“I Am Not Worthy” (Gen 32:1-28)

Overcoming Fears

(vs9-12) Then Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’: "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. "Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children. "For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’" There are six important truths from Gen 32, which deal with obtaining the promises of God and overcoming our fears. We have fears, inadequacies, and weakness. The only hope is the blessing that Christ gives, so we believe on Him and receive His grace. We do so, even though He makes us wait and humbles us, even though we are unworthy. We may be better than men, true, and improved, but we are never WORTHY of what we get meritoriously, as if we EARNED the grace that chose us in the beginning. Jacob said, “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant” (Gen 32:10). Election means UNWORTHY all the way through. We must be alone with God- “Then Jacob was left alone” (Gen 32:24). We can't depend on the preacher, hearsay, or put any confidence in men. We must depend on the gospel of Jesus Christ alone and for ourselves. We cannot believe other men, but by men, we must actually believe and follow Him. Until the soul LEANS on Christ, the soul can't be blessed This battle is long, arduous, and hard- “a Man wrested with him until the breaking of the day” (Gen 32:24). This isn't a quick strike; it humbles the soul to the dust, empties us of self, and then GRACES us generously through faith. We BELIEVE God in spite of the nothingness of self, and we get the miraculous & eternal. The need is desperate, and it will be met as such. Jacob said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” (Gen 32:26). If you and I want Christ, then we'll trust Him. We'll believe in spite of unworthiness, in spite of quietness from God, and amidst the most gruelings battles to overcome because we have no other choice, and He's GIVEN us hope in Christ. We'll believe that we're saved by grace, that we'll make it by faith, and that we'll be blessed in the end The one who wants the blessing is Jacob, the one who takes it by force, and now, he'll be called blessed. “He said to him, What is your name? He said, Jacob” (Gen 32:27). This name was given because of his ambition. Now, he's got the blessings. He has assurance, etc. God's given him his hearts ambition. We prevail with God and get from Him the eternal and miraculous. The Angel said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have power with God and with men, and have prevailed.” (Gen 32:28). We have God given power to get the most important thing in eternity, the blessing.