Server Outage Notice: TheSeed.info is transfering to a new Server on Tuesday April 13th
| > Sermon Archive > Sermons by Author > Rev. Mark Chen > The Power of Face to Face | Previous Next Print |
| Order Of Worship (Liturgy)
|
The Power of Face to Face
Genesis 32:1-33:12, 20
We all admit how we think or feel will affect how we act in times of stress. We can react sinfully or godly. But how does a person change his behavior, reactions, or feelings? In the world of therapy there are many approaches to change a person. One is through more invasive means - like drugs or electroconvulsive therapy to reboot the brain. Others are more conservative - like cognitive behavioral therapy to address negative and irrational thoughts by challenging ways of thinking, to change reactions. And while we can acknowledge the usefulness of such therapies to help change perspectives, they never deal with the sin issue - the root issue. They lack the power to cleanse. They lack the power to forgive and transform. They lack the power of face to face.
And we see a dramatic change in Jacob because of a face to face moment. Jacob deceived his brother Esau, who then wanted to kill him. Out of fear, Jacob ran away, where he met the Living and True God who promised to prosper this deceiver! And in those 20 years, Jacob himself was deceived - but God was with him and prospered him even though he returned to his old ways. He grew in both substance and family into a great people. And now he returned. But the root issue for his escape has not been solved. He still hadn’t repented of his deception. His brother Esau was still there and likely angry. How would he face Esau? But before that, God met him face to face. And there was a change. And we’ll examine this change in 2 propositions. Firstly, wrestle with self and turn to God. Secondly, wrestle with God to turn from self.
Firstly, wrestle with self and turn to God. As Jacob journeyed back home, angels of God met him at the edge of the Promised Land (v 1). When he first left, he saw angels at Bethel; and now again he’s met by them. Just like Eden, Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey is also guarded by angels. He called the place Mahanaim - the place of two camps. One camp of angels meeting with his own camp of people. He knew that God was with him - meeting him again after having blessed him. But what’s interesting is that this brought him no comfort! He was paralyzed by fear! He still feared Esau. We learn he sent messengers to Esau telling him in verse 4 - “Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now: and I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.” It was an attempt to mollify Esau - I’ve returned, but I don’t need anything, not even our father’s inheritance - I have many things. Then he heard that Esau would come to meet him with 400 men. 400! Would these be 400 fighting men? Because if they were, they’d be more than the 318 men Abraham had to fight against Chedolaomer. What a frightful thing! Why did Esau react like this to the overture of peace? Fear paralyzed Jacob. Verse 7 says he was greatly afraid and distressed! He who wrestled with Laban and outwitted him after 20 years can now no longer move. He wrestled within himself. We learn that he divided his own camp. But didn’t he just witness a camp of angels? But he divides his own people, his flocks, herds, and camels into two bands. Why? Verse 8 - if Esau destroys one, the other can escape. This was his survival tactic. He wasn’t operating out of faith. And in this wrestling in himself, he’s losing. This is the only way he knew how to win and come out alive.
But then, Jacob prayed. Perhaps in all of his escaping and 20 years’ experience of receiving deception, this problem still remained; and he knew he needed help outside himself. And it was a faithful prayer. In fact, it’s the longest prayer in Genesis. And notice the elements in this prayer that make it faithful. In verse 9, he firstly addressed God - “O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD.” But not only was God the God of his father and grandfather, it was his too. He was now calling upon the name of the Lord. But he addressed God as the covenant keeping God. That’s why secondly, he acknowledged the sovereign leading of God - “The LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee.” He came back because God called him to. Thirdly, there was humility in his prayer, verse 10 - “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant.” All that God had blessed him with, he knew he deserved none of it. Fourthly, there was admission of God’s blessing - “for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.” I had nothing but a walking stick, now I have so much I can separate them into 2 camps. And this was a change. He admitted he was not worthy of God’s love which had kept him safe and made him rich. And he called himself “thy servant.” He called on the name of the Lord. He was no longer the one who wanted to usurp - as Adam did, by take the fruit to be his own master. That’s why fifthly, there was supplication, verse 11 - “Save me I pray from my brother Esau - for I fear that he’ll come to kill me and my family.” His wrestling with himself drove him to God. Fear became prayer. Trepidation became petition. He let go of his own strength and mastery to submit to God. And here, he’s concerned for his own family, where once he was only concerned for himself. What did he do?
