The Necessary Struggle: Part II (Sunday Sermon Notes)

Part II

The story of Esau and Jacob:

Genesis 25:22-23 (NASB)

22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is so, why am I in this condition?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb;
And two peoples will be separated from your body;
And one people will be stronger than the other;
And the older will serve the younger.”

✓ Before Jacob wrestled with God, he wrestled with his brother in the womb.
✓ Before Jacob ever fought a blessing, he was fighting for a position.
✓ Before Jacob struggled with his identity, he was struggling with comparison.
✓ From the beginning, Jacob was trying to catch someone else’s place.
✓ Jacob’s first introduction to the world was a struggle.

Questions:

1. What WRONG struggle are you struggling with?
2. What's been following you since the womb (wound)?
3. What's been attached to your life for years?
4. What battles keeps showing up different seasons of your life?

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Let’s talk about it:

1. Fear?
2. Insecurities?
3. Rejection?
4. Abandonment?
5. Addiction?
6. Anger?
7. Comparison?
8. Is it the need to always prove yourself to someone?

Listen Up: Some have been fighting so long that the wrong struggle has become their identity.
It’s time to face the necessary struggle.

Jacob’s identity was wrapped into manipulation and deception. He was a well known opportunist. Genesis 25 reports that Jacob took his brother Esau’s birthright. When the opportunity arose. He was trying to obtain through manipulation what God already promised him in PURPOSE. (READ IT)

Birthright in biblical times: In biblical times, the birthright (bekhorah) was a special privileged status granted to the firstborn son. It guaranteed two major advantages: a double portion of the father's physical inheritance and succession to the position of family patriarch, which included both household leadership and spiritual responsibilities.
The PURPOSE for Jacob was already made available before he manipulated his father and brother.

Jeremiah 1:5 (NASAB)

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

God exists outside of time. He exists ALL the time!! God is Kronos and Kairos. They both represent two distinct dimensions of time.
^Kronos Time: This refers to chronological, sequential, and measurable time.
^Kairos Time: This refers to the opportune, supreme, or "God-appointed" time.
GOD is ALL-knowing, GOD is ALL and God knows ALL things about us.
Some try to finesse and speed up the process by doing it their own way or praying God releases that thing to them. Watch what you pray for.

Jacob and Esau Backstory:

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The Prophecy Over the Twins: Genesis 25:23, Genesis 27 (READ). Their father and grandfather both operated in the spirit of deceit. General choices/generational decisions. This behavior ran in the family.

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Note: Jacob’s grandfather (Abraham) and father (Isaac). This practice of half-truths and manipulation became a generational pattern, ultimately paving the way for Jacob to deceive his own father, Isaac, for the birthright blessing.

When twins Jacob and Esau were born, Esau came first, technically making him the firstborn. As the firstborn son, Esau automatically held the “birthright.” A birthright was an honor given to the firstborn, bestowing “head of household” status and the right to inherit his father’s estate. The son with the birthright would receive a double portion of whatever was passed down (Deuteronomy 21:17) Yet, even before the twins were born, the Lord predicted that Esau would serve Jacob (Genesis 25:23).

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An interesting parallel took place later in the life of Jacob. Jacob’s son Joseph had two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Manasseh was the elder son and should have had the birthright. But when Jacob bestowed his blessing upon his grandsons, he crossed his hands, much to Joseph’s surprise, placing his right hand on the younger son. In this way, Ephraim, the younger son, received the greater blessing (Genesis 48) (READ IT).

Esau was so angry at Jacob that he vowed to kill Jacob. The consequences of Jacob’s actions began to catch up with him. Esau went to look for Jacob to harm him over his decision to manipulate him out of his birthright.

Message from the sender: What goes on in the dark comes out in the light. You cannot always out run your decisions.

Sometimes the things we obtain through our own strength can create problems we did not anticipate. Things we create with our own strength can be the very thing that takes us out.

