Baggage Claim (3): Nothing Left to Lose
2014/10/19
Christ Church, Mountain Top
Christ Church, Mountain Top
Prayer,
Psalm 85
Psalm 85
Children,
Genesis 32.1-21
Genesis 32.1-21
Message,
Genesis 32.22-32
Genesis 32.22-32
Grace
I
love the Jacob story, and I’ve repeated that a few times over the weeks we’ve
been looking at his story.
love the Jacob story, and I’ve repeated that a few times over the weeks we’ve
been looking at his story.
Baggage – sibling rivalry, mommy/daddy
issues
issues
Destructive behavior – treating human
connections as commodities
connections as commodities
“I hired you with my son’s
mandrakes” (Leah to Jacob, 30.16)
mandrakes” (Leah to Jacob, 30.16)
Yet,
this rascal is chosen and loved by God!
this rascal is chosen and loved by God!
Not because of anything he has done
Even before he is born
An
act of grace, a reminder that we are God’s simply because God is gracious, that
we are loved simply because God is love.
act of grace, a reminder that we are God’s simply because God is gracious, that
we are loved simply because God is love.
Illusion
But
Jacob does not “get it”
Jacob does not “get it”
“Grabber”, his name, his birth
Birthright & blessing – but never
received his father’s approval
received his father’s approval
Wealth – from Laban
He
has fought for everything he has, he has earned it all
has fought for everything he has, he has earned it all
And
that is an illusion – it is all a gift, it is all grace
that is an illusion – it is all a gift, it is all grace
The
illusion of being my father’s equal – boxing
illusion of being my father’s equal – boxing
Fighter
He
has fought for everything he has, he has earned it all
has fought for everything he has, he has earned it all
So,
God comes to him as a fighter, because that is all Jacob knows
God comes to him as a fighter, because that is all Jacob knows
He’s a concrete thinker, physicality,
kinetic intelligence
kinetic intelligence
He works out his problems externally, not
internally
internally
(much like contemporary readings of Beowulf)
And
God comes in the only way Jacob can perceive God
God comes in the only way Jacob can perceive God
He
has fought for everything he has, he has earned it all
has fought for everything he has, he has earned it all
What
he truly wants is to be blessed!
he truly wants is to be blessed!
Every blessing he has he has “stolen”,
grabbed, taken by force
grabbed, taken by force
He has not learned to receive a gift
It
is not until he is broken that he is ready to be blessed, and his brokenness
becomes a sign of his blessing.
is not until he is broken that he is ready to be blessed, and his brokenness
becomes a sign of his blessing.
Baggage
The accumulation of our pain
Insulation from God?
Jacob has to part with everything –
the fruit of his conflict/baggage
the fruit of his conflict/baggage
Jacob has to part with everything before
he can receive God’s gift
he can receive God’s gift
It is not until he has nothing left
to lose, not even his baggage
to lose, not even his baggage
Both
broken and blessed
broken and blessed
Prevail/Overpower
“When
the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob” (NRSV), “When the man saw
that he could not overpower him” (NIV) (32.25).
The word for “prevail” or “overpower” is a word for raw ability. The man “was not able”. This expression reveals a mystery about God
and God’s dealings with people: God will not force us to submit. God will not
win over us by power. Instead, God intends win us over by love.
the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob” (NRSV), “When the man saw
that he could not overpower him” (NIV) (32.25).
The word for “prevail” or “overpower” is a word for raw ability. The man “was not able”. This expression reveals a mystery about God
and God’s dealings with people: God will not force us to submit. God will not
win over us by power. Instead, God intends win us over by love.
At the same time, God knows that Jacob
must not win the blessing he craves by force.
He has already done that once, and only found himself more empty and
alone. If Jacob is to be blessed, he
must first be powerless. Only then can
this stubborn, hard-headed, fierce competitor know that he has been given a
gift. So the man strikes Jacob on the
hip, making him limp. Still, Jacob cries
out, “I will not let you go unless you bless me”.
must not win the blessing he craves by force.
He has already done that once, and only found himself more empty and
alone. If Jacob is to be blessed, he
must first be powerless. Only then can
this stubborn, hard-headed, fierce competitor know that he has been given a
gift. So the man strikes Jacob on the
hip, making him limp. Still, Jacob cries
out, “I will not let you go unless you bless me”.
Jacob triumphs, through his weakness, not
his strength. Jacob is blessed, but only
after he is broken.
his strength. Jacob is blessed, but only
after he is broken.
Blessed/Kneel
The
root for “blessed” is also the root for “kneel”, as in, “kneel before the
LORD”. And I see this man, who wrestled Jacob, kneel before Jacob to bless him.
This God who refuses to force us to submit, this God who refuses to overpower
us, has the humility and gentleness to kneel before us with all our brokenness,
and to BLESS.
root for “blessed” is also the root for “kneel”, as in, “kneel before the
LORD”. And I see this man, who wrestled Jacob, kneel before Jacob to bless him.
This God who refuses to force us to submit, this God who refuses to overpower
us, has the humility and gentleness to kneel before us with all our brokenness,
and to BLESS.
The
man who knew nothing but winning and losing, the man who knew nothing but being
alone, the man who fought for everything he had, the man who never knew his
father’s approval . . . has finally received the blessing.
man who knew nothing but winning and losing, the man who knew nothing but being
alone, the man who fought for everything he had, the man who never knew his
father’s approval . . . has finally received the blessing.