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Healing the Wound (Part 2)

Jon Fredricks

Today's Scripture: Genesis 32:22-30 NIV

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Genesis 32:6 NIV

When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”

Colossians 3:13 NIV

13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Matthew 6:14-15 NIV

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Genesis 32:1 NIV

Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

Genesis 32:22-30 NIV

22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”

But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered.

28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”

29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.

30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

1) FIND A SAFE PLACE TO WRESTLE WITH GOD

Matthew 6:6 NIV

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

2) PRAY ... HARD

Genesis 32:9 NIV

Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, Lord, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’

Luke 5:16 NIV

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Colossians 4:2 NIV

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV

pray continually,

3) GET HELP

Genesis 32:3 NIV

Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

Proverbs 11:14 ESV

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

4) CHOOSE GENEROSITY

Genesis 33:10 NIV

“No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.

Romans 12:18 NIV

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

5) MOVE FORWARD

Genesis 33:16-17 NIV

16 So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir. 17 Jacob, however, went to Sukkoth, where he built a place for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is called Sukkoth.

John 8:36 NIV

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Galatians 5:1 NIV

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.