Delivered April 29, 2007
by Pastor Eric Henderson
Brothers Jacob and Esau were meeting after living 20 years in different countries. Jacob fled his family after stealing his brother's birthright and blessing. Esau was moving towards Jacob with 400 men creating great fear and distress for Jacob (32.1-7) because the last words heard from his brother Esau had been I will kill my brother Jacob after my father dies (27.41). Esau was furious that his little brother, had tricked him and cheated him of a large inheritance and the blessing of his father.
Jacob guessed his brother was coming with 400 men seeking revenge. Hoping to pacify or appease Esau, Jacob sent 550 animals across the river instructing the herdsmen to tell Esau that the animals were a gift. Jacob then sent his two wives, Leah and Rachel, his 11 sons and 1 daughter, all the servants, all the animals, all his possessions, everything, across the Jabbok River, but remains alone on the opposite shore.
Jacob is alone. No tent, no children, no servants, no wives-alone. Jacob was alone at night after hearing that his brother was coming towards him with 400 men. Alone after the dusty, noisy, tiring work of dividing the animals, people, and possessions into groups. Alone with his fear of the future.
Alone with the past which had shaped his identity.
A past that started with a name Jacob, also created an identity of grasping and one who deceives and cheats. A past of being loved and favored by his mother, while his brother was favored by his father-Isaac. A past of conspiring with his mother to steal his father's inheritance and blessing from his brother. A past of going alone, far away from his parents, and brother, to live with an uncle. A past of working seven long years for the right to marry Rachel, but being tricked by his uncle into marrying Rachel's sister Leah. Working seven more years, working without pay, being cheated, finally leaving his uncle-now father-in-law, with an agreement to treat Rachel, Leah, and the children well. Heading for the land of his father and brother.
Alone in the dark with the past and an uncertain future-perhaps death.
2. Jacob's past encounters with GodGen. 28.12-15 Jacob had been alone at night about 20 years earlier, while fleeing from his brother he took one of the stones, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. And Jacob dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And the LORD stood beside him and said,
"I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west, east, north and south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
Again Jacob is alone and encounters a man and holds on tightly all night but ends the night with a hip out of its socket.
2 Our past identitiesLike Jacob our present identities have been shaped by our past. Parents are strongly influential in shaping our identities be giving us names and by showing us love or hate, favoritism or impartiality, patience or impatience, consistent nurture or consistent neglect. Our identities are shaped by what is repeatedly said to us or expected of us. Many years ago a teacher was told she was being given a group of exceptional children gifted in many ways. She treated them as exceptional children and they flourished, even though former teachers and tests had identified them as below average students.
Our God-given personalities shape our identities if we're given appropriate love and freedom. Some naturally demonstrate God's patience and compassion, while others God's coming judgment. Some demonstrate God's creativity while others God's sustaining and caring.
Our identities can be affected by particular positive or negative events such as being part of celebrations with family and friends, or having our birthday and other important days pass with barely a word or thought. Living with plenty or constantly doing without. Wars, the early deaths of parents, siblings, or children.
Our identities can also be affected by times alone when left with our thoughts or when we encounter God. We may have felt alone:
- at summer camp,
- at university,
- after moving away from family - not knowing anyone - or where things are located.
Some people feel alone because other's ignore them, or make fun, or do and say hurtful things so they're left feeling alone without friends.
Others are alone because they sin against others, or are just hard to be around. An elderly woman spent most of her time alone in her apartment, because in her bitterness and unwillingness to forgive things in the past, she was critical, judgmental, and often complained. She was hard to be with - even for her saintly peers. So most of the time she was alone.
Like Jacob we may have times of being alone at night with an uncertain future. But in those times we may encounter God in various ways. Jacob encounters a man and holds tightly to him and then has a conversation.
B. Encounters with God and a New IdentityThen the man said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking."
But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me."
So the man said to him, "What is your name?"
And he said, "Jacob."
Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed."
Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name."
But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?"
And there he blessed him.
Jacob encountered God, held on to God, wrestled with God and is blessed with a new name. A name that comes with a new identity. This man lived at least 40 years with Jacob-a name and identity of grasping, deceiving, cheating. Now, after encountering God this man lives the remainder of his life as Israel. A name and identity of successfully struggling or striving with God. Israel doesn't know what will happen when he meets Esau, but he is ready to meet him, even if it's with a limp.
