Pentecost 21c Genesis 32:22-30 Wrestlemania

2 Timothy 4:14-4:5 Luke 18:1-8

We have all had nights where we have gone to bed and have not been able to sleep.  Sometimes the reason we cannot sleep is because we have worked hard all day and have not finished or accomplished what we had set out to get done that day. We get behind in our work and worry about meeting those deadlines and that loss of sleep expends our energy and reduces our effectiveness.

There are others times when mistakes we have made come back to haunt us as we lie in a dark and quiet room. Those sins that we have done to others come into our thoughts and we replay them over and over in our mind.

There are other times when we struggle over sins and evil that have caused pain in our lives.  Perhaps that very day, we have been attacked and hurt by sin or evil and we cannot help but think about it. It is during those times that we tend to recall other instances from our past that have caused deep hurt and resentment.  Subsequently as we try and get some rest, those memories torment us and old wounds are reopened.

When these disrupters of peace enter into our lives, we grapple with our thoughts and feelings thinking of how we would do things differently if we had the opportunity to return to that time and place.  Sometimes our guilty thoughts turn to how we would not make such a sinful mistake if we were given a do-over. And other times our sinful thoughts turn to how we would exact revenge on those who have sinned against us.

So we toss and turn at night and rise in the morning to face a new day only to find ourselves tired and worn-out from wrestling with our problems. Those are the days that we do not want to get out of bed; we do not want to face the new day. And we do not want life to throw another curve ball our way.

All of that worry leads to a lot of stress in our lives and you are I are not alone in that regard. Watch the TV commercials and notice how many ads there are for sleeping aids, headache remedies and acid indigestion medicines and you will understand just how common the problem really is.

Even in Old Testament times, people fought the stress caused by sin and deceit. Let’s look at the life of Jacob.

Jacob was worried. Twenty years earlier Jacob had deceived Esau his brother and their father, Isaac. He had stolen his older brother’s blessing and Esau had promised revenge. For twenty years Jacob had lived a life with the knowledge of his deception gnawing away at his conscience. And during that twenty years Jacob was deceived and in turn had tricked others. Up until this time Jacob had always came out ahead because of his conniving mind and his own strength.

But, now Esau was approaching his camp with four hundred men. Fearing that Esau was still angry, Jacob made arrangements by which he hoped to minimize his losses and appease Esau’s anger.  He divided his camp in halves with the plan that if Esau attacked one camp, the other would escape. Then he sent gifts to Esau hoping to appease his brother’s advances with bribes.

That evening Jacob sent his family and flocks away and he took the forward position to watch for his brother.  Jacob wanted to be alone to think and get some rest so he could work out a plan. But before any of that could happen, a man came and wrestled with him.  This was more than just a spiritual struggle. It was an actual physical wrestling match which lasted all night. No matter how hard Jacob struggled, he could not overpower the man. As dawn approached, the contest finally ended when God put Jacob’s hip out of joint. As a result Jacob could struggle no longer. All he could do was throw his arms around his opponent and hold on to Him.

Up until this point in his life Jacob had always been victorious in his battles. He had always relied on his strength and on his own reason and Jacob’s means of obtaining victory over his colleagues were not always God pleasing.  Here in the darkness, however, he learned a painful but important lesson.  In his tired and crippled condition, how could he fight against or even run from his brother Esau? He was totally exhausted; thoroughly helpless.  He found himself in an impossible situation. The only option he had was hold on to the Lord and His promises.

Earlier, God had promised to care for Jacob and to bless him with wealth and many children. And God had blessed Jacob. In fact he had servants, large flocks, two wives and 11 children at that time. But Jacob had never before truly depended on God nor put his trust in God’s promises.

So that night, the Lord wrestled with Jacob to help him overcome his sinful self-reliance. That very night Jacob understood that his real strength came from the Lord’s gracious hand.  Jacob was not free from the terror that had gripped his heart.  He was exhausted and injured from wrestling with God all night and he still had to face Esau and four hundred men.

Nevertheless, in his weakened condition and with the Savior’s promises ringing in his ears, Jacob was now ready to meet Esau and face whatever awaited him that day. When he would meet Esau, it would not be as Jacob, the one who was out to deceive or overpower, but as Israel, the one who had struggled with God and received His blessing.

This new name became a constant reminder to Jacob of the blessings he received from the hand of God, blessings received only by grace and not by his own effort.

The fact remains to this day that there is a proud and conniving Jacob within each of us.  Rather than turn to God first for answers to our problems, all too often we struggle with problems seeking solutions that are not God pleasing. Many times we think about getting revenge, rather than forgiving those who have wronged us. Other times we lie awake trying to place the blame for our sinful actions on those we have wronged, rather than asking for forgiveness. 

Like Jacob our sinful flesh is prone to self-reliance and we can carry the burden of guilt and retribution within ourselves for many years. Such unresolved guilt festers inside, slowly simmering and occasionally reaching a boiling point.

However, when those sleepless nights come into our lives, we can look to the cross of Jesus Christ. We can see the very Son of God who overcame sin and death on the cross so that sin can no longer hold us captive. God loves you so much that He willing died on the cross to free you from the guilt and burden of sin.

For that very reason rather than struggling with yourself and trying to resolve your problems by using your own strength, you can wrestle with God. In others words rather than trying to resolve issues in your lives by your own sinful means, you can call upon the name of the Lord. When you find yourself lying awake at night over the events of the day or things from your past, bring your troubles, your problems and your desires before God. Pray confidently holding fast to His promises and asking God forgiveness for your sins and strength to forgive those who have wronged you. God is stronger and more powerful than all of your problems and He will help you through those difficult times.

As we face sins and evil in these last days, it will often seem as though God’s ears are deaf to the prayers of His people.   But in spite of how things may seem, the Lord reminds us that He is coming back with power and Glory to give you and all believers in Christ eternal life.  That promise alone should keep us aware of the need to always pray and not give up.

In times of trouble it may seem that God has forgotten, that he is far away or that he delays unnecessarily, but in fact He will never leave you or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)  Our God is indeed a God who is full of compassion.  Psalm 30 tells you, “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. God‘s mercies are new every morning, God’s faithfulness is great.  Praying to God in the evening can help you sleep better at night. Praying to God in the morning can help you look forward to the day ahead.  Praying to God during the day can help you see His loving hand even in those difficult challenges you face.

But even when God delays answering our requests, it is always for our good.  Sometimes He delays in order to remove selfishness from our prayers. He occasionally delays so that our longing may become greater. Other times He waits because he knows that quick and easy answers do not strengthen our faith. 

Our Father in Heaven knows that His children, like ordinary children, treasure His gifts more when they have to wait for them.  He knows that when He gives us everything we ask for we begin to take His precious gifts for granted so He sometimes withholds those things from us.  Other times He lets us go without so we can notice the needs of those around us. God may choose to take His time in answering our prayers, but eventually and always at the right time His help will come.

 God always acts just in time for the accomplishment of His gracious purpose. His ways are not our ways however.  God cannot sin but He will never let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  And when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:10)

 So like Jacob, when you wrestle with God, you may walk away battered and bruised knowing how powerless you really are, but you will also know you are blessed for your steadfast hope and trust in His grace. Then you can face each day as it comes with courage and hope, in the name of and for the sake of Jesus, Amen.