in Bethlehem and beyond. Here, God is breaking down Jacob, just as He desires to break down each one of us, for our transformation and His glory.

You may find it intriguing that in Luke chapter 2, verses 36-38, Jacob names this very location Bethlehem. It is noteworthy that he also refers to it as Peniel, for it was here that he beheld God face to face. Centuries later, when the infant Jesus is presented at the temple, He encounters Anna, a woman whose father's name, Phanuel, bears testament to the precise spot where Jacob struggled with God.

"And he sees God face-to-face. This Anna, she's a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel. She was very old and had been there at the temple night and day in fasting and prayer, waiting for the redemption of Israel. And when she saw Jesus as a baby, she said, 'This is indeed the Redeemer.'"

Earlier that day, a man named Simeon took Jesus in his arms and said, "Now I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in sight of all nations. I have come face to face with my salvation, for my eyes have seen him, the Redeemer." Oh, it gets better, friends.

This divine man had assumed an earthly body, retaining his deity while adding humanity to himself. Therefore, he wedded humanity and deity, making himself the God-man. John 1:14 tells us, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father. Friends, Christ is the image of the invisible God. How do we see God when God is spirit? We see God by seeing His Son; He is the image of the invisible God.

2 Corinthians 4:6 tells us that we behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Therefore, when Jacob declares, "I have seen God face to face," it is because he has encountered Jesus, who reveals Himself as the Messiah and the image of the invisible God, as stated in John 14:9, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father."

You've seen me, you've seen the Father. That's how we see God face to face. We're wrapping up here, folks.

"I want you to understand some parallels. Not only parallels at Christ's birth, but also parallels in Christ's passion. Here in the story with Jacob, and ultimately at the cross, God has proven that He is willing to condescend to us, to humble Himself, even seem beaten, so that we might prevail."

That is the Lord Jesus, who came to be beaten by those he came to save, to be humiliated, and to undergo what seemed like defeat—the defeat of the cross—in order to bring us to himself. Just as Jacob was separated from his family and alone, so too was Jesus separated from the people, outside the camp in the wilderness.

Just as Jacob wrestled with God in prayer, Jesus wrestles in prayer in Gethsemane, with God's hand weighing heavily upon him; his sweat becomes like great drops of blood, as he prepares to bear the wrath of God in the place of sinners.

On the cross, Jesus is struck, not in his hip, but in his side. Blood and water flow forth. And he does not limp away; instead, he literally lays down his life, and is taken from the cross to be laid in a borrowed tomb.

"And like Israel, whose hip was struck at Peniel, and who laid in a borrowed tomb after wrestling with God, Jesus too will ultimately prevail. His side was struck on the cross, not his hip, but he laid down his life nonetheless, and was taken from the cross to be laid in a borrowed tomb. Like Israel who struggled and prevailed, Jesus will rise again, prevailing by the resurrection. And like Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel, Jesus is given a new name above every other: Lord. At His name, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

"And like God renamed Jacob, so God has given Jesus a new name: a name above every name, the name Lord. At His name, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

So friends, the same God who wrestled with Jacob is the one born in Bethlehem, His touch on Jacob's hip the very hands pierced for us. Jacob lived after seeing God face-to-face, a testament to the transformative power of God's presence. We too see God's glory in Christ's face and live because of it.

Jesus voluntarily humbled Himself, made Himself of no reputation, taking upon Himself the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. He condescended to where we were, faced humiliation, betrayal, and rejection, becoming beatable and seemingly defeated. But He rose from the dead on the third day so that He might reveal the Father to us and bring us into the promised land.

One thing I'll leave with you: Jacob is on the other side of the Jordan River, preparing to cross back home to the promised land after 20 years in exile. He's about to return to Bethel to claim his inheritance, but first, he must confront this mysterious man who stands as the way into the promised land.

Friends, you get in the connection. Jesus Christ Himself is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the way into the promised land. There's no other way except through the Lord Jesus Christ. No one comes to the Father except through Him.

"And Jacob couldn't lie his way through, couldn't connive his way through. He had to be broken. He had to surrender. He had to bow his knee to this man. And friends, the only way you'll make it to heaven is not by trying to be good enough, not by trying to wrestle your way or connive your way, or explain your way into it. But by surrendering to the man, the Lord Jesus Christ. It's by trusting Him completely, not what you do for Him, but what He's done for you on the cross."

So have you come to that point of total surrender? Have you been broken? Have you said, "Lord, You are the man. You are Lord. And I bow my knee to You"? It is only after He has broken us, only after we have submitted to Him, can we enter into the land of promise.

So as they come and give us a hymn of invitation, Jacob experiences an exile and then an exodus. He is able to enter into the promised land by wrestling with this man and prevailing. By the way, Jacob's life serves as a prefigure for what will happen with Israel. His descendants will one day live in exile in Egypt, oppressed and abused. But God will bring them out, they'll cross a river, and they'll inherit their own promised land, just as Jacob did. You know, Jesus is the true and better exodus. He's our way out of the exile of sin and death. When we surrender to Him and are baptized, we enter into His promised land, His realm, His rest—the rest of His salvation.

"But God brought them out, and they crossed over the river, and they inherited the promised land. Just as Jacob did. You know, Jesus is the true and better exodus. He's our way out of the exile of sin and death. And when we surrender to Him and cross over through baptism, we enter into the promised land of His life, into His realm, into His rest—the rest of His salvation."

So I want to call you this morning. Maybe you find yourself facing the past, but remember, the Lord is the one who can give you a new beginning. Your future is now. Perhaps you've tried to handle life your way, like Jacob, making mistakes and causing harm. But when you come broken before Him, God will not despise your sacrifices of a broken and contrite heart. He is near to those who are humble and seeking, ready to remake you into the person He's called you to be. Have you come to God? Have you made your peace with Him? Does He rule over your life? If you'd like to pray or meditate about this, please do so now.

He is near to those who are brokenhearted. He will break you and bring you to the end of yourself, so that He may remake you into the man or woman He has called you to be. Have you come to Him? Have you done business with this man? Does this man rule over your life? If you would like to come and pray, find someone to pray with you. Or you can spend some time in quiet meditation here in the pews while this music plays, leading us into His presence.