He Wrestled with God and Prevailed

Jacob was not fighting with God out of arrogance. He had great fear about meeting his brother Esau. Remember that 20 years earlier he had deceived his brother out of his birthright and then out of Isaac's blessing. And now they are soon to meet. I believe he was saying to himself: "I have no other hope than You God. Bless me or I will die." He may also have been saying to himself: "You have told me that I am the son of promise. God, for Your own great name, bless me."

I think we can also make a prayer like Jacob's: "Lord, I will not let you go until you bless me." But this should not be a selfish prayer. For example, I have many relatives and friends who are not saved. I pray like this: Lord, I will not let you go until you save my friends and family. It is not a prayer out of selfishness or arrogance, but rather, out of persistence and the realization that only God can do this. "Lord, I will not let you go until you bless me."

Scripture Readings: Weeks 3 & 4

January 15

Gen 29:1 - 30:43
Psalm 8:1-5
Proverbs 3:13-18
Matthew 10:21-42

January 16

Gen 31:1-32:32
Psalm 8:6-9
Proverbs 3:19-20
Matthew 11:1-30

January 17

Gen 33:1-34:31
Psalm 9:1-5
Proverbs 3:21-26
Matthew 12:1-21

January 18

Gen 35:1-36:43
Psalm 9:6-10
Proverbs 3:27-30
Matthew 12:22-50

January 19

Gen 37:1-38:30
Psalm 9:11-20
Proverbs 3:31-35
Matthew 13:1-30

January 20

Gen 39:1-40:23
Psalm 10:1-11
Proverbs 4:1-6
Matthew 13:31-58

January 21

Gen 41:1-42:38
Psalm 10:12-18
Proverbs 4:7-9
Matthew 14:1-21

January 22

Gen 43:1-44:34
Psalm 11:1-7
Proverbs 4:10-13
Matthew 14:22-36

January 23

Gen 45:1-46:34
Psalm 12:1-8
Proverbs 4:14-17
Matthew 15:1-20

January 24

Gen 47:1-48:22
Psalm 13:1-6
Proverbs 4:18-19
Matthew 15:21-39

January 25

Gen 49:1-50:26
Psalm 14:1-7
Proverbs 4:20-24
Matthew 16:1-28

January 26

Exodus 1:1-2:25
Psalm 15:1-5
Proverbs 4:25-27
Matthew 17:1-27

January 27

Exodus 3:1-4:31
Psalm 16:1-6
Proverbs 5:1-6
Matthew 18:1-20

January 28

Exodus 5:1-6:30
Psalm 16:7-11
Proverbs 5:7-14
Matthew 18:21-35

Please note: We are using the MacArthur Daily Bible. You can order it from Mardel's Bookstore on I-45 in Houston, or directly from John MacArthur, at Grace to You (gty.org).

Receive Christ

God and Wisdom

Wisdom is represented as "female." God is represented as "male." The Scriptures say that "by wisdom God created the universe." We see the perfect balance of male and female in creation; both working together in the plan of God.

Jacob and Rachel

Jacob Deceives Laban

The Children of Jacob (Israel)