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[0:00] Plan is what? You remember his plan? Anyone? His plan is this group's going to meet Esau first and he'll say a couple hundred sheep. This group then is going to meet him.

[0:19] ! Oh, a couple hundred goats. And so on. His plan is maybe by the way he'll meet Esau.

[0:29] By the time all these gifts get to him, Esau will be appeased enough. He won't kill me or attack me. That's his plan.

[0:41] Now, now it's nighttime. He splits them up. He's going to split the groups how?

[0:59] Okay. He has eleven sons at this point, right? Some of them are by Leah. Some of them are by Leah's handmaid.

[1:16] Some of them are by Rachel. Well, one's by Rachel. And some are by Rachel's handmaid.

[1:28] So he splits them into these four groups. And he's going to send them ahead and he's going to come last is kind of the idea. Now, he separates his wives and children from the greater part of the group in the overnight camping.

[1:50] And he crosses or fords Jabok. And he's going to camp over there. Now, we are ready for verse 24. So, chapter 32, we're ready at verse 24 to take off.

[2:13] So, Jacob then crosses back over. He's going to spend the night alone, right?

[2:25] Does he? What? No. No. Okay. Now, this is an interesting passage, is it not?

[2:36] Okay. So, what happens as Jacob is intending to spend the night alone?

[2:51] Yeah. Yeah. And this isn't between Iowa and Ohio State or Wisconsin. I should say Wisconsin, John. I'm sorry. But this is not any normal wrestling match.

[3:10] Now, the scripture says, amen. What happens in this wrestling match?

[3:31] OK. OK.

[3:58] Now, this is a great struggle. God's trying to prevail, but Jacob's too strong for him, right?

[4:13] Is that what this is teaching me? See, when we read these things, I have to be careful what lesson I'm gaining, and I have to judge it by the rest of Scripture.

[4:28] Yeah.

[4:39] Yeah. Repeat that where God says, I don't think it's going to happen the way you want it to.

[5:02] How many times in my life does God say to me almost exactly that? Roger, I'm going to bless you, but it's not going to be the way you think it ought to be.

[5:18] Now, as far as, well, is God overcome by Jacob, how does God end this wrestling match?

[5:37] He touches him. He touches him, and what happens? His hips dislocated.

[5:51] Now, could God have done that before? Could God have blessed him before the wrestling match?

[6:04] Or not? Yes or no? When God says, is there anything too hard for the Lord, did he not mean it?

[6:18] Did he? When he said to Abraham, I will make of you great nation, and kings will come from your loins, did he mean it?

[6:39] Now, how many children had Abraham when God told him that? None. None. None. So, yeah, God could have.

[6:51] Nevertheless, here it is. So, what may I gain from this? By the way, I'm not sure that daybreak had anything to do with God.

[7:07] He's not afraid of the daylight. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. And, I'll skip over the spirit of the Lord over the deep.

[7:22] But, and God said, let there be light. And, there was light.

[7:33] So, is there anything too hard for God? Everything we see, and you look out, and I overlook it most of the time, don't I?

[7:54] So, Sherry and I, when we can, we eat our lunch on the patio, and look at houses, because we live in town.

[8:05] But, I can see the top of the grain elevator from our place. And, in the real hot weather, they weren't flying too much. But, in this weather, about that time of day, the pigeons are out, and you can almost hear them say, ha ha, I'm a bird, I can fly, you can't.

[8:26] In fact, Solomon said, there are some things that are just beyond me. The way of a ship on the ocean, the way of a bird in the air, and the way of a man with a maid.

[8:47] So, yeah, those are beyond me. But, when I look at the creation, the heavens declare the glory of God.

[9:03] And, so, no, God wasn't overcome. But, he is teaching Jacob something.

[9:14] And, he might be teaching me something, if I listen. Now, let me ask you this, because, am I to struggle with God?

[9:33] Am I to wrestle with God and say, am I to wrestle with God and say, I will not let you go unless you bless me?

[9:52] Now, Sherry doesn't think so. Is she alone? Okay.

[10:06] We have a song. It's not in our hymnal. I tried to find it. I don't believe it's in there. If it is, it's under a different name. Some of you are familiar with this.

[10:16] Teach me to pray, Lord. Teach me to pray. This is my heart cry day after day. Teach me, what is it? I long to know thy will and thy way.

[10:30] Teach me to pray, Lord. Teach me to pray. Living in, here it comes. Because this song is based on these verses. Living in thee, Lord, and thou in me.

