Wrestle It Out (Part 1)  Teachers Guide

A. New Courage
Genesis 32:24-30

“24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.  25And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.  26And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.  27And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.  29And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.  30And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

1. Give a brief summary about the life of Jacob until this chapter.

      (Genesis 25-32)

2. Read Genesis 32:34-30

3. Explain to the class the meaning of Jacob’s name and that he was living up to it.  Explain that Jacob had never had an honest fight up to this point.  He was constantly scheming to get what he wanted and needed. 

4. Explain that like Jacob the wrongs that we do to people and the problems we run from will always eventually catch up to us.  (Numbers 32:23)

5. Explain how Jacob’s wrestling and struggle with God brought him a New courage so that he could honestly face his brother Esau and own up to what he had done to him. 

6. Sometimes we must struggle with God on some things in order to receive a new courage to face our past wrong doings and our present problems.  Explain that when we go to God and face Him with what we have done and the things that are hurting us, we can face anything! 

7. Explain that like Jacob we can come out with a blessing if we do not give up! (Genesis 32:26)

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”