After this, we see his selfless preparation. Verse 13 onwards says, he took from his possessions presents for Esau - 200 she goats, 20 he goats, 200 ewes, and 20 rams, 30 milking camels with their colts, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 foals. That’s 550 animals. This was a large gift. This showed how wealthy Jacob was - he was wealthier than a city. This gift was a tribute larger than what cities would pay invading kings for safety. And he arranged them to go in three waves, verse 16, led by servants. They should go one at a time. And their instructions were - in the event Esau asked where they were from - to tell him that these were presents for him from Jacob. Literally, the words “They be thy servant Jacob’s; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.” This was to show his humility, his restitution for what he had done, to appease Esau’s anger. I guess the question is - were these gifts self serving? Were they a way to stay the hand of Esau? Or were they a result of a humbling? Of faith in seeking after God. Now, whichever view one may take, it’s clear that there was certainly a paralyzing fear, a wrestling in himself that resulted in a humble prayer, which outcome was a surrender and humility in trusting God, and the decision to make restitution. That’s all he could do. He wrestled in himself and turned to God.
Thereafter, he sent these presents and servants ahead, verse 21. That night, he couldn’t sleep. If Esau was going to come to kill him, he might kill his family if he saw him with them. So he also sent his family across with the servants, in the cover of night, verse 22-23, along with everything he had. They crossed the river. But he himself didn’t - not yet. He stayed put first. He hadn’t crossed. Why? God’s not finished with him yet. Jacob had prayed, wrestled, turned to God, but he hadn’t quite turned from self yet. So the Lord came to do that work. Jacob was alone, like he was alone in Bethel. Jacob had nothing, like he had nothing in Bethel. All he had left was God. But how much did he want God? God had to break the strength of the natural man before he could bring him face to face with grace. And before he came face to face with his brother, he had to come face to face with God.
And here, God would meet him again - not with a ladder, but a wrestling match. That’s the second point - wrestling with God to turn from self. Now the deep night comes. Jacob’s alone. Verse 24 says he was left alone. Then in that darkness, a Man attacked him and wrestled him. Who was it? Not Esau, neither a robber - for he had nothing. But Jacob defended himself and wrestled the Man until daybreak. It was an hours long match. And here we see a change - from striving for himself, to surrendering to God. Jacob, whose name meant usurper, spent his whole life striving for himself. And now, he spent the whole night wrestling with this Man. But notice, he can’t win. And that’s unusual - he’s very strong - strong enough to remove the stone cover of a well by himself. So strong that Laban couldn’t bear to let him go. But he was no match for this stranger. And as the time passed, he knew it was no ordinary man. Hosea 12:4 says that Jacob “had power over the angel, and prevailed:” But this was no mere angel. This was the Angel of the Lord, Christ himself. At first, we’re not told. But after wrestling the whole night, Jacob clung onto the Man and asked for a blessing (v 26), which meant he knew he was God.
But before this happened, God touched him on the hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint. The very thing that Jacob relied on - his natural strength - is now broken. Who is this person? Where did he get his strength? And now Jacob is crippled - he can’t fight anymore. But he hung on. Even when the Man told him to let go because it was morning, Jacob refused. Why? To fight on when he couldn’t? To prove a point? So he won’t lose? No. Hosea 12:4 says that Jacob “wept, and made supplication unto him…” This is a wrestling of prayer, of desperate clinging. He knew he was beaten and couldn’t win. And now in desperation and surrender, asked for blessing. When he was weakest, he clung on more desperately. God had brought him low, so he’d finally surrender in faith. And when God asked him - “What is thy name?…he said, Jacob.” What’s the purpose of this question? Did God not know? Of course he did. But he’s leading Jacob to confess who he was - “I’m Jacob, I’m a usurper, I’m a liar, I’m a deceiver, I’m a schemer, I’m weak even though I think I’m strong, I’m afraid even though I’m rich, and now I have nothing!”
