Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, October 12, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
JESUS, THE ANGEL OF BLESSING
Scripture Reading: Genesis 32:1-12,24-32
Text: Genesis 32:30
Genesis 32:30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
Introduction: Throughout the Old Testament there are types, pictures, and prophecies of the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that we find one of them here in our scripture reading in the person of the angel with whom Jacob wrestled all night long.
This type, or prophetic picture, is not as clearly stated as some of the ones we’ve already covered in Genesis, but the similarities between the angel and our Lord are significant enough that it may be one of the ones to which Jesus referred when He said:
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
and again in that chapter:
John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
It is very possible that Jesus referred to this passage when He met with two of His
disciples after the resurrection,
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
I want to give you seven likenesses to our Lord Jesus Christ in the passage tonight.
First notice,
I. THE SETTING IN WHICH JACOB MET THE ANGEL
Genesis 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
A. It was a time of distress – Genesis 32:7
B. It was a time of decision – run or face the problem?
C. It was a time of danger
D. It was a time of darkness
1. It was night.
2. Many people have their closest experiences with God during the darkest hours of their lives.
II. THE SUPERIORITY OF THE STRENGTH OF THE ANGEL
Genesis 32:25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
A man’s strongest muscle is in his leg, but that strength doesn’t impress God (Psalms 147:10).
Jesus is of VASTLY superior strength:
A. Of mind
B. Of muscle
C. Of morals
III. THE STEDFASTNESS OF JACOB’S DESIRE
Genesis 32:26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
Jacob’s wrestling match with the angel reminds us of our own need to have:
A. Passion in prayer
1. James 5:17 – FERVENT
B. Persistence in prayer
1. “Let me go” reminds me of the Savior’s time with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, when He “made as though he would have gone further” (Luke 24:28).
2. ASK:
3. A – Ask and keep on asking
4. S – Seek and keep on seeking
5. K – Knock and keep on knocking
IV. THE SECRET OF THE IDENTITY OF THE ANGEL
Genesis 32:29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
This reminds me of how today the Lord’s Person, His identity, is still
A. Unknown to wayward Israel – Romans 6:25
B. Unknown to wicked Gentiles
V. THE SUMMARY JACOB GAVE OF THE EXPERIENCE
Genesis 32:30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
Jacob, in seeing an angel of the Lord, believed he had seen God. When you see JESUS, you see God!
A. Jesus is God’s face, or appearance – 1 Timothy 3:16
B. Jesus is God in fact, or actuality – John 1:1
VI. THE SWITCH IN JACOB
Genesis 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
A NEW NAME:
Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Jesus makes a CHANGE when you encounter Him!
A. He gives a change in name
B. He gives a change in nature – 2 Corinthians 5:17
VII. THE SHIFT IN JACOB’S STRENGTH
Genesis 32:31-32 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. 32 Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.
Jacob had a permanent reminder that he needed to learn to shift his strength
A. From his thigh – PHYSICAL strength
B. From his trickery – MENTAL strength
Likewise, we must remember the words of our Lord:
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
and on the other hand:
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.