Struggle: When Life Makes No Sense
Because you (sinned)...all your life you will struggle (Genesis 3:17)
LIFE IS A STRUGGLE
Jacob's Example
-We struggle with other people
Jacob struggled:
with his brother, two wives, in-laws and 12 sons
-We struggle with ourselves
I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do
very thing I hate...No matter which way I turn, I can't make myself do right. I want to, but I can't...
But there is a law at work within me that is at war with my mind. (Romans 7:15-23)
-Our real struggle is with God
As a man Jacob struggled with God. (Hosea 12:3b)
JACOB'S WRESTLING MATCH
Jacob sent his family across the Jabbok River but he stayed behind, alone. That night, a Man came
and wrestled with him until daybreak. When the Man saw that he wasn't winning the struggle, he hit
Jacob on the hip, and it was thrown out of joint. The Man said, 'Let me go; daylight is coming.'
Jacob said I WON'T LET GO UNTIL YOU BLESS ME.'
The Man asked 'What is your name? 'Jacob,' he replied. The man said, 'Your name will no longer
be Jacob. You have STRUGGLED WITH GOD and with men, and you have WON; so your name
will be ISRAEL.'
Jacob: "deceiver/manipulator" Israel: "struggled with God/Prince with God"
Then God blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, 'It is because I saw God face
to face and yet my life was spared.' (Genesis 32:23-30)
HOW TO WRESTLE WITH GOD AND GET BLESSED
1. (C) Complain/Tell God what I think is unfair or painful
Examples: Job, Heman, Jeremiah
2. (A) Appeal/Appeal to God's nature
Examples: Abraham, Moses, Hezekiah, David, Jehoshaphat
His nature: God's love, power, character
3. (R) Remind/Remind God of what He's said
Then Jacob prayed, "O God of my grandfather Abraham and my father, Isaac-you told me to
return to my land and to my relatives, and you promised to treat me kindly. I am not worthy
of all the faithfulness and unfailing love...but O Lord, please rescue me from my brother, Esau.
I am afraid that he is coming to kill me...But you promised to treat me kindly and to multiply
my descendants... (Genesis 32:9-12)
remind of His promises, "You said..."
4. (E) Express trust/Express my total trust in God
Though he slay me, yet I will trust in him. (Job 13:15)
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; and even though
the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; and even though the flocks die in the
fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet will I still rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God
of my salvation. The Sovereign Lord is my strength! (Habakkuk 3:17-19)
My notes:
because sin has broken everything in the world
Why we struggle with God:
(1) We doubt His wisdom
(2) We want to be in control
no-win struggle--some problems never going away
God loves when we struggle with Him
opposite of struggling is turning away
wrestling-face to face encounter
all about who's in control
When God asks a question, He already knows the answer
Jacob won
changes identity, changing perspective
"It's just like me to be..."
He cares deeply about how we feel
1 Peter 5:7: Casting all your cares...
Allows us to argue with Him
Lament-passionate complaint to God
complain to vs. complain about
65 of Psalms-laments
Pattern-CARE (above)
What are you tolerating in your life?
-complain to, not about
-in faith
Psalm 55:17
Job 13:15 Though He slay me, I will trust in Him
**Way you win-surrender**
All unanswered questions
give up control, God you're in control
Jacob limping because of hip
-strongest muscle in body
reminder to depend on God rest of life
(This hit me hard-it is again just to think about it. The biggest part of me-one third of me or all of me three times over-are my children. My heart will be disabled the rest of my life because of losing you. But that will remind me the rest of my life that God is in control and I need to totally depend on Him.)
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