RTW 2024

During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two servant wives, and his eleven sons and crossed the Jabbok River with them. After taking them to the other side, he sent over all his possessions.

This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!”

But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

“What is your name?” the man asked.

He replied, “Jacob.”

“Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”

“Please tell me your name,” Jacob said.

“Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.

Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.” The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping because of the injury to his hip. (Even today the people of Israel don’t eat the tendon near the hip socket because of what happened that night when the man strained the tendon of Jacob’s hip.)

Genesis 32:22-32

He put the servant wives and their children at the front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last.
‍Genesis 33:2

• Story is the way that God has chosen to teach His people.
• John tells us in his gospel that there is a lot more to the story than we know.
• John 21:25
• There is a purpose to every word, number, genealogy, story, and space.
• As we read and see how God works in these stories, we know Him in a deeper way.
• God speaks to His people in the Bible in ways to make them think.
• We need to think when we read these stories.
• Jacob is wrestling with a man through the night.
• Jacob wants a blessing.
• The last time Jacob wanted a blessing, it was from his father Isaac.
• Jacob lied about his name then.
• Jacob, the deceiver, had used deception to get a blessing.
• Jacob wants a blessing again.
• The “man” asks, “What is your name?”
• This time Jacob tells the truth.
• His name is Jacob, which means deceiver.
• He admits the truth.
• God is not done with him.
• “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel.”
• God takes Jacob’s name and gives him a better one.
• Israel means “one who struggles with God.”
• Transformation has begun.

Realize that for transformation to begin we have to be honest with God. We need to confess and repent…and get ready!