Title Field of Blessing/Genesis 32:24-29
Contents --
** Field of Blessing (Genesis 32:24-29) **
- main text -
Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him all day long,
When Ram saw that he could not overcome Jacob, he struck Jacob's hip bone, and
The bones of the buttocks were broken while wrestling with the man. The man said, The day is dawning
So let me go Jacob said, "If you do not bless me, I will go.
I will not do it. The man said to him, What is your name?
said, It is Jacob. The man said, I shall call your name Jacob no more.
No, it will be called Israel, because you are more of a God and a man.
It was won by competing in the French language. Jacob begged and said, Tell me your name
And the man said, "Why do you ask my name?" And there he blessed Jacob.
Zira (Genesis 32:24-29)
- sermon -
There are two kinds of blessings that human beings who have the realization of blessings want and wish for while living in the world.
1. Material blessings - to make human life easier and more enjoyable
2. Spiritual Blessing - For a true life and a worthwhile life
However, these two blessings are difficult to obtain together.
Jesus said it is harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.
Because these two blessings are either relative or contradictory in nature.
In the end, there are many cases where you can't get one unless you give up or sacrifice one.
Ex) Holy water on Sunday - When you have to risk business or pleasure or material sacrifices
many.
However, there is a difficult way to have these two blessings together.
In the Bible, Abraham, Daniel, Jacob, and Zacchaeus appear as people who share these two blessings. (Explanation)
But it was never easy for them to have these two blessings together.
This text is the field of blessing where Jacob, who has devoted his life to material blessings, receives new spiritual blessings from the angels.
How can we make our lives a field of two blessings?
Let's learn from the text.
1. Those who do their best with tenacity, persistence and will receive material blessings.
In general, those who seek spiritual blessings often downplay those who are blessed with material things.
However, the material blessings they received did not come easily.
For Jacob!
* To receive the blessing of the firstborn -
He is already a person who missed the blessing of the firstborn within 0.1 seconds.
However, he did not get discouraged here, did not give up because of fate, and with persistence, he finally received the blessing of the eldest son from his father, Isaac.
* To increase your fortune -
His maternal uncle Laban entrusted all the goats and sheep to his sons, and Jacob agreed to give the stained ones as wages while he had none.
Still, the Bible shows that we do our best with tenacity and perseverance without complaining or lamenting, and we receive great material blessings within 20 years.
* To get a wife -
His maternal uncle tricked him into entrusting his two daughters to Jacob, making them work for 14 years.
But Jacob does not blame him for this and silently does his best for his purpose.
Ex) Academics and PhDs There are many people who mock Korea, but studying is not easy.
Therefore, those who do their best with tenacity and perseverance in everything are the closest people to achieve their goals.
There should be no foolishness in us to just want to fall from the sky without effort or toil.
The Bible tells us not to yoke a working ox, but to reward those who work hard and sweat.
For it is written in the law of Moses, you shall not muzzle an ox that trembles when it is treading on the grain.
Why do I care for the cattle? (1 Corinthians 9:9)
The toiling farmer deserves the first to receive the grain (2 Timothy 2:6).
2. Those who look to God will be blessed.
When Jacob did his best with dedication and perseverance in material blessings, Jacob did not forget to look to God.
Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, Surely the LORD is here, and I do not know.
And he was afraid and said, Awe, this place, nothing else, this
is the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.??Jacob said in the morning
Then he took the stone he had been pillowing on, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on it.
They called their name Bethel. The original name of the city was Luz. And Jacob made a vow to go.
But God is with me and will keep me on this road I am going.
If you give me food and clothes to wear, so that I can return to my father's house in peace, the LORD
You will be my God, and this stone, which I have set up as a pillar,
of all that God has given me, I must give a tenth
I will give it to God.??(Genesis 28:16-22)
After all, because it was this kind of Jacob, God helped Jacob until he realized right away about the blessing.
If we neglect to live toward God, we cannot hope for a blessed life.
3. Those who deeply realize the limits of material blessings will receive spiritual blessings.
Jacob receives the material blessing and lives in it.
However, there was a limit to what material blessings gave.
Pleasure, peace, and enjoyment were temporary.
As his wealth increased, neither his maternal uncles nor his cousins had good eyes.
The wives they had worked hard for for 14 years had a quarrel at dawn.
Also, out of jealousy, he sent two servants to Jacob, and they bore him 12 sons.
In the end, these half-broods also fought each other, and there was no wind in the house.
Jacob, who was in trouble, finally decided to return home, but his brother Esau was afraid.
Moreover, when he hears that his older brother Esau is coming back and runs to kill him, Jacob realizes the limits of material blessings.
Yes)
4. Spiritual blessings come from wrestling with God.
As Jacob falls into this dilemma, he eventually wrestles with the angel.
Its purpose was a blessing beyond one limit.
Genesis 33:26 I will not let you go unless you bless me.
These words do not refer to the material things we have received or the blessings of the world.
It has been enjoyed so far, and now I know it has its limits.
They were expecting better new spiritual blessings.
This Jacob wrestled with the angel until his hip bone became the upper bone and he became lame for the rest of his life, and he received the blessing he wanted.
Now Jacob sees a new world, a spiritual blessing.
He reconciles with his brother Esau, and builds an altar at Succoth, and again at Bethel.
Jacob gives almost all of his hard-earned wealth as a gift to his older brother Esau and begins a new life serving God.
Here we come to realize that wrestling prayer is necessary for solving problems and for living a truly blessed life.
1. Even though I am not envious of the people of the world, I am not envious of the people of the world either.
When I think of God's great grace, the song of hallelujah comes naturally.
2. Even if the people of the world are not envious of me, the rulers of this world are envious of me.
When I think of being filled with the Holy Spirit, the song of hallelujah comes naturally.
3. Even though the people of the world are not envious of me, I am not envious of wealth and honor.
When I think that I will be the bride of Jesus, the song of hallelujah comes naturally
4. Even if the world doesn't envy me, the heavenly angels envy me
When I think of the movie I will enjoy forever, the song of hallelujah comes automatically
Like Abraham, Jacob, and Daniel,
As a believer who always looks to God,
Living life to the fullest with tenacity and perseverance,
Grasping the limits of material blessings,
Victory in prayer wrestling with God,
Let's make our life a field of blessing.