[10:46] Constant abiding, this is my plea. Grant me thy power, boundless and free. Power with men and power with thee.

[11:01] See, look at what is said at the end here. Let's keep going. What does Jacob, or what does God say to Jacob at this time about his name?

[11:18] This is a reiteration, by the way, of what he was told before. But let's go again. What's your name?

[11:31] Jacob's my name. And God replies. You're no longer Jacob, but Israel.

[11:45] Why? Okay, Israel means he who strives with God. But he says, you have striven with God.

[12:03] And with men. And prevailed. That's where that song came from. You know, power with men and power with thee. See, you've struggled with God.

[12:16] You already pointed that out. Jacob had been in boxing matches, if you will, with men. And he always came out. Now, does Jacob get the blessing because Jacob strove with men and with God?

[12:33] He already had the blessing, didn't he? When did Jacob get the promise?

[12:44] Now? Or before his birth? Before his birth? When you were still in the womb? In fact, Paul's going to say, look, look.

[13:01] Your position in the Lord Jesus Christ is secure. Because just like Jacob, before they came out, God had chosen Jacob to be the line.

[13:17] He said, you're okay. Because I've taken you. You're okay in my hands. I know that's a real rough paraphrase. But that's where it came from.

[13:30] So, we are time and again, by the way, in the Pauline epistles, reminded of these things to show us that we're actually secure in God's hands.

[13:43] I'm not going to. God's not going to drop me. He doesn't have accidents. He doesn't make mistakes.

[13:54] And he doesn't falter. Now, he doesn't always reveal everything all at once.

[14:05] You know, I ask him for direction. Should I buy this car or not? He may not tell me. I can misunderstand and say, well, God told me this.

[14:20] But maybe he didn't. But I know this. He didn't drop me. He didn't drop me.

[14:32] So, I'm very thankful for that. Okay, let's keep going. So, what are we told in this? Pardon me. In this day of grace, when we are not under the law, but under grace, how do we pray?

[14:56] What about our prayers? What are some verses that maybe come to mind about praying? Okay.

[15:13] Help us with those. Ephesians. Okay. What does he say?

[15:28] He didn't put down Ephesians 6, 11 through 18, which is one that I did.

[15:42] What does it say? Yeah. I'm to give thanks. In a few things.

[15:55] In all things. How many things are all things? How many times do I wrestle with God over that business? There are some things that it's really hard in my flesh to be thankful for.

[16:12] In fact, there are some things that it's impossible in my flesh to be thankful for. But, we are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ.

[16:33] Okay. Well, I also put down Ephesians 6, 11, where he says that you're to put on the whole armor of God. You remember those? Now, the hymn that is on there, you know, or that was written from this verse, has been, the words have been changed a little bit.

[16:57] And now they read something like, each piece put on with prayer. But that's a little confusing. Because the scripture doesn't say each piece put on with prayer. It says, and watching unto prayer.

[17:10] Now, that word watching means what? It's a continual perseverance, if you will.

[17:23] So, we're to be always in prayer. Philippians, you mentioned this one. Philippians 4, 6, and 7.

[17:34] And this is a very important one. And I'm sure pastor will get to it when the scripture comes there. What does he tell me in Philippians chapter 4?

[17:58] There's that Thanksgiving business. What's, man. There it is again. But, everything that comes into my life, and this is easy for me to say right now.

[18:14] It's not as easy when you're going through it. Everything that comes into my life, he says, don't be anxious. Don't fret about it.

[18:26] But, you make it, pour your heart out to God. Everything. Does God know my mind? Yes or no? Yeah.

[18:38] Does he know my heart? The heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.

[18:54] Who can know it? The answer is God. So, God knows me better than I know myself. That much I know, don't I?

[19:06] And he says, pour it all out anyway. Because this is what I've offered to you. You can have a relationship with the creator of the universe.

[19:18] You can talk to me. That's pretty impressive. This is not the Wizard of Oz. This is the omnipotent God.

[19:35] In talking about prayer, and Sam would ask one of the boys at Operation Rebirth to pray. I don't know about praying.

[19:46] And Sam would say, well, don't worry about it. You're just talking to the omnipotent creator of the universe. Which is a good reminder. It also tells me, don't be flipping.

[20:02] This is where the word of God and the apostle Paul regularly to the church talks about the fear of the Lord.

[20:15] He's saying, be awe-inspired because this is God. This is not my younger brother. This is God.

[20:27] So, all things. Prayer and supplication. Let your request be made known unto God. And God will grant me my request.

