GENESIS 32:22-32 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel,[b] for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel,[c] saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the sinew of the thigh.
Limping does not invalidate your progress as disciples.
A. Your struggles are seen by God.
B. God values our progress.
2. You might be limping, but at least you are moving.
A. Limp towards God.
B. David models how to limp towards God. (Psalm 51:1-12)
1. He does NOT seek moral equivocation.
2. He seeks God’s cleansing power.
3. He doesn’t just want forgiveness, but intimacy.
3. God invites us to wrestle with Him over the dark places of our soul.
A. You will not win.
B. The blessing is you will see and be touched by God.
C. We often don’t see God because we refuse to wrestle with Him.
Everywhere we go….
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Don’t be embarrassed about your limp! Ask God if you are avoiding wrestling with Him over anything?