GENESIS 32:22-31

THE BACKGROUND

After The Flood, God chose to work through one faithful man, Abraham.  Abraham’s son Isaac begat the twins Esau and Jacob.  Their stories fill the latter pages of the book of Genesis, beginning around chapter 25 and continuing on past today’s reading.  This family and their stories are full of deception and the lust for power.  Jacob in particular was eager to be the top dog of the family, even though Esau was the firstborn.  As firstborn child, Esau is entitled to inherit all of Isaac’s property.  But while they were still in their mother’s womb, God told their mother Rebekah

“Two nations are in your womb,
    and two peoples born of you shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other;
    the elder shall serve the younger.”  Gen 25:23

So, right from the start, Jacob was destined and blessed by God to be the leader of the family.  But Jacob, through many power moves, strove to guarantee this position nevertheless.  Today’s story is just one example of Jacob’s struggle for power.

THE DETAIL

  • Jacob, his family, servants, and livestock are all fleeing for their lives.  Jacob has tricked his brother-in-law, and is fearful of reprisal.  They are headed towards the home of Esau, who is angry about Jacob tricking him out of his birthright.  Upon reaching the Jabbok river, he sends everybody across the river, and he stays behind.  (vv. 22-23)
  • During the night, Jacob dreams that he is wrestling with a man.  Or is it not a dream?  As they wrestle, Jacob becomes aware that this is no ordinary man, but God himself. In the course of the struggle, God dislocates Jacob’s hip.  Unfazed, Jacob wants to know God’s name.  God does not respond.  Jacob won’t release God until He gives Jacob a blessing!  (vv. 24-26)
  • God renames Jacob; he is now to be called Israel.  Naming will be discussed in The Takeaway.  Jacob asks for God’s name.  God doesn’t answer this question, but blesses Jacob.  (vv. 27-29)
  • According to tradition, seeing God’s face brings certain death.  Yet, Jacob saw God’s face as he wrestled with Him.  In honor of this event, he named the place “Peniel”, which means “face of God”.  Penuel is an alternate spelling of Peniel.  Jacob/Israel now walks with a limp, because of his God-encounter.  (vv. 30-31)

THE TAKEAWAY

In Hebrew, the name “Jacob” means “heel-grabber”.  At his birth, Jacob was clutching his brother’s heel.  Even at birth, the power struggle had already begun!  God renames Jacob “Israel”, which means “wrestles with God”.  Naming or renaming something is a sign of ownership.  Adam named all the animals in the Garden of Eden as a sign of his dominance over them.  When we bring a rescue pet home from a shelter, we often name it, even if it had been given a name at the shelter.  Jesus renamed Simon as Peter, and Saul as Paul.  It is a way of signifying the beginning of a new relationship.  In spite of Jacob’s incessant power-grabbing actions, God lives up to the promises he made to Jacob’s grandfather Abraham. He wrestles with and blesses this less than honorable man.  He wants to be in relationship with Jacob, in spite of Jacob’s behavior.

Even though we are less than perfect beings, God wants to be in relationship with us, too.  God continues to send the Holy Spirit to us, to wrestle with us in matters of faith.  Wrestling with God is OK, as long as we are faithful.  Just keep in mind that something might get thrown out of joint in the process.
 

2 TIMOTHY 3:14-4:5

THE BACKGROUND

This is the second to last week that we will study the letters of Paul written to his beloved follower Timothy.  In the first part of chapter 3, Paul talks of a host of deceitful preachers who are leading Christians astray.  A good conclusion is given just ahead of today’s reading, in verse 13:

But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived. 

THE DETAIL

  • Paul turns the discussion away from those people, and focuses on Timothy.  This is excellent advice for all of us today.  Paul tells Timothy (and us) to get back to basics. Remember the teachings that Paul gave Timothy.  He summarizes them in last week’s reading in 10 words: 

Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David…

  • He encourages us to use Holy Scripture as our reference point.  (vv. 16-17)
  • Next, in verses 1-2, comes a directive from Paul that is so serious, that he calls upon the name of Jesus.  We are urged to:
    • Proclaim the message
    • Be persistent, convince, rebuke, and encourage [others]
    • Be patient in teaching
  • We are cautioned to be aware that people’s “ears are itching” to hear what they want to hear, rather than what God wants them to hear.  (vv. 3-4)
  • We, on the other hand, need to keep focused, doing the work of an evangelist.  (v. 5)

THE TAKEAWAY

Most workshops have some sort of reference point.  It is called a benchmark.  Sometimes, it is a yardstick that is attached to the bench.  It is a place where one goes, to ensure that their work measures up. Holy Scripture is our benchmark. We must still distinguish between the bible users and the bible abusers.  That is not easy.  But if we use Paul’s basic 10 word benchmark, it is a good start.

LUKE 18:1-8

THE BACKGROUND

Jesus has just given his disciples a glimpse of the end times.  He has also told them that the kingdom of God is already amongst them. They must have been a little perplexed, because he tells them this parable.

THE DETAIL

  • Oftentimes, to understand why Jesus told a certain parable, we must dig around and read the verses preceding it.  Then, we must figure out what it means.  Here in verse one, the work is done for us.  (v. 1)
  • Jesus paints the picture of a judge who is corrupt—one who does not respect the justice laid down in the Law of Moses, nor does he respect justice for the people’s sake. (v. 2)
  • A widow comes to him, seeking justice.  In that patriarchal society, widows had no influence, power, or authority.  Society was supposed to grant widows an extra measure of compassion and charity.  Her chances of getting either of these from this corrupt judge were pretty slim.  (v. 3)
  • But she was persistent, and kept on pleading here case.  In the end, she received the justice she came for, merely because she had worn this judge down!  (vv. 4-5)
  • Jesus brings the story home.  How much more will our God who loves us listen to our prayers than this widow to the judge?  God will answer our prayers, especially those prayers that are said “day and night”. (vv. 6-8)

THE TAKEAWAY

Sometimes, I find it hard to believe that a mere mortal like I can persuade God to see things my way. Yet, here is God the Son telling me to go ahead; pray night and day, and God may be persuaded. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

God is able to be swayed by our prayers.  Could this be one sign of his love of us?