The God Who Loses To Bless Gen 32 22 32
Series: Lenten - Old Testament Sermons
March 16, 2025
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Reminiscere, The Second Sunday In Lent 16-March-2025 Sermon Text: Genesis 32:22-32 Sermon Theme: “The God Who Loses To Bless!” I. He Defeats Our Spiritual Schemes! (vs.22-24). II. He Weakens Himself To Bless Us With His Name! (vs.25-28). III He Marks Us With His Cross To Limp Into Rising Reconciliation! (vs.29-32) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert.
Episode Notes
Reminiscere, The Second Sunday In Lent 16-March-2025
Sermon Text: Genesis 32:22-32
I.N.R.I. Luke 23:42 ….."Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."The thief was getting his just deserts. His tricks taking what wasn’t given him now were paying him their wages – death. Mockery of the silent Sufferer nailed between him and his fellow thief at first passed the time until death’s darkness would swallow them. The Roman sour wine mixed with gall , given them by the soldiers, deadened some of crucifixion’s trauma for him. The Silent Sufferer had refused to drink the Roman brew – it made no sense to the thief who lived life for himself avoiding pain through sly thievery.
As nails pierced the nerve bundles in the Silent Sufferer’s wrists He didn’t scream out cursing His executioners, as all men did. Instead He prays. Luk 23:34 .. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." … What a fool the thief thought. If God was His Father why didn’t He come down off the cross to save Himself and them? That would show the Romans and those who plotted to betray this innocent man. In suffering the thief’s mockery began to gnaw at his soul. Maybe he remembered singing with his family on the Sabbath, Psa 25:6-7 Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they are from of old. (7) Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness' sake, O LORD. The hymn taught him by his parents and sang in their weekly attendance in the synagogue sprang forth to new life. On his death bed, as it were, calling him to repent and believe the Promise...how did that hymn of David begin….Psa 25:1-2 To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. (2) O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me...” God the Holy Spirit used the Word of God planted in his heart through hymns and the prayer of the Silent Sufferer to open his eyes to God’s grace in weakness. His eyes are opened to see. The Man in the middle is his Lord and God. The Holy Spirit opens his sinful lips to declare His praise. St. Luke the historian records, Luk 23:39-42 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." (40) But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? (41) And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." (42) Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."
Today is “Remember” Sunday! “Reminiscere” in Latin. David teaches us to sing forth, Psa 25:6 Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they are from of old.” Learn from this history of your fellow partner in crime - Jacob, “The God Who Loses To Bless!” I. He Defeats Our Spiritual Schemes! (vs.22-24). II. He Weakens Himself To Bless Us With His Name! (vs.25-28). III He Marks Us With His Cross To Limp Into Rising Reconciliation! (vs.29-32)
I. He was a wrestler from conception grappling seizing the advantage to win. His mother, Rebekah, thought their was something wrong with the twins in her womb – constantly tossing, turning, struggling. Heel-Grabber wrestled his brother from the womb. A wrestler’s mind tries to stay at least ten moves ahead of his opponent. More than muscles, a wrestler employs his mind to be number one. Heel-Grabber lost his first match. Hairy-Red his twin brother won the title #1 son of Laughter. Heel-Grabber clung to his brother’s heel even as he emerged from their mother’s womb.
For the next seven decades the brothers wrestled to be #1. Hairy-Red, a hunter, was loved by his father Laughter. Smooth Heel-Grabber, a stay at home plotter, was loved by his mother Rebekah. One day famished Hairy-Red returning from an unsuccessful hunt begged Heel-Grabber for food. For a bowl of red stew compassion-less Heel-Grabber wrestled the birthright from his starving brother. Laughter’s vision began to fail. Fearing death was near he wanted to bless his nearly 70 year old #1 son Hairy-Red. You know what happened. Rebekah heard and schemed with Heel-Grabber to steal the blessing from blind Laughter. Hairy-Red was furious and vowed to slay Heel-Grabber as soon as Laughter died. Remember? How about if I call Laughter – Isaac, Hairy-Red – Esau, and Heel-Grabber – Jacob? Now does the history return?