[20:39] Is that how that verse ends? What does God say? That he will give me. The peace of God.

[20:52] Not as the world gives, remember? Not as the world gives. What? The peace of God that passes understanding. My cousin by marriage is going through the last, we hope, the last treatment for cancer.

[21:10] And Tammy told us when it was first diagnosed and the first treatments had begun and their church gathered around them.

[21:27] Tammy said, something along this effect. This may be the first time I really experience that peace of God that passes understanding.

[21:45] Because she's looking at her husband. And she's saying, what's going to happen, Lord? What's going to happen?

[21:58] And that's what God promises. That wonderful relationship with him. That grants us peace.

[22:09] Because we understand that we're in the hands of God. Because of what Christ did upon the cross.

[22:19] And we have a hope of eternity. And a hope of the resurrection. And the glorified body. That the world has no hope of.

[22:33] So, and the last one I had was Romans 8. And we've gone over this before. And that has to do with, look. We have the privilege of coming to Christ with everything.

[22:47] No matter what it is. And pouring it all out. With the promise that the peace of God, which passes understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

[23:00] In Romans 8, we are reminded that because we are Christ's, we have who dwelling within us? The Holy Spirit.

[23:11] We have God. Indwelling. Now, that's beyond my comprehension. But I believe it to be true. In fact, there in Romans, he's going to say, look.

[23:26] There's no such thing as a Christian without the Holy Spirit in him. He said, he who hath not the Spirit is none of his. So, there is no such thing as a Christian who's not in the Spirit.

[23:44] Or the Spirit is not in the Christian, I should say. So, if we belong to Christ, we have the Holy Spirit within us.

[23:54] Now, what do I know about that Holy Spirit in Romans 8 as far as prayer? He always prays according to the will of God.

[24:07] So, the best prayers, I'm not really aware of necessarily. Because the Holy Spirit prays for us.

[24:21] That's also a great relief, isn't it? Because he prays according to the will of God. And I know that God's will will be done.

[24:36] I'm thankful for that promise. Okay, back to Jacob, though. I can learn a lesson about perseverance.

[24:48] I can learn a lesson about perseverance. And especially in his determination. What did Jacob say to the Lord when God said, let me go for the dawn breaks?

[25:07] I will not let you go except until you bless me. I will not let you go until you bless me.

[25:20] I'm not going through very dark days right now. I have some loved ones who are. And I can empathize to a degree, but it's not me.

[25:39] But someday I will. If the Lord tarries. I'll be going through some dark days. It will be well that I remember to hang on to the Lord.

[26:02] To hang on to God. I hope I remember that when the days get really dark. Because it will stand me in good stead.

[26:14] Okay, let's keep going. We're about verse 29 by now.

[26:29] So, we've already asked this. Jacob asked God this question. What's your name?

[26:42] And the response. Yeah. Now, that seems a strange response.

[26:52] Because other times he's going to tell him. This is who I am. And not just him, but others. This time he says. Why do you ask my name?

[27:05] Now, I don't know. I suspect. But this is only my. This is my inference. You know who I am. That's my inference from it.

[27:19] You already know. Why are you asking me? So, and it's not necessarily a ridicule of Jacob.

[27:30] It's just a response. Anyway. Now. He not only says, why do you ask my name?

[27:48] But what does he do? He blesses him. See, Jacob. Jacob had been wrestling with him, if you will. And he says, I won't let you go unless you bless me.

[28:02] And now he says, what's your name? And he said. Why do you ask? Why do you ask my name? And then he. Blesses him. All right.

[28:13] Now. Jacob calls the name of the place. I'm going to say it's Peniel. Or Penuel. And.

[28:26] He says why he names it that. Why did he name it that? Yes.

[28:41] Sounds a lot like what Hagar said. I have seen God and I'm still alive. That's pretty amazing. And.

[28:59] Okay. He has. He carries, though, a reminder of this night, doesn't he? What's the reminder?

[29:10] As he crosses. As he crosses this area. What's his reminder? Boy, that really hurt.

[29:23] Yeah. A limp. He's limping now upon the thigh that God touched. And. Then. There's an aside there. It's for that reason.

[29:34] It wasn't ordered by God. By the way. It's just that. Therefore. The children of Israel do not eat. Of the sinew that runs through there.

[29:47] Because. It's. It's in memory of this. All right. We're ready. That. That finishes up that chapter.

[29:58] Let's go to. Chapter 33. So. Chapter 33.

