Genesis 31 REFLECTION "What is your name?" Kids Ministry Coffee Break 90: We are made to be who we are, but we spend so much time trying to be something/someone else. Let's be ourselves & engage God.

Jacob wrestles God: what a story!

I often jokingly refer to Jacob as my spirit animal due to this exact story.

He wrestles a man…who turns out to be God.

He beats God in a wrestling match.

The sun is about to rise meaning Jacob is about to gaze fully upon God’s face which is a threat to Jacob—he could die.

God demands to be let go…but Jacob will not until he is blessed.

Jacob DEMANDS blessing from God…and gets it.

That’s not the part I identify with, but it’s a great part in the story.

The part I identify with is when God asks, “What is your name?”

This isn’t the first time Jacob’s identity has been requested of him. At the beginning of his story he is standing before his dad, Isaac, trying to steal his brother’s blessing—Esau was the firstborn and so the birthright belonged to him even though Jacob was his twin.

Isaac can’t see and asks who is standing before him.

“It’s Esau,” Jacob says.

Jacob means “swindler” or, literally, “Heal-grabber”

He swindles his brother’s birthright from his father with a lie.

He then flees and spends years outside of the land away from all he’s ever known.

But then it’s time to come back.

He arrives across the border to his homeland and sends all of his belongings and family across first as a sign of peace to his brother.

He’s alone…and he wrestles God…and he is asked again, “What is your name?”

Jacob, for the first time in the story, doesn’t try to swindle.

He says, “Jacob.”

He then gets a new name, Israel, and receives a blessing.

He also gets a limp, because an encounter with God will always change things in your life.

God had made the divine presence known when Jacob had initially set out on the run.

He saw the stairway at Bethel and knew God was in that place.

But he didn’t engage this God in any way.

He left.

It’s as if God was waiting for him to engage.

It’s as if God was waiting for him to stop trying to swindle or be someone who he is not.

At Peniel Jacob is finally ready to be who he is…and he gives his name.

It’s then that God blesses him and the promise given to Jacob’s grandfather long ago can now proceed.

God needed Jacob to be who he was to then be able to engage God and walk the path prepared for him.

___________

There are many days, especially as a minister, where we are so busy trying to be someone else that we forget to be who we are.

You may see another minister or leader and try to emulate them.

You try to achieve what they have done…

you try to mirror their actions…

become what they are…

And, so often, God is there waiting for us to give up this kind of pursuit…because we were made to be who we are…not someone else.

We can only truly engage God in the path of our lives and journey of our faith when we’re ready to stop trying to be anyone else but who God made us to be.

So…my friends… “What’s your name?”

Are you ready to be free of all the “stuff” you have accumulated to show your success and status?

Are you ready to engage God?

Are you ready to be you?

Because God made you YOU…and called YOU to be in ministry for Jesus Christ.

Trust God’s leading.

Trust you are everything you need to be for the calling God has for you today.

And be blessed, my friends!

Message brought to you by Rev. Joseph Sanford of Sanford Curriculum (Student ministry resources available on The Sunday School Store written by he and Lauren Sanford).

Music by The Muse Maker

https://10bibleverses.com/?s=genesis