From Wrestler to Blessed

Zephyr United Methodist Church

Early First United Methodist Church

August 7, 2005

Rev. Eddie Smart

Genesis 32:22-31 (NRSV)

The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. ²³He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. ²⁴Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. ²⁵When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. ²⁶Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." ²⁷So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." ²⁸Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed." ²⁹Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. ³⁰So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved." ³¹The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

Yesterday I caught a portion of a movie that had been made for TV. The movie was such a hit, it was eventually released in movie theaters. That is the opposite of what we normally see. The movie? “Brian’s Song.” I read somewhere that it was a “chick flick” for men. You may have seen the movie–maybe more than once. It is the story of Brian Piccolo a small man of average talent by NFL standards. He was a running back for the Chicago Bears from 1966 to 1969. He was the roommate of the NFL great, Gayle Sayers–the first white man to room with a black man.

The story is one of friendship and hardship. It is a story of crisis and courage. Brian Piccolo, a man of heart, humor, hard work and human suffering, died from cancer shortly after diagnosis and two surgeries at the early age of 26 leaving behind a wife and three small daughters.

Today’s story from scripture is one of crisis and courage. Jacob decides it is time to face the brother he betrayed, tricked and swindled. On his way back to face Esau, Jacob comes to the Jabbok river. He sends his two wives, servants and 11 children ahead with all their possessions. He is there all alone. In the midst of the night and his loneliness Jacob finds himself in a wrestling match with a man until daybreak.

The man sees that the match will go into daylight. At that point he strikes Jacob on the hip to put an end to the battle. Jacob holds on, refusing to let go until he receives a blessing.

Jacob is asked, “What is your name?” Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have struggled with God and with humans and have prevailed.” Jacob asks for a name of this man, but does not get one. He does get the blessing for which he asked.

It is at this point that Jacob renames the place Peniel. Jacob says it is because he has seen God face to face. Jacob had been wrestling with God.

Have you ever wrestled with God? Have you ever questioned your circumstances or those of someone else? Have you ever thought you were alone as Jacob did at the beginning of that night? Have you ever experienced crisis?This event in Jacob’s life was a turning point. Did you realize that the word crisis refers to a “turning point?” It was crisis time for Jacob, and he encountered God. I have studied all sorts of material on crisis intervention. The one thing that stands out more than any other is the idea that when a person is in crisis they are more open to God entering their lives. No wonder so many of us experience crisis. It is in those moments that God is most likely to reach us.

At this point in Jacob’s life, God gives him a new name. He is now Israel. From the text we get the idea that Israel means “the one who strives with God.” It can mean something like “God rules.” (NIB, Vol. I, 566)

Mary Luti wrote, “God's ambush of Jacob at Jabbok was not a private experience. It was also to be his people's; or, as one scholar puts it, such stories of the past were ‘about THEM in an earlier embodiment.’ You are Israel, God said to Jacob; and we are, too.”

Jacob was now Israel. His family who will inherit Abraham’s promise, Jacob’s promise of the Promised Land would be known as Israel. We too have been addressed by that name Israel. Is it true? Does God rule?

The New Interpreter’s Bible tells us that when God gave the name of Israel to Jacob, the one who strives with God, it implies something about Jacob and God. Jacob cannot strive with God unless God remains engaged. The name Israel is also a promise, a divine commitment, “to stay with Jacob in the struggle.” The commentator writes, “God’s promise involves not a passive presence, but an active, engaged relationship.” (Vol. I, 566)

God promises to be with you and me in the very midst of our crisis. Can God call you Israel, one who strives with God?

I saw my friend Larry Burton this week. He and his family are experiencing some very difficult times. Larry told me over the phone, “There are things worst than death.” As we experience those things we can know that God is with us, striving with us.

While for many that is true. There are some for whom that is not true. For those who know that engaged relationship with God there are many things in this life worst than death.

There are those who do not “strive with God.” There are those who do not know the transformation that comes with a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. For those who do not know the saving grace of God, there is nothing on this earth that can be worst than death.

Thanks be to God when we can say, “God rules.” Thanks be to God for staying with us in the struggle. Thanks be to God that there is nothing that we experience without God being with us.