In the Middle of Life by Brother Curtis Hansen

         This morning our scripture reading is going to come from the book of Genesis chapter 32 and start at verse 22. We are going to read about Jacob and his brother Esau, but, it is not the story you may be thinking about.

        22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two women servants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.

        23 And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.

        24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

        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.

        26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

        27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

        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.

        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.

        30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

        31 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.

        In the story of Jacob here in Genesis, Jacob was what we can politely call goal oriented. Before he was even born he was prophecies to be over his brother. A trait many people share that practice deceit is in fleeing a situation they are in or have caused rather than facing it or resolving it. In life, we are so impatient with the present, seeking to look ahead into the future. From when you are in grade school, you have that stirring to get to the next level which is Junior High. You get there and then you want to be in High School. We move through our life as a series of markers or plateaus to hit. God wants us to slow down and stay in the present. God may favor you and your house, but that favor doesn't mean he won't test your character. Jacob would receive blessings while living on Laban's property working on his land. If you practice lies, cheating, and deception, there is no humility in your personality. You ultimately have the favor of God and you may receive blessings from him, but you may not necessarily be blessed.

        If you go back a chapter to 31 and verse 3 in Genesis, The Lord said to Jacob that he returns to the land of his family. Jacob wanting to be blessed is not for him if he remains the same as a person. Jacob was going though the first part of his life though his means. Laban did not know Jacob and his family had left for days. Laban was instructed that he was neutral in this story not to speak good or evil.

        Jacob hears from messengers in verse 6 of chapter 32 where Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men. Jacob are afraid and stressed, taking off in fear. Let's focus on verse 24. God is confronting Jacob until the breaking of the day. The two of them wrestled the entire night and by verse 26 Jacob is asking God for a blessing. It takes zero humility to run away from something. It takes a great measure of humility to return. Popping Jacob's thigh out of joint was a move where Jacob's walk changes and he can no longer run. God still does that today with his people. It takes two to wrestle, two to fight, two to meet half-way on an idea. Make time for God where ever you are in your life.

        In the story when Jacob met Esau, Jacob's perception of Esau was all wrong. The 400 men Esau had were to herd his cattle. Esau greeted his brother with a hug and kiss.