"The Struggle, The Blessing" October 21, 2007 Proper 24, Pentecost 21

(First, read the passage for this sermon: Genesis 32:22-31)

Years ago, Jacob had been a real weasel. Now his past has come back to haunt him.

Do you remember the story of Jacob, from the book of Genesis? His grandparents were Abraham and Sarah, and you may remember that they were unable to conceive a child until God gave that blessing – when Abraham was 99 years old and Sarah was 89! Do you remember that Sarah thought the whole idea of a baby at that age was so funny that she laughed so hard, she fell on her face? How appropriate, then, that when the baby boy was born they named him “Isaac,” which means laughter! (See Gen 18:1-15; 21:1-7)

Isaac grew up, and he married Rebekah, and in the course of time, Rebekah gave birth to twin boys: Esau (who was born first) and Jacob. According to the custom of the people, which son was in line for inheritance? It was the first born, Esau. (Even a twin who was second born would not inherit anything.)

You may remember this great story. Esau was his father’s favorite. Esau was an outdoorsman, and great hunter; a real he-man. And he was a good boy! He played by the rules!

Jacob did not. And neither did Jacob’s mother, Rebekah. Jacob, you may remember, was Rebekah’s favorite. In fact, he was a real momma’s boy! And so, when Isaac was close to dying, too blind to see well anymore, unable to distinguish between his two sons, you may remember how Rebekah connived with Jacob to deceive Isaac into blessing Jacob instead of Esau?!

Oh the wailing and gnashing of teeth! (Esau’s teeth!) And with good reason! Jacob had stolen their father’s blessing that had been intended for Esau! He-man Esau declared that the next time he saw momma’s boy Jacob, he’d tear him limb from limb. What did Jacob do in response? Did he own up to what he had done? Did he act with integrity, at long last? (See Gen 27) What he did was: he ran away! (Do you remember all of this? What a great story! Indeed, we could spend every Sunday morning on the stories in Genesis and never get tired of them!)

This morning, as the story picks up in Genesis, it is years later. Esau and Jacob have not seen each other over those years, but both have become rich men of great status. Both have more than one wife. (There really isn’t much of what politicians now call “family values” in the Old Testament!) Both Esau and Jacob have many children and servants and cattle and sheep.

Now, with such comfort and status established, the time has come for Jacob to restore his relationship with his brother, Esau. Here’s what we read in Genesis, as chapter 32 begins: Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, instructing them, "Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob,… I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male and female slaves; and I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.'"

But here’s what we read next. The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, "We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him."

Now. Under the circumstances, how confident would you have felt of that upcoming meeting? Jacob feels the same way! In fact, he goes into a survival mentality. Here’s what we read: Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies, thinking, "If Esau comes to the one company and destroys it, then the company that is left will escape."

And so, we come to this morning’s part of the story. The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone;…

And we pause here. Jacob was left alone. He has sent ahead everyone and everything he owns. He is now stripped down to himself. He is alone.

When have you felt that alone?

Perhaps it was when you heard the diagnosis of cancer. Or maybe it was when the corporate structure was “right sized” and the job disappeared. Or maybe it was when you first realized your addiction. It could have been when your spouse died. When you have always assumed that you’re acting from a position of strength because you’re a healthy person; and you have a loving spouse; and you have lots of money, and the right house in the right neighborhood, and the car that turns people’s heads – when that is stripped away, what’s left?

Jacob is left alone. And then it gets worse. He is attacked! The rest of this morning’s verses describe the grappling between Jacob and a man [who wrestles] with him until daybreak. What a struggle it is!

Who is this man? The narrative doesn’t clarify – although Jacob is sure that it is God! (See verse 30) If it is God, then it is a terrifying face of God, hidden and not to be found out. (Walter Brueggeman)

In the struggle, the man strikes Jacob on the hip socket and puts his hip out of joint! This is a violent battle! Jacob is wounded!

But, in the mêlée, Jacob holds his own – and he holds on! The two grappling adversaries won’t let each other go until the struggle is over. And at the end, Jacob receives a blessing that only comes through the struggle!
Jacob is wounded in this experience. He is changed. His name, his sense of identity is changed! Through the wounding, through the struggle, Jacob is blessed.

When has this been your experience?

Usually, we try to cover up our wounds. Usually we try to even cover up signs of struggle. Almost always we try to present to the world a jaunty face: “I’m fine!” we say.

But, in different seasons of life, we find ourselves struggling! It’s not of our choosing. It’s what happens – just as Jacob finds himself attacked by his mysterious adversary! We are painfully reminded that we are mortal beings, that we can be engulfed by physical or emotional illness, by professional setbacks, by grief. It turns out that we are not Superman or Superwoman.

Here’s the thing. When we enter into the struggle, when we don’t try to cover it up or deny it, when we hold our own and just hold on, we find out that we’re more than enduring. We discover what gift there is in all of this.

Gift! This sounds like crazy talk, perhaps.

But in the struggle, we are changed. When our ego is chopped down to size in the struggle, our identity is changed. That’s a good thing, if we become healthy in humility. When disappointments and failures lead us to realize how dependent we are on God, that is a blessing. We are blessed – with a deeper understanding of what’s truly important in life, and that each day of life is a precious gift from God, and that God is profoundly present each day, even in the struggle, even when the best we can do is just to hold on to God in the grappling.

Each Sunday morning as we gather in this place, there are at least a few of us in the midst of such struggle. God calls us together to hold on to each other – and to accompany each other to this table, where, in bread and wine, the body and blood of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ, the end of all struggle is real and present for us, today! Here, around this table, there is resurrection and salvation, and peace!

In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Pastor Andy Ballentine
St. Stephen Lutheran Church
Williamsburg, Virginia