For six months I had participated in a group of peers who
were “on fire” for the Lord. Their devotion to Jesus, their long prayer
sessions, their abstinence from the things of the world, challenged me. Their
challenges were never direct. I think they always assumed that I was right on
board with them, but to be honest, I was largely going along for the ride.
One night we were all gathered in the center of this nearly
completed building praying. As usual, the prayer time went on and on. The more
it progressed the more uncomfortable I grew. So after about thirty minutes I
inconspicuously recused myself and headed over to a corner behind some building
materials.
As I sat there with my head down and eyes closed, I could
feel my heart begin to race. I suddenly found my mind beginning to race, too.
One after another, pictures of my life began to be projected before my eyes. I
saw how I had unconsciously made my father and his faith a barrier between the
Lord and my faith. I don’t remember ever thinking about that before, but I could
see it now. He had become “the perfect Christian” to me; the one I would never
begin to emulate. It was amazing. Things I never put together before began
falling into place. Right at the crescendo of my thoughts and emotions I felt a
touch on my shoulder. I looked up and it was a guy I really didn’t know very
well. He was years older than me. He looked at me and said, “Doug, you’re
ready, aren’t you?” And I nodded, because those words perfectly corresponded to
what I was thinking at that moment. It was as if God was speaking through him
right to me. The guy prayed for me that night and things have never been the
same since.
Now I don’t pretend to place my experience of exposure on
the same plane as Jacob’s at the Jabbok, but it’s slightly similar. And the
lessons we will draw from his exposure absolutely parallel every Christian life.
I hope, by now you have read the Jacob story and pondered last week’s message.
In preparation for this week you may wish to consider the following:
1.
Why does Jacob refuse to let the wrestler go
until he blesses him?
2.
In what way did Jacob “prevail”? (Verse 28)
3.
How does Jacob’s desire compare to Moses’
exposure in Exodus 34:29-33?
4.
How does wanting to know His name correspond to
seeing His face?
5.
What replaces Jacob’s desire to “beat” Esau?
6.
In what way is Jacob’s permanent limp a good
thing?
7.
How is it possible that God can be our greatest
enemy and at the same time our greatest desire?
8.
How much of your faith is using God rather than
surrendering to Him?
9.
Are you, right now, more like Jacob or Israel?
10. What
does all this have to do with communion?
See you at the Table.