Example:

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✓ Jacob fled.
✓ The trickster became the fugitive.
✓ The manipulator became the wonderer.
✓ The man who spent his life controlling outcomes was now running from the outcome that he created.
✓ His actions took him to his uncle’s house, where the trickster would get tricked!! Those tables turned!!
✓ He was placed in an environment where he experienced what he had been given others for years.
✓ Jacob spent years tricking others until he met his match (Laban). Laban was craftier than him.
✓ The deceiver got deceived.
✓ The manipulator got manipulated.
✓ The heel grabber discovered what it felt like when someone grabbed their heel.
*Sometimes before God can change your identity, He will allow you to confront the very behaviors that had been shaping your identity.
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Jacob’s life continued to be marked by struggle:

✓ He married Leah but originally worked to marry Rachel.
✓ Worked EXTRA years to marry Rachel. He worked under Laban’s deception. ((Sometimes it be your own people)).
✓ Jacob fled Laban to run home.

Backstory of Jacob:

✓ Jacob was the second-born son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the fraternal twin to Esau.
✓ Jacob in Hebrew word means heel. He was born grabbing his older brother's heel.
✓ Jacob struggled his entire life. He struggled in the womb. Before he wrestled with God, he wrestled with his brother in the womb.
✓ Jacob bought Esau’s birthright. Esau carelessly traded his birthright to Jacob for a simple meal of lentil stew when he was hungry.
✓ Jacob’s mother Rebekah and Jacob tricked a blind, aging Isaac into giving Jacob the primary family blessing intended for Esau.
✓ Jacob wrestled with God and received a new name, Israel, symbolizing a transformed identity. God changed his name to Israel, which means "one who struggles with God."
✓ Jacob met his match. The tables turned.
✓ Esau found out how he was tricked by his brother and wanted to harm him….fleeing Esau's murderous wrath, Jacob slept at a place he named Bethel.
✓ Laban tricked Jacob (Ha!). He tricked Jacob into marrying Leah instead of marrying Rachel. He wanted Rachel REAL bad.
✓ Jacob had to face the very thing he struggled with.
✓ Jacob surrendered himself to gain victory. Also, he gained a new identity.
✓ He ran from Jacob to Israel.
✓ Jacob’s 12 sons became the founders of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

Genesis 33:1-4 A BEAUTIFUL ENDING. This is necessary transformation.
✓ After decades of estrangement and fearing for his life, Jacob had a peaceful, tearful reunion with his brother Esau. Genesis 33:1-4.
✓ The Seven Bows (Verse 3): Jacob bowing down to the ground seven times before his brother is a profound symbol of humility, repentance, and total surrender.
✓ The Embrace & Kiss (Verse 4): Esau running to embrace and kiss Jacob signifies absolute forgiveness and the burying of past bitterness.
✓ The Weeping (Verse 4): The tears shed by both men symbolize the emotional release of past trauma and the sweet, redemptive power of unity.

All of Jacob’s life he had been struggling...Struggling for:

✓ Position
✓ Possessions
✓ Blessings
✓ Relationships
✓ Fear
✓ Past consequences for his past decision making.

Jacob was out of schemes to run. He was now facing his NECESSARY struggle.

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Genesis 32:22 (NASB)

“Now he got up that same night and took his two wives, his two female slaves, and his eleven children, and crossed the shallow place of the Jabbok."

Notice:

✓ Jacob moved at night.
✓ Jacobs was living in uncertainty because Esau was coming to find him. Esau wanted Jacob dead.
✓ Jacob did not know what the decision of his past would bring when Esau eventually found him.

Jabbok was a crossing place. Crossing places usually represents transition.
Jacob was crossing more than a river:

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✓ He’s running to confrontation.
✓ He’s running from manipulation to surrender.
✓ He’s running from fear to faith.
✓ He’s running from Jacob to Israel.
✓ Before God changes your identity, He will often bring you to a crossing place. A place where you cannot remain who you are.

You CANNOT keep doing the same thing and expect something different.
One MUST change! Change is NOT change until CHANGE CHANGES!

Jabbok represented a place where God separated Jacob from his old life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Tells us that we cannot remain the same when we become to Christ.

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2 Corinthians 5:17, states that “anyone who is in Christ becomes a new creation, leaving their old life behind.”

Genesis 32:23 (NASB)

“He took them (His family) and sent them across the stream. And he sent across whatever he had."

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Jacob strategically moving his family and all his possessions across the Jabbok River.

In Genesis 32, Jacob first sent his family (his wives, maidservants, and eleven sons) across the Jabbok stream. He then sent all of his possessions, including his massive herds of livestock across. Afterwards, Jacob was left entirely alone right before the divine encounter.