Beloved, this was a gracious act of God for someone who’s living in sin and misery. That he’d be confronted by his sin and misery, that he’d know there’s no other way but to turn to the gracious God in repentance. Only when there’s this repentance, this poverty of spirit, this mourning for sin, can we come meekly to God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, that God will fill us! When God asks us our name, how prepared are we to answer truthfully? I’m so desperate to get married I lower my biblical standards! I’m so discontent and jealous of other people’s success that I’m so bitter! I so wish my child was like another person’s child that I hate rather than love! I’m an angry person! I’m a hard man! I’m a scheming woman! I’m a difficult spouse! I love family honor more than honoring God! I’m desperate to hide my shame of a secret lustful life! I’m a rebellious child full of hate for my parents! I’m a difficult man delighting in the misfortunes of others! I’m an argumentative person who wants to win! What is your name?! What must you confess? What must you repent of?
You see, when Jacob confessed, the Lord said, you’re no longer a usurper - you’re no longer Jacob, but Israel - you’ve wrestled with God and have prevailed. But Jacob didn’t prevail! Not in the way we may think of prevailing. He prevailed by surrendering, by confessing, by repenting, by his desperation. Beloved, come unto me and yr shall find rest. Come, buy wine and milk - salvation - without money. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Because when we surrender to him, God saves us. He brings rest into our lives. He fights for us. When Pharaoh was coming for the Israelites with his armies and the Red Sea was before them, they complained - it would’ve been better for us to remain as slaves in Egypt! And what did Moses say? Exodus 14:13-14 - “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Stillness doesn’t mean doing nothing - it mean wrestling in yourself to believe in God! To wrestle with God to turn from self to trust him! This is the gospel! We overcome by surrender. And then our name shall be Christian - a follower of Christ. And we are marked by our surrender - our crippled leg - limping to heaven, relying on Christ, striving for his blessing, not scheming for our’s. As Jacob, he wasn’t allowed into Canaan, but as Israel, he could inherit the land. He’s stopped striving for self, but surrendered to God.
That’s why he could abandon fear for faith. Jacob knew it was God he wrestled with, because only God could bless him and change his name. Just as Abram became Abraham, Sarai became Sarah, and God named Isaac; he gave Jacob a new name and blessed him. That’s why Jacob called the place Penuel - “the face of God” for that’s where he saw God face to face, and yet his life was preserved (v 30). What a change! Before this, he feared Esau’s face. After this, he knows he’s preserved by God. The greater fear of God drives out the lesser fear of man. That word “preserve” was the same word he used in verse 11 when he prayed - “Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother.” He’s saved! But from whom? Not yet from Esau; but from God, from his own sin, from himself. And because of that, he knows that he can go forth to face his brother. He’s no longer afraid. And verse 31 says, that “…as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted (or limped) upon his thigh.” How would he face his brother as a cripple? He was by far a stronger man now. God had touched him. And it’s the same with us - when we truly come to Christ, surrendering to him all of our schemes, he changes us. We’re not afraid of limping, having less, admitting our sins, seeking forgiveness, forbearing and forgiving of others without reciprocation, not needing to win or make our point, not needing to fight with everyone! Why? Because we’re whole in Christ.
