Wrestling With God
Scripture Focus
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. He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 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. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.”
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.” 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. 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.” The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. 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 32:22-32)
The Blessing:
“I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you… and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
(Genesis 12:2-3)
The Blessing:
“I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father… and in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.”
(Genesis 26:3-4)
“Two nations are in your womb… and the older shall serve the younger.”
(Genesis 25:23)
Family Division:
“Isaac loved Esau … But Rebekah loved Jacob.”
(Genesis 25:28)
Isaacs Disobedience:
“Prepare for me delicious food… that my soul may bless you before I die.”
(Genesis 27:1-4)
Isaac’s Surrender:
“Isaac trembled very violently…”
(Genesis 27:33)
Why Not Just Bless Esau?
As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!”
(Genesis 27:34)
Esau Hates Jacob:
Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
(Genesis 27:41)
Jacob’s Conditional Faith:
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God…
(Genesis 28:20-21)
Returning Home:
Return to the land of your fathers… and I will be with you.
(Genesis 31:3)
Jacob’s Manipulative Strategy:
“Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.”
(Genesis 32:7-8)
A Mysterious Wrestler:
“And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.”
(Genesis 32:24)
Wrestling God:
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 32:30)
God Humbles Jacob:
“When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket…”
(Genesis 32:25)
Jacob’s Surrender:
Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me… Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.”
(Genesis 32:26, 29)
He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
(Genesis 33:3-4)
What are we learning from Jacob?
Our deepest struggles are often with God
God will wound us for the sake of transformation
The greatest blessing in life is God Himself
This week
VBS Volunteer Interest Meeting - TODAY!
Come enjoy lunch, hear what this year’s experience will look like, explore all the different ways you can serve, and find a spot that fits you best. No commitment required - just come, connect, and discover the possibilities! Please register online.
🗓️ Sunday, March 15 - 🕖 12:45-1:30PM - 📍 Fellowship Center (Main Building)
COTN Meal Packing Outreach Event
This event is a great opportunity for the whole church of all ages and abilities to serve together. Make plans to join us as we assemble OneMeals for Children of the Nations to be distributed to kids in Sierra Leone. Everybody will have the opportunity to sample the meals. Learn more & register.
🗓️ March 20th & 21st - 🕖 Various times - 📍 Gym (Building 2)
Baptism Class
Baptism is an important step in your faith journey. This act of obedience gives you the opportunity to publicly identify with Jesus Christ, confessing your personal faith in Him. Our baptism class helps you prepare for this significant spiritual event. Register online.
🗓️ Saturday, March 7th - 🕖 10AM-12PM - 📍 Coffee Shop (Building 2)
The Grove
The Grove is a place for adults in their 30s and 40s to connect, build friendships, and grow in Christ together. Life in this season is full of both joys and challenges — let’s walk through it together. Childcare for ages 0–11 is available. Learn more and register.
🗓️ Sunday, March 22 - 🕖 3-5pM - 📍 Coffee Shop (Building 2)
Join us for Holy Week!
While we worship and serve Jesus throughout the calendar year, Holy Week and Easter are special times when we focus specifically on all that Jesus experienced and endured during His trial, crucifixion, and resurrection. Learn more.
Palm Sunday - March 29th, 9 & 11AM (ALL-IN Services)
Good Friday - April 3rd, 7PM
Easter - April 5th, 8:30AM, 10AM (ASL), 11:30AM
Visit www.lighthousehome.org/whats-happening-at-lcc for the complete list of upcoming groups, classes, and events.
eNews
Visit www.lighthousehome.org/enews to sign up for LCC's weekly eNews. Get special announcements and messages from our pastors and Leadership Team, updates and emergency notices, and a first look at what’s upcoming.