God Encounters
Jacob has deceived his brother & now his brother is coming to see him. So he divides up his family in preparation. As soon as he's alone he gets "jumped".
"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 ESV)
When Jacob begins to wrestle he doesn't know who it is but he realizes that it's not a natural being. This match lasted from sun up to sun down. God even messes up Jacobs leg & Jacob still goes for it. God says ok that's enough it's been all day, but Jacob refused to let go until he was blessed. God asked him his name, even though he already knew it. Because he wanted Jacob to admit who he was. A deceiver, a manipulator, & a liar. God changed his name b/c from that point forward everything would change. He was brand new & later Israel (Jacob) even became the father of God's chosen people.
Israel - meaning wrestled with God
Peniel - meaning I've seen God & I live
Jacob - meaning deceiver, manipulator, liar.
When God shows up & shows out, that's a God encounter!
Theology & Doctrine can be read & taken from the bible but when we read it we read it through the filter of our own theology & doctrine. However, everything isn't based on how much you know b/c sometimes it just doesn't make sense, sometimes you just have to wrestle with God. It's about obedience.
Encountering God
1) Encountering God is sometimes a process. (Jacob was beat up, it was messy) Don't give up too soon! Our culture medicates everything! Instead, wrestle through it! Embrace your problems, like "God its on!"
2) Encountering God will often change your destiny. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV) (Jacob later became the father of God's chosen people. ) ( paul was a mass murderer) (David, Peter, James, & John)
3) Encountering God will cause you to walk differently.
Saved by grace through faith! You can do nothing to deserve, receive, or achieve salvation = the greatest encounter. Choose to stick around & have a wrestling match with God.
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, (Matthew 3:8 NKJV)
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