[30:15] Beginning with verse 1. What does Jacob see? He saw Esau coming. Was Esau alone?

[30:27] No. Esau. He's seeing all these guys coming with him. So. Now. He splits them all up now.

[30:41] Doesn't he? And he divides them. So who goes first? Okay. And their children. So.

[30:53] His concubines go first. Then. Then Leah. And last of all. Rachel and Jacob.

[31:05] Or Joseph. And who's going to come up the rear? Jacob's going to come up the rear. Well.

[31:17] Okay. I jumped ahead a little bit. So. Beginning with verse. Beginning with verse 4 there.

[31:30] At least. What's. What's Esau's. Response. He embraces him.

[31:43] And kisses him. And they weep together. Now. Esau's going to ask a question. Who. Who.

[31:57] Who are. All these people. And what does Jacob say. These are the children that God gave me.

[32:08] God's blessed me. All right. Now. Jake. Esau's going to ask another question. By verse 8. What is it? Okay. What's a drove?

[32:29] Yeah. The. The drove. Especially the drove is the herd. The herds. What. What means all these herds that I.

[32:40] That I've met. And Jacob tells him what they're for. What are they? What's. Basically forgiveness.

[32:53] He says I want to find favor. The. The word grace there. Literally means. Favor in your eyes. I want you to look favorably upon me.

[33:03] So I sent you these gifts. And. What's. Esau respond. Now I kind of think that this is a.

[33:17] A cultural thing. But. Nevertheless. What's Esau's response to Jacob's offering. Of these gifts. I have plenty.

[33:29] You keep it. I don't need that. Keep it. And Jacob says. Yeah.

[33:48] Please keep the gift. I've. I met you. You. You've granted me favor. You've looked on me favorably. Keep the gift.

[33:59] And so Esau says. Okay.

[34:12] Well. Okay. Yeah. I said Esau said. But. Esau did take it. So. It says Jacob. Urged him. And Esau took the gifts.

[34:23] He accepted the gifts. Okay. So now. The gifts have been exchanged. Some. Thousand head. Or. Give or take a few. Of livestock.

[34:34] Now. Esau suggests something. About going. About leaving the area. What does Esau say?

[34:53] Okay. Let's go together. Now. Dave comes to me.

[35:05] And he says. Hey. You and Sherry go with us. We're going the same direction. Let's go together. But this isn't.

[35:16] Dave and Pam. And Roger and Sherry. Is it? We're talking about. Hundreds of persons. And thousands of animals. Okay.

[35:27] So. What's Jacob say? And we're kind of going through this. To make sure I'm reading details.

[35:47] Yeah. We can't move very fast. If we. If we drive them. What happens? Yeah. Yeah.

[35:57] You're going to wear them out. So. He said. He said. Now. Now. We'll. You go on. Right. You go on. And we'll follow at leisure.

[36:09] Or. At a slow pace. Esau makes a counter proposal. I'll leave some men with you.

[36:20] And they'll go with you. Now. Now. I don't know if Jacob's still worried or not. Whether he is or whether he isn't.

[36:31] Jacob makes. Counters. The counter proposal with. Yeah. There's no need. We're okay. I.

[36:42] I think. Basically. I found favor in your sight. There's no need all of us going. So. Esau goes.

[36:53] Right. Esau heads. Back to his. Area. Which is. By the way. What? Seir. It's called.

[37:05] Now. Now. We're ready. For. Verse 17.

[37:16] What does Jacob do? Where. Where does Jacob go? Succoth.

[37:28] Or. Sukoth. What's he doing there? Because the name actually. Means. What he does there. Okay.

[37:40] What. What. He builds a. He. He basically. Is going to settle in here. And he's going to settle enough. That he builds booths.

[37:50] It says for his cattle. That. He's. He's building shelters for the livestock. So he's going to settle here for a while. All right.

[38:01] Now. Um. Verse 19.

[38:13] Because. While we won't get there today. It's going to. It's going to launch us. For next week. God willing. So. What's he do in verse 19 there?

[38:24] He buys a parcel of ground. And it's not the purchase of the land.

[38:36] That's the important. Part there though. It's. From whom does he buy it? Okay.

[38:52] The children of Hamor. Shechem's father. And we're going to. We're going to stop there. Hanging on a thread.

[39:08] The sword of Damocles. Is above our heads now. Because. God willing. If we. If we gather together next week. We'll be ready.

[39:20] Because. Shechem's going to do more. Than just selling property. And that will come to us. Next week. So. Have a wonderful week.

[39:30] Thank you.