Genesis Ch. 32
What's in a Name?
What's in a Name?
- Remember: God of NT and OT are the same.
- God is and has and always will be a God of grace. he is so kind.
- At the start of Chapter 32, Jacob is a day away from entering the promise land.
- 20 years before, Jacob had no money, no wife, no kids, and was running for his life from his brother Esau.
- 20 years later: he has two wives, kids, he is wealthy, and he is going to reconcile with his brother.
- Abraham's blessing was extended to Jacob.
- Blessing was Gods presence. God protects and provides.
- Before Jacob came to Paddan Aram, angels appeared.
- Now, as he is leaving, he will have another encounter. God is meeting with him on the way into the promised land.
God reveals unseen realities to give us courage for trials that lie ahead.
- Jacob is the object of Gods relentless grace.
- God shows stubborn love.
- Gods love doesn't take "no" for an answer
- God allows scary and difficult trials to build our faith and deepen our trust in his desire and ability to care for us.
- We win only when we lose.
- God exercises incredible mercy and authority toward Jacob.
- God gives Jacob a new name, a new identity: Israel.
- "Israel " means "God fights" or "you've fought with God"
- Jacob discovers in this encounter, finally, that he is powerless and dependent on God
- Grace sometimes gives you a limp so you are a trophy of Gods grace.
- NT parallel for us: we were dead in our sins.
- God's patient kindness led us to repentance.
- Jacob will have to grow up into the name God gave him
- We grow up into our name. We grow up into what we've already been declared to be by God.
