Wrestling with God

September 7, 2025

After a lifetime of grasping — for birthrights, blessings, and love — Jacob is finally left alone. On the eve of facing his greatest fear, he encounters his greatest opponent: God Himself. In this climactic moment, Jacob realizes that the fight was never with Esau, but with the God he’s resisted his whole life. In Part 5 of Grasping for God, we’ll see how real encounters with God are always personal, often painful, and ultimately transformative — and how sometimes, the only way to win is to surrender.

Passage

Genesis 32:22-32

Principle

An encounter with God is ##personal## .

An encounter with God demands a ##wrestling## ##match## .

An encounter with God requires ##winning## through ##losing## .

Practice

Identify any way that you are ##wrestling## with ##God##. Name it in prayer and ##surrender## to His will.

Small Group Questions

Use this outline for personal reflection, as a couples or family devotion, or with a small group.

HANGOUT

When have you experienced reconciliation with someone after a long period of conflict or separation? What brought it about, and how did it feel?

HEAR

Read Genesis 33:1-20

What do Jacob’s actions before meeting Esau (vv. 1–8) reveal about his mindset? How do they contrast with his earlier grasping behavior in Genesis 27?
How do you see God’s hand in the surprising outcome of this meeting?
Why do you think Jacob insists that seeing Esau’s face is like “seeing the face of God” (v. 10)?
Jacob builds an altar and names it “El Elohe Israel” (“God, the God of Israel”). How does this reflect a change in his relationship with God?

Read Matthew 5:21-26

How does Jesus connect reconciliation with worship?
What does it mean in practical terms to “be reconciled” before offering your gift to God?
How could Jacob’s story highlight the importance of making peace?
How have you seen God bring reconciliation in unexpected ways?

Read Colossians 3:12-15

What qualities does Paul mention as necessary for pursuing peace and reconciliation?
Which of these qualities do you see in Jacob’s interaction with Esau?
Where might you need God’s help to develop these qualities in your relationships?

HUDDLE

Is there someone you need to take the first step toward reconciling with? What’s holding you back? Pray together for courage, humility, and the ability to see God’s face in the person you need to forgive.

Daily Reading

This week’s reading plan focuses on passages highlighting the dangers of religious tribalism and Jesus’ call for His followers to take the Gospel to all nations.

Day 1: Genesis 32
Day 2: Genesis 33
Day 3: Genesis 34
Day 4: Genesis 35
Day 5: Genesis 36
Day 6: Genesis 37
Day 7: Genesis 38

Think Deeper

Have you ever experienced victory in defeat?
When was the last time your will conflicted with God’s will? Who came out on top?
Are you currently wrestling with God? How can you stop fighting with Him and begin fighting for Him?