God's disciplining is for God's blessing.

Catalyst - a substance that triggers the change.

Genesis - book of foundation and creation.

Jacob has a fight with Laban and comes back

Ch 32 - 2 idea

. getting ready to face Esau. coz he chested him

. Wrestles with God.

1. God's Breaking is ____ for God (24-26)

thigh broken denotes strength.

. His strength broken.

. Breaking of self-reliance. Strength on which he relied all long.

only after this he realizes only God could bless him.

. 26 - proof of changed mind.

before he tricked people.

now he surrenders before God.

v22 - held on for blessing

blessing - usual understanding - prosperity power and prosperity

but Jacob had all.

barah - blessing - statement of relationship between two parties.

Jacob kept on clinging to God even when his hip broken.

God will push us to the very edge before God extends his hand

bird pushing the nestling

nestling depends on bird before the bird mother catches us.

failure to depend on God is the display of ego.

ego - edging god out from our life.

2. ___ 27-28

Jacob wants identity

he looking for identity by first born.

God asks - what is your name.

name denotes persons character in Hebrew tradition.

. He confessing his name he says Jacob.

. When father asks, he deceived already.

now he is telling truth.

. Example of his transformed identity.

to bless Jacob, God said you will no longer called Jacob. Discontinuity

. Israel. - Sarah + el. - God fights, God strives.

Abraham and Sarah's name changed but not called by old name.

but Jacob was even addressed even after.

Israel was born through breaking experience of Jacob.

let us stop seeking without God.

don’t anchor blessing on things.

2. Transformation of identity

3. Kindles our desire to know God. 29

. Breaking experience kindled desire to know God.

. In spite of being in patriarchs’ family he knew God less.

. Tell me your name.

His personality changed

desires changed

Phil 3:10-11 - Paul’s goal is to know God.

4. Commends the celebration of survival. 30-32

place named Peniel - seeing God face to face

also, gas idea of appearing before God.

v 32. Not eating tandem - close relationship between God and Israel.

reunion family with limping

slave to heir.