This is why, when Jacob went to meet Esau, he came with penitence, not plotting. There was a change. First, he saw God’s face, then he saw Esau’s. When he finally caught up with his family, he arranged them - not in a battle formation - but a procession of grace. We learn in Genesis 33 that he approached Esau with Leah and Rachel, the maidservants, and the children; but he himself went before them, bowing to the ground seven times. He was not scheming, but repenting. And what we see is amazing. Verse 4 - Esau ran to him, embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept. God changed Esau’s heart. Proverbs 16 - “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” This was the Lord’s doing. This was the power of face to face. Jacob said to Esau in verse 10 - I’ve seen your face, it’s like seeing God’s face, and you’ve accepted me! Now, to be clear, he’s not saying that Esau was God. But he said when he saw his face, he knew that God’s face shone on him. Beloved, when we see God face to face in repentance, he gives us power. And that’s why we’re so weak - we scheme and plot, we want to protect self because we can’t envision that we have the power from God to overcome hurt. We’re weak, faithless, and powerless, because we haven’t come face to face with God. Folks, we shouldn’t look at this and say Esau was the changed man - it was Jacob. He made restitution. He insisted Esau take all the gifts even though there was already reconciliation. This is what a transformed man does.
But what about Esau? Hasn’t he changed? Sure, he didn’t want to take revenge as he once did. But was there change? Not gospel change. Notice these details. When Jacob spoke about his condition in verse 11, he called on God - “God hath dealt graciously with me…I have enough.” On the other hand, what did Esau say? “I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.” Sounds similar, but there’s a significant difference. Jacob acknowledged God. Esau had enough, so God didn’t matter. Jacob had mentioned God three times in their conversation; verses 5,10,11. Esau didn’t mention him once. God didn’t enter Esau’s picture of the world in any way. But despite Jacob’s messed up life, he saw his blessings as being from God. He learned that lesson; Esau never did. He never came face to face with God.
Beloved, you are being faced with an issue of change today. What’s your name? You are angry. You are lustful. You are deceitful. You are unforgiving. You are obstinate. You are pliable. You are Mr Worldly Wise. But are you? No! If you’ve met Christ face to face, you are Christian. You are forgiving. You are gentle. You are pure. You are truthful. You are surrendered! You are faithful. We have the mark of Christ upon us. We’re broken in spirit and contrite in heart, and we’re restored - happy in Jesus, victorious. This is the change, the root change, we can have because of Christ. But will you change? Or you are satisfied with a change like Esau? Young people, who haven’t confessed faith - Jacob came face to face with God - the God of Abraham and Isaac his fathers; but in verse 20 - he built an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel - God, the God of Israel. He moved from acknowledging the God of his fathers, to worshiping God as his own. You can never change, nor be free from your sins, until you meet this God face to face. No therapy will ever help you.
Now, because of what happened to Jacob, the Israelites were prohibited from eating the sinews of the leg muscles. They were to remember the breaking of his strength and self-reliance to trust in God. And that became kosher law. In fact, the Chinese Jews of Kaifeng were called the sect of Ti?o J?n Jiào (???), which translates to “the sect that plucks out the sinews.” Why would they not eat it? A reminder that they would no longer partake of the things of the world, that they would no longer rely on their own strength and schemes, to get ahead. And that’s what we do - not by not eating, but by eating. At the Lord’s Supper, we are nourished by Christ’s body. We eat and drink of his death, proclaiming our death in him when we eat the bread broken for us and cup poured out for us. And as God resurrected him, we proclaim our new lives in him, that we need his life if we are to live. For our Lord Jesus wrestled in himself for us at Gethsemane, and he surrendered at the cross for us - broken by God. Where he was poured out like water, and his bones were out of joint; where he was cursed so that he might be our blessing. And because of him, our sins are forgiven, our hearts are softened. Let’s have him break our self-reliance. Perhaps for some of you yet, God must bring you to a place of Penuel, to cripple your natural strength so you can cling to Christ alone. What is your name, Christian?
1. Wrestle with Self and Turn to God (1-23)
A. His fearful paralysis (1-8)
B. His faithful prayer (9-12)
C. His selfless preparation (13-23)
2. Wrestle with God to Turn from Self (32:24-33:12)
A. From striving for self to surrendering to God (24-29)
B. From fear to faith (30-32)
C. From plotting to penitence (33:1-12)
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Mark Chen, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
(c) Copyright 2026, Rev. Mark Chen
Please direct any comments to the Webmaster
