Wrestling with the Impossibly Possible God; Sermon for Sept 22, 2019

Rev. George Miller
Sept 22, 2019
Genesis 32:22-30

2 weeks ago, we began our study of the Old Testament and our Impossibly Possible God.

We made the claim that Genesis 2 teaches us that we were created to be connected to one another, connected to the earth, and connected to God.

Well, you can’t be anymore connected to God than in a good old-fashioned wrestling match in which your arms are entwined, your feet are firmly planted on the ground, and you’re sweating like a farm hand at 3 pm.

But first-some back story.

Jacob is the impossibly possible grandchild of Sarah- she who laughed at God’s promise.

His mother is Rachel, his father is Isaac, and his twin-brother is Esau.

Jacob’s birth was a wrestling match of its own kind. His parents had a heck of a time conceiving, and when they did, Jacob and his brother would toss and turn inside their mother’s womb, causing Rachel great distress.

Esau was born first, but Jacob was holding tight onto his brother’s heel, trying so hard to be the 1st born.

Esau was what you’d call a man’s man- burly, hairy, swarthy and a real out-doorsman.

Jacob was more what you’d call a momma’s boy- introverted, preferring the indoors, and he was smooth; not just hairless smooth; but smooth as in slick, cunning, and a trickster.

Jacob was like the male, Palestinian version of Scarlett Ohara.

He tricked his brother Esau out of his birthright.

He tricked his father Isaac into giving him the family blessing.

He tricked his uncle into giving him specific sheep and lambs that allowed him to grow in wealth.

Jacob deceived and tricked every man in his family.

But now Jacob, the heel-clutcher, the Scarlett Ohara of his time, has met his match, and it is God.

And if Jacob is to get a blessing this time, it cannot be with lies, deceit, or agricultural voodoo, it’s gonna have to be through:

-strength and perseverance
-fighting and striving
-By keeping on, holding on
-And standing on the promises.

Jacob not only receives a blessing, he receives a brand new name and a new identity- Israel; loosely meaning “He Who Strives With God.”

What an elemental story of how the beloved children of God got their name. What a testament to who we are and where we come from.

Look at Israel’s name and how connected it is to the Creator- to strive with God, to struggle with God, to go toe-to-toe with God.

…now note what the new name Israel is not-

It does not mean “To pick dandelions while dreaming your day away.”

It does not mean “To be in blissful ignorance.”

Nor does it mean “To lose faith,” “To give up easily,” or

“To lower the bar so you don’t have to succeed, discover what you’re capable of, and trust that grown folk will do the right thing.”

Nor does Israel mean “To make excuses for others.”

“To set yourself up to fail.”

Or “To fight amongst yourselves because you’re afraid.”

Israel means “To strive with God.”

Connectedness; just as it’s supposed to.

To face the difficulties of life with God.

To trust that even though sorrow may last all night, joy comes in the morning.

THIS, sisters and brothers in Christ, is where we come from.

This is who we are, reborn by the river in the darkness of night.

This is the heavenly spirit of faith that flows through our soul and waters our very being.

This Jacob who wrestles with God all night long until he is blessed and transformed, is the very core of our identity.

We, as citizens of heaven, are warriors.

We are wrestlers.

Why do you think Paul had the audacity to say, from prison, that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”? (Philippians 4:13)

Why do you think the prophet Jeremiah could dare to purchase land when a war was waging on?

As descendants of Israel, we are supposed to have the courage and the conviction to confront God, to hold on, and to ask for what we need and to expect to be blessed.

Now, this does not mean everything will go our way; it does not mean everything will go as planned.

Nor does it mean that we will leave unscathed.

Just like Israel, after we wrestle with God, side by side, arm in arm, connected, we may leave with a limp.

We may have a bit of a hobble. We may not move as fast; we may be a bit out of breath; we may be tired.

But if we have truly strived with the Impossibly Possible God, we will find that we are moving forward and not back.

We will find ourselves moving ahead as opposed to being stuck in a rut.

We will discover that even with the battle scars, we are still very much alive.

As Citizens of Heaven and Children of Israel, we are resilient.

And we have so much more story to live.

Jacob had a wrestling match with God in which he had to be 100%, authentic, real.

Connected.

He could not lie, cheat, trick, or act all smooth.

He had to be strong. Stand his ground, and not let go.

He had to be honest; forceful; unafraid.

And in return he was blessed.

He experienced the Impossibly Possible God.

His persevered.

And just like Scarlett Ohara, he lived to see another day.

And so can we; connected to God, connected to the earth, and connected to one another.

Striving, surviving.

For that, we can say “Amen.”