2. Other Biblical examples of encounters with God and identity changeJacob or Israel is not the only one to encounter God and have an identity change.
Rahab was an innkeeper or prostitute of Jericho. She had become aware of the God of Israel and wanted to be on God's side so she hid Jewish spies and later joined the descendants of Israel. Her identity changed from being a woman of a foreign people to a future of being part of the genealogy of Jesus.
Amos (7.14-15) was a Shepherd and dresser of fig trees. He had an encounter with the LORD who told him to Go prophesy to my people Israel. The future was uncertain but Amos left his sheep and trees and prophesied.
Joseph was a devout and righteous Jewish man engaged to Mary. He encountered God in dreams and was prepared for his future which involved taking pregnant Mary as his wife, fleeing to Egypt to protect Mary and Jesus then returning to Nazareth and providing a home for his family. Joseph's identity changed from being just another devout Jewish carpenter to the father of Jesus.
Peter, James, John encountered Jesus and changed from businessmen in the fish business to being in the business of fishing for people to join the kingdom of God.
The Bible also has numerous stories of groups of people encountering God and having their identity changed.
The former Egyptian slaves, descendants of Jacob or Israel, encounter God as a group being delivered out of slavery after 12 plagues devastated the Egyptians. The former slaves encountered God who parted a sea, drowned an army, provided food and water, guided them with a cloud and pillar of fire, gave them commandments for living. They changed from not being a people, to being the people of God.
About 1,000 years later, after Israel had been a nation and then was defeated by other nations, some of the people returned to Jerusalem and the surrounding area. Ezra and Nehemiah helped them rebuild the wall and temple. They gathered the former Exiles and read the book of the law to the people. The crowd became overwhelmed by the encounter with God, and began crying so loud they could no longer hear.
After Jesus death and resurrection about 120 disciples met together and had an encounter with God that changed them from a fearful hiding group, to bold witnesses of Jesus death and resurrection. They had no idea what the future held, but they were prepared by the encounter with God.
The Bible also has accounts of people who encounter God, but there identities appear to remain the same. A rich young politician met Jesus, had a short conversation and left with the same identity. Judas Iscariot had about 3 years full of encounters with Jesus, but couldn't quit change his identity as a person greedy for more money.
I believe people continually encounter God. Some allow those encounters to change their identities, while others are unwilling or unable to allow God to transform or change them more and more into the likeness of Jesus. The lonely woman mentioned earlier placed herself in situations to encounter God, such as regularly attending church, having pastors visit her and counsel her, but seemingly she had blocked God from changing her.
To me it seems critical that we open ourselves to encounter God. Some encounter God when alone, some with groups, others outside, or in silence, or with loud joyful singing, or while having others pray, or reading the Bible, or when serving someone.
3. Our encounters with God and identity changesLast Sunday we participated in a child dedication. We encounter the wonder of God's creation and the awesome responsibility of representing Jesus to a child. The church and parents identify themselves as people who believe that children are a gift from God, and that we can place our children in God's care.
Adult baptism is a public declaration that we have had an encounter with God and chose to have our identify shaped by Jesus Christ who suffered, died and rose again and identify ourselves as part of the body of Christ or the church.
The church encounters God during weddings, funerals, those in short terms service assignments, people coming and going, OPAL, Selfhelp Craft store, dreaming and planning for future, accidents, deaths, house fires and other tragedies.
Like Jacob the encounters with God and identity changes may involve struggling and conversing with God. It is likely that there was wrestling and struggling with God when people met to decide on whether to continue having the identity of a House church a church meeting in the same Building. Likely there was wrestling and struggling with God when people met to decide on an identity change from serving one another to serving needy adults. Likely there was wrestling and struggling with God when people met to decide on an identity change from a church renting a building to owning a building. The Struggling with God continues as we deal with identity changes that come:
- when people leave,
- when there is a change of pastors,
- when people start or stop participating in various ways.
The struggling and encounters with God continue as we listen for the name and identity God has that prepares us to be God's people in the future, even if we limp.
Let us continually open ourselves to encounter God and allow God to have a stronger affect on our identity than anyone or anything in our past.
Petitcodiac Mennonite Church