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LEARNING TO LEAN

Self-sufficency is a vice rather than a virtue. Read Genesis 32:1-24.

1. God will protect you, but he will not pamper you (Genesis 32:1-23)

God has angels that protect his people. God will let you have you have your way until you get to the end of yourself.

Esau is coming after Jacob with vengeance in mind. Prayer was the last resort for Jacob. He tried to flatter Esau, he also tried to divide his forces and finally he turns to God in prayer.

2. God will hurt you, but he will not harm you (Genesis 32:24-26)

God engineered things for Jacob to be left alone. We don't want to be left alone with God! We all need solitude and it is when alone that Jacob has a confrontation with God. It is a wrestling match that goes on all night. Jacob is then crippled. He can't even run away now. His only hope now is in God. He surrenders to God.

3. God will break you, but he desires to bless you. (Genesis 32:27-31)

He is no longer Jacob. His name is now Israel. Jacob had to admit that he was Jacob (con-artist and conniver). Jacob had been broken, so that could be blessed. For the rest of his life he had to lean on a staff. He was learning to lean.

God likes broken things. We throw them away. Most of us have not been used of God because we have not become broken. Jacob died leaning on his staff. He died worshipping the Lord. If you wrestle with God then I hope you lose. Then you will learn to lean on God.