Sixth Symbol of the Jesse Tree: Jacob (wrestling)

Sixth Symbol of the Jesse Tree: Jacob (wrestling)

(Isaac and Rebekah have two sons: Jacob and Esau—and the younger son’s story radically shifts when he wrestles with God and Jacob’s name is changed to Israel)

Jacob’s Story in a nutshell:

·        Jacob (meaning “usurper”) is born clutching his brother’s heal (Genesis 25:21-26)

·        Jacob steals his older brother’s birth blessing and runs away to avoid Esau’s wrath (Genesis 27:1-36)

·        Alone in the desert, Jacob receives a vision of heaven touching earth— a great ladder stretching from ground to sky, with angels passing to and fro—a sign of God’s presence on earth with us. “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place!” says Jacob (Genesis 28:10-17).

·        Jacob meets his future wife, Rachel, at a well like his father did  (Genesis 29:1-12) and works 7 years for her hand in marriage, but marries the wrong sister and must works another 7 years for his second wife (Genesis 29:15-28).

·        Jacob returns home to reconcile with his brother, Esau (Genesis 32:3-5)—but on the way, Jacob wrestles all night with a stranger who turns out to be God (Genesis 32:22-32). Because of the encounter, God changes Jacob’s name from “usurper” to “one whowrestles with God.” (Israel).

·        Then Israel(Jacob) returns to find Esau’s arms open and ready to embrace him.

Wrestling with God
Jacob/Israel Genesis 32:24-32

Again.
God steps into this world.
            in the flesh.
            in the stranger.
            in the unknown.

And we wrestle.
            Defensive.

We fight tooth and nail to be alone in our isolated deserts; refusing to let go, lest we look weak or lose face.

And how can we let go?

We want to be blessed, right?
And blessings are what we take for ourselves...what we have in our hands.
            blessed are those who win.

            Those who are strong, right?

Unless you’re seeking a baby in a manger. A tiny king who turned the tides with peace and taught that blessings come from giving. Forgiving.

And living by dying.

THAT is the God who wrenches hip sockets—forever reminding us to walk in humility. Reminding us that we have encountered God. And changed.

So let go.
Daybreak is coming.

Christ is coming.

Again.

(as this plays, take five minutes to prayerfully invite God into this season)

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Kids Corner

Discussion:  Talk through the story of Jacob and Esau (two different brothers, one steals from the other, but he is able to forgive him in the end). Is it easy to forgive others when they upset us or do us wrong? How do you think the brothers would have felt if they never ever forgave one another? Why was forgiveness the right decision?

…and discuss the story of Jacob and God (God appears to Jacob and later wrestles with him!). What would it be like to wrestle with God? Do you think Jesus ever arm wrestled with people when he was on earth? How does it feel to know that God wants to be that close to us in our lives?

Activity: 
Choose one of the following to print and color:

·         Jacob dreams of heaven coming down to earth on a ladder (like God does fully in Jesus)

·         Jacob wrestles with God (because God is willing to come that close to us)

·         Jacob finds forgiveness from Esau (because that is the relationship Jesus wants us to have with others):

Prayer: Lord God, when you touch our lives, we are changed. Thank you for being close to us like you were with Jacob. It isn’t always easy for me to forgive, but I hope you wrestle that out of me so that I can love others like you want me to. Amen.