—————He’s isolated now—————

Jacob was completely alone, separated from his wealth and family. A place where God could do His perfect Work in Jacob.

Remember: during the necessary struggle, you might have to walk away from some familiar things in your life. Sometimes, we must walk away from what brings us comfort.

There Will Be Seasons

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• There will be seasons when money can't help you.
• There will be seasons when influence can't help you.
• There will be seasons when family can't help you.
• There will be seasons when all you need is an encounter with God.
Some build their identity on what they have…

Example:

✓ Some build on their possessions.
✓ Some build on their jobs.
✓ Some build on their resources.
✓ Some build on their titles.
✓ Some build on their education.
✓ Some built on their status.
✓ Some build on their accomplishments.

God is about to show Jacob that his identity is not found in what he possesses, but in WHO is possessed him.

Note: Our true identity is found NOT in wealth, influence, OR accomplishments, but in a TRUE relationship with God.
God began to remove the external things that Jacob was hiding behind.

Questions for Reflection:

• What continues to keep us confined to our struggle?
• What are we hiding behind instead of bringing before God?
• What is God trying to strip away from our lives?
• What is God exposing in us that we've been unwilling to confront?
• What false identity or source of security have we been clinging to?
• If God removed everything we've been hiding behind, who would we be in His presence?

Genesis 32:24-30 (NASB) tells us that Jacob wrestled with God until the breaking of day.

✓ Before there is a blessing, there is often a season of isolation.
✓ Before there can be a new home, there is often a season of loneliness.
✓ Before there is transformation, there is separation.
✓ Sometimes what feels like loss is actually preparation.
✓ What feels like isolation may be creating the space for growth.
✓ The journey is not always comfortable, but it can be the path that leads to purpose.

God intentionally gets Jacob by himself. Why though? Because identity is revealed in isolation.

What you do when nobody’s around tells who your real character is.

 Example:

✓ When Jacob was with his family, he was a husband.
✓ When Jacob was with his children, he was a father.
✓ When Jacob was with his servant, he was a master.
✓ When Jacob had his possessions, he was wealthy.
✓ When Jacob was removed from everything who was he then?

Question: Who are you when you are alone???

Many know who they are when they’re surrounded with people, but you know who they are when they are left alone. This will preach all by itself.
Jacob could no longer hide behind all those roles.

All that remained after everything was removed was:

✓ The trickster.
✓ The manipulator.
✓ The deceiver.
✓ The man who struggled in the womb.
✓ The man who grabbed Esau’s heel.
✓ The man who stole his brother’s birthright.
✓ The man who deceived his father.
✓ The man who fled from his brother, Esau.
✓ The man who was deceived by Laban.
✓ The man who lived in fear of his past.

Jacob is forced to confront himself.
FYI: The struggle was never really about Esau. Jacob thought Esau was his biggest problem. Esau was not even at Jabbok. The struggle was not with his family or Laban. The struggle was with Jacob (Jacob vs Jacob).

God is not trying to destroy you...God is trying to transform you. The struggle was necessary because there was an Israel trapped inside of Jacob.

FYI: There is an Israel that may be trapped inside you us.

Before God could change Jacob’s name, He had to change Jacob.
You might be physically weak BUT don’t let Go!! Jacob did not let go without God blessing Him.

The NECESSARY struggle is not about winning. Sometimes it’s about holding on.

The NECESSARY struggle is about grinding it out.

The NECESSARY struggle is about staying in the fight when everything and you wants to quit.

The NECESSARY struggle is not about something being wrong...sometimes it’s just evidence that God is working in your life.

The NECESSARY struggle is praying when you’re tired. When you don’t feel like it.

The NECESSARY struggle is trusting when you’re afraid.

The NECESSARY struggle is believing when you don’t see the results.

The NECESSARY struggle is showing up when you feel like quitting.

The NECESSARY struggle is standing on God’s promises when your circumstances are contradicting what God says.

Sometimes your breakthrough isn't found in walking away...it's found in holding on. It’s about putting on your Figure-Four Leglock (Ric Flair).

Let’s talk about it: According to scripture, all night Jacob wrestled…

✓ Jacob was tired.
✓ Jacob was hurting.
✓ Jacob was uncertain.
✓ Jacob‘s hip had been bothering him due to the struggle.
✓ Jacob was physically weaken.
✓ Jacob refused to let go until God bless him.