•10:05 AM
Wrote this to a friend of mine. Needs cleaned up a bit, but it's got some nuggets in it for those who care to look for them:
[Penuel is the river that Jacob had to cross over to enter back into the Promised Land. He would also encounter his brother, Esau, whom he had cheated out of the blessing many years before.]
Penuel means the face of God. To see the face of God, it cost Jacob everything he had. First his stuff. Then his family. Then a good night's sleep. Finally his health when the angel (definitely Jesus in the OT) touched his thigh. In the end, he gained 1) power with God, 2) a new name.
Remember in the Laban chapter (chapter 31), Jacob talked about the God of Isaac? Well, now, after Penuel, he will be Jacob's God, too. But it cost him everything.
In the last chapters of Genesis, it says that Jacob blessed Joseph's sons 'leaning upon his staff.' This hearkens back to this event at Penuel. Jacob would have no blessings to give if it weren't for Penuel. (Heb 11:21)
I would not teach this chapter as a salvation chapter. Jacob had already met with God at Beth-el. He knew God. That was the step of salvation. The first step. It didn't cost him anything. Salvation never costs the believer anything.
What is being taught at Penuel is what most Christians lack. This is the place where it costs everything you have and are. This is the 2nd step.
If Beth-el is crossing the Red Sea, then Penuel is crossing the Jordan.
If Beth-el is entering into the Holy Place, then Penuel is entering into the Holies of Holies.
If Beth-el is the Death/Burial/Resurrection, then Penuel is the Promise of the Spirit being Given.
The first makes a son out of a slave. The second make a servant out of a son.
The first delivers from sin. The second delivers unto God.
You are correct. Penuel is very important. If you haven't been there, you need to be there before teaching this chapter. Get alone with God. And wrestle with him, giving him everything, everyone, and every breath. Don't leave until he blesses you.
The hip. Those who have been to Penuel have experienced a wounding in their earthly life. They falter in their walk on earth even as they stride confidently with God. Their home is not here, their eyes are not here. Their affections are not here. They look weak, but they have power with God. Like Paul, their appearance is feeble, but in presence, they are strong in the Spirit.
The victory. Labor to enter into rest. Wrestle with yourself and God until you cease to wrestle. The victory was not over the angel, but over himself. God wanted Jacob. Jacob wanted God. They wrestled against the common enemy of Jacob's self-sufficiency (what Jacob's name means). In the end, God and Israel walked away together. Jacob was dead. A prince was born.
If Jacob is the self-sufficient Christian, then Israel is the Christ-dependent Christian.
If Jacob is the carnal believer, then Israel is the spiritual believer.
If Jacob is the common Christian in the pew, then Israel is one of the few friends of God.
My favorite old hymn says, "Nothing between my soul and the Saviour so that his blessed face may be seen. Nothing preventing the least of his favour. Keep the way clear. Let nothing between."
Have you been to Penuel?
[Penuel is the river that Jacob had to cross over to enter back into the Promised Land. He would also encounter his brother, Esau, whom he had cheated out of the blessing many years before.]
Penuel means the face of God. To see the face of God, it cost Jacob everything he had. First his stuff. Then his family. Then a good night's sleep. Finally his health when the angel (definitely Jesus in the OT) touched his thigh. In the end, he gained 1) power with God, 2) a new name.
Remember in the Laban chapter (chapter 31), Jacob talked about the God of Isaac? Well, now, after Penuel, he will be Jacob's God, too. But it cost him everything.
In the last chapters of Genesis, it says that Jacob blessed Joseph's sons 'leaning upon his staff.' This hearkens back to this event at Penuel. Jacob would have no blessings to give if it weren't for Penuel. (Heb 11:21)
I would not teach this chapter as a salvation chapter. Jacob had already met with God at Beth-el. He knew God. That was the step of salvation. The first step. It didn't cost him anything. Salvation never costs the believer anything.
What is being taught at Penuel is what most Christians lack. This is the place where it costs everything you have and are. This is the 2nd step.
If Beth-el is crossing the Red Sea, then Penuel is crossing the Jordan.
If Beth-el is entering into the Holy Place, then Penuel is entering into the Holies of Holies.
If Beth-el is the Death/Burial/Resurrection, then Penuel is the Promise of the Spirit being Given.
The first makes a son out of a slave. The second make a servant out of a son.
The first delivers from sin. The second delivers unto God.
You are correct. Penuel is very important. If you haven't been there, you need to be there before teaching this chapter. Get alone with God. And wrestle with him, giving him everything, everyone, and every breath. Don't leave until he blesses you.
The hip. Those who have been to Penuel have experienced a wounding in their earthly life. They falter in their walk on earth even as they stride confidently with God. Their home is not here, their eyes are not here. Their affections are not here. They look weak, but they have power with God. Like Paul, their appearance is feeble, but in presence, they are strong in the Spirit.
The victory. Labor to enter into rest. Wrestle with yourself and God until you cease to wrestle. The victory was not over the angel, but over himself. God wanted Jacob. Jacob wanted God. They wrestled against the common enemy of Jacob's self-sufficiency (what Jacob's name means). In the end, God and Israel walked away together. Jacob was dead. A prince was born.
If Jacob is the self-sufficient Christian, then Israel is the Christ-dependent Christian.
If Jacob is the carnal believer, then Israel is the spiritual believer.
If Jacob is the common Christian in the pew, then Israel is one of the few friends of God.
My favorite old hymn says, "Nothing between my soul and the Saviour so that his blessed face may be seen. Nothing preventing the least of his favour. Keep the way clear. Let nothing between."
Have you been to Penuel?
|
0 comments: