In our text from this past Sunday we see Jacob encounter God, but in a way you might not expect. In this encounter, God comes and wrestles with Jacob while he is alone. Ultimately, God enters the scene to wrestle with Jacob in order to wound and bless him. And we see Jacob limp away from this encounter changed from a cheater to a transformed man, now identified by God instead of his past.

In our text from this past Sunday we see Jacob encounter God, but in a way you might not expect. In this encounter, God comes and wrestles with Jacob while he is alone. Ultimately, God enters the scene to wrestle with Jacob in order to wound and bless him. And we see Jacob limp away from this encounter changed from a cheater to a transformed man, now identified by God instead of his past.

In Genesis 29 we see Jacob arrive at his uncle Laban’s house and fall in love with Laban’s daughter Rachel. Jacob agrees to work for seven years in order have Rachel’s hand in marriage. Ironically, Jacob is the one who gets cheated in this story and wakes up to Leah in his bed the next morning. Later, he marries Rachel and this family of broken sinners shows us how our quests for love often end in hurt and disappointment, but God’s love can redeem all things.

In Genesis 29 we see Jacob arrive at his uncle Laban’s house and fall in love with Laban’s daughter Rachel. Jacob agrees to work for seven years in order have Rachel’s hand in marriage. Ironically, Jacob is the one who gets cheated in this story and wakes up to Leah in his bed the next morning. Later, he marries Rachel and this family of broken sinners shows us how our quests for love often end in hurt and disappointment, but God’s love can redeem all things.

Jacob is forced to go on a journey to his relatives that live far away. While on his way, he is uncertain of his future and afraid, but in the midst of his uncertainty and fear, God graciously speaks to him. God visits Jacob in a dream and shows him a ladder with angels ascending and descending on the ladder. God then gives Jacob the promise of the covenant blessing showing himself gracious to Jacob, who responds to God in awe.

Jacob is forced to go on a journey to his relatives that live far away. While on his way, he is uncertain of his future and afraid, but in the midst of his uncertainty and fear, God graciously speaks to him. God visits Jacob in a dream and shows him a ladder with angels ascending and descending on the ladder. God then gives Jacob the promise of the covenant blessing showing himself gracious to Jacob, who responds to God in awe.

When the time came for Isaac to bless his firstborn son, Esau, Jacob does what he does best and deceives his father by impersonating Esau, and thus getting his father’s blessing. This reveals to us the weight of blessing, as Isaac cannot take back the blessing he pronounced over Jacob, but his words set the trajectory of Jacob’s life, even the nation of Israel. Ultimately, we see the way of blessing in Jesus, our older brother, who became a curse for us so that we could experience true blessing.

When the time came for Isaac to bless his firstborn son, Esau, Jacob does what he does best and deceives his father by impersonating Esau, and thus getting his father’s blessing. This reveals to us the weight of blessing, as Isaac cannot take back the blessing he pronounced over Jacob, but his words set the trajectory of Jacob’s life, even the nation of Israel. Ultimately, we see the way of blessing in Jesus, our older brother, who became a curse for us so that we could experience true blessing.

Before Jacob and Esau were born, God chose to set his love on and covenant with Jacob instead of Esau, showing us his constant mercy and absolute sovereignty. It’s obvious that this has nothing to do with Jacob’s good works, because he doesn’t really have any. Growing up, he cheated Esau and his parents, but God uses this life to display his perfect grace.

Before Jacob and Esau were born, God chose to set his love on and covenant with Jacob instead of Esau, showing us his constant mercy and absolute sovereignty. It’s obvious that this has nothing to do with Jacob’s good works, because he doesn’t really have any. Growing up, he cheated Esau and his parents, but God uses this life to display his perfect grace.