Ninth Sunday after Pentecost August 2nd 2020

Genesis 32.22–31 

The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the day is breaking.’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go, unless you bless me.’ So he 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. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, ‘For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.’ The sun rose upon him as he passed Peniel, limping because of his hip.                             

Matthew 14:13–21

Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’ Jesus said to them, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’ They replied, ‘We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.’ And he said, ‘Bring them here to me.’ Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Reflection: Today, I thought I’d look at the reading from Genesis ch 32. The Old Testament doesn’t always get as much attention as it deserves. Some of the characters are fascinating and we learn so much from their humanness and stories. Many of these stories are so well known that we can let them slip past with just a small acknowledgement rather than the depth of consideration that they deserve. 

The story of Jacob is perhaps one such story. Everyone knows Jacob for two things- Jacobs Ladder and Jacob Wrestling with God. But this week’s story about Jacob holds some wonderful learning and I feel that I am just scratching the surface. Perhaps you can do some more research yourself and discover much more. And so I will attempt to offer you some of the things that I discovered as I investigated Jacob’s story this week.

I noticed that this reading from Genesis shows that a person’s name can have a great influence on that person- good or bad. You probably remember from your childhood- many a nick name was thrown around and often the ditto ‘Sticks and stones may break our bones, but names will never hurt us’. This is not however true, names can impact. When I was choosing names for my children, I remember spending a lot of time looking at the meaning of names and some I simply wouldn’t consider because I didn’t like the connotations that the name brought to mind. I also admit that my feeling about some names was influenced by people I knew with that name. 

I wonder if a name somehow sways a person’s life or even behaviours.  I see it with people I know, for example, Simon, means to listen or hear- and I think of a Simon I know who studied psychology and is a fabulous listener. Names whether given or nick names can expose our weaknesses or pay tribute to our qualities. (Some name meanings: Shirley- I have a song; Angie- God’s messenger; Ken- handsome; Jenny- God has been gracious; Dorothy- God’s gift). Whether a given name or nick name, names are important, and they may well impact who we become.
I heard someone once say ‘We wear these names on our backs like a snail does its shell, dragging them with us into each new episode, encounter, or chapter of our lives’….I have to think this was quite a good analogy whether we drag our name with pride or as a bug bear, it sticks with us. 

Names in the ancient world were never simply names; rather, they are descriptors and indicators of one's very character. Jacob's name – meaning literally, "heel" -- is no exception. For he was the one who was grasping at his twin brother, Esau's heel as they were born. It seems that he's been envious and grasping ever since…

And now this life conduct has caught up with Jacob and challenged him at the river Jabbok. Jacob has been a bit of a scoundrel from the time he was born -- cheating his brother of his birthright and cheating him of his blessing by deceiving his blind father. In fear Jacob has fled his home to avoid his brother's anger.  For the next fifteen years or so, he has been dealing with his deceitful uncle- Laban, over everything from wives to livestock. Now, Esau his brother is coming to meet him...with an army of 400 men. And this is where today's reading picks up. Jacob’s on the run again, bringing with him his family, servants, and all the wealth he can carry. 

There are many assumptions we can make as we wonder why Jacob sends ahead of him gifts- perhaps hoping to bribe his brother's favour. After that he sends his wives and children, possibly thinking that even if his brother can't be bribed, he will at least take pity on him. With everyone across the river, and now alone I suggest that he begins to contemplate his uncertain future. And then this weird experience happens: he is set upon by a man. They struggle all night, until as the sun comes up and the man reaches out and dislocates Jacob's hip. And then it seems that Jacob knows -- he is the presence of someone divine, and so he asks for a blessing. In fact, he refuses to let go until he gets a blessing!

The Jacob story reminds us that life is a series of lessons, some are easy but some are struggles that we have to get through and persist in to find the hope and blessing. Theologian, Frederick Buechner characterizes Jacob's divine encounter at Jabbok as the "magnificent defeat of the human soul at the hands of God." …The defeat of the human soul at the hands of God. 

Similarly, in her book, Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope, the Benedictine nun and writer Joan Chittister uses the Jacob story as a model for a "spirituality of struggle." In Jacob's story she identifies eight elements of our human struggle — change, isolation, darkness, fear, powerlessness, vulnerability, exhaustion, and scarring. These all impact our lives and can affect how we think and function. Fortunately, God does not leave us there, and in each human struggle there is a corresponding divine gift available to us — conversion, independence, faith, courage, surrender, limitations, endurance, and transformation. "Jacob does what all of us must do," writes Chittister, "if, in the end, we too are to become true. He confronts in himself the things that are wounding him, admits his limitations and failures, accepts his situation, and moves on."

Jacob is transformed, he receives a new name -- Israel -- the one who wrestled with God and humans and prevailed. With this new name, Jacob’s life is changed, he enters into a new future, and passes his name, faith, and future on to his descendants, who bear that name even unto this day. Last week we looked at the Kingdom of God realising that it is more valuable than anything that the world can offer. In the Kingdom, we will find the richness of God and the supreme value of the gift and the ultimate blessing of God, us living with him and he in us.

Like Jacob our lives are changed when we commit them to God. God struggles to transform us, as often because of our humanness we struggle to let go of the things that hold us. Whether it be a name that binds us or our fears, failures, resentments or our regrets. It may be that we value the things of the world too highly and so don’t allow God fully into his rightful place in our lives. Whatever it is, we are called to confess and allow God to take these. 

But, this is not the whole story, for God wants to continue to bless you. So, hold onto him until he does and then wait on the Lord expecting him to continue to pour out blessings in abundance. Isn’t that what Jesus is doing as he feeds the 5000. He’s pouring out blessings. He sees the people’s weakness and need. He takes what they have. He blesses it and pours his satisfying food upon them- more than they can eat! They all ate and were filled- so let it be with us. Amen.