Rebekah hearing Esau’s threats begs Isaac to send their wifeless 70 year old son back to the homeland to find a believing wife. Jacob flees. The Lord Jesus appears to him in a dream standing by a ladder from heaven to earth - vowing to bring him back home to the promised land. Now another two decades have passed. Jacob had out tricked Uncle Trickster – Laban. Remember Jacob’s surprise waking up married to the wrong sister? Uncle Trickster had changed Jacob’s wages ten times, but our Lord used it for his good. The wrestlers are now about 97 years old, but still Heel-Grabber is plotting his next move ahead of Hairy-Red. Drawing near home, he sends messengers to Esau. They return that he is coming to meet them with 400 men – the size of a militia. Heel-Grabber plots – sending gifts ahead to pacify his brother’s just anger. Then he divides his family into two camps. Still he can’t sleep – is this his last move. (vs.22-23) Fearing Esau will not let them cross back into the land of promise, he scouts out a crossing over the Jordan River at the ford of Jabbok. He sends all he has away. He is left all alone in the dead darkness of the night. Heel-Grabber’s plotting, stealing, cold-hearted contention, trickery had brought him here. This is the end of our sin. It leaves us abandoned in hell’s flames and darkness forsaken by God Himself.
Jesus doesn’t leave us to save ourselves by our manipulation of others or of our heavenly Father. (vs.24) The Silent Sufferer comes in the darkness grabbing Heel-Grabber. He will not let Jacob enter the promise land by his own plotting, planning, and trickery. A minute period on the wrestling mat is exhausting – this match goes on for hours. Does Jacob wonder if perhaps the Lord has changed His mind? Chosen Esau to carry the blessing forward? Clinging to the promise of Isaac’s blessing and that Jesus gave him at Bethel – he grapples on as dawn begins to break.
Jacob’s scheming cannot save him now. If God’s promise is only a man imagined scheme there is no hope. Dear trickster – stop your spiritual scheming – wrestling with God that He owes you heaven because of your good life, your gifts, your spirituality. Stop striving in the lie that you can fix things yourself to make things right with your Oldest Brother – Jesus. Stop listening to your flesh and its proud plots. Stop listening to the world’s lies that you are good enough. Stop listening to the devil accusing you in the darkness that you have no right to wrestle with Jesus – your a damned sinner!
II. The Silent Sufferer cannot pin Heel-Grabber to the dusty ground. (vs.25) Behold the strength of this Man – a mere touch dislocates Jacob’s hip. Hip pain makes life almost unbearable – let alone to be able to wrestle through it. Jacob will not let this Man leave the match (vs.26) Heel-Grabber has come to realize his Opponent is Head-Crusher – the Promised Seed of the Woman! Jesus! What wrestling move does Jacob employ? A full nelson? The Holy Spirit teaches you through Hosea, Hos 12:3-5 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, And in his strength he struggled with God. (4) Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; He wept, and sought favor from Him. He found Him in Bethel, And there He spoke to us— (5) That is, the LORD God of hosts. The LORD is His memorable name.” Heel-Grabber wins over Head-Crusher by weeping and prayer. He faces the truth and weeps over his sin. He prays, “Lord, have mercy upon me the sinner!”
Now the Silent Suffer is beaten by His heart of mercy! (vs.27-28) His strength is made perfect in the weakness of suffering – even death for us upon the cross. What is your name? “Jacob” “Heel – Grabber” “I give you a new name - ‘Israel” What is your name? Self-worshiper? Profaner of God’s Name? Curser? Despiser of preaching and God’s sacred Word? Rebel? Murderer? Hater? Fornicator? Adulterer? Thief? Gossiper? Slanderer? Covetor? Discontenter? What’s your name? Let God’s Law wrestle the truth that your name, like mine is ‘poor, miserable, sinner!”
Then falling down clinging to Jesus’ feet pray with the distressed Canaanite mother, “Lord, save me!” “I only want to be a little house dog getting the scraps of bread falling from your table!”
Humbled in honesty, listen to your new name given you by the Silent Sufferer - ‘Mine! - I baptize you in My Name – You are Mine, I have saved you, I will save you! I Am the same yesterday, today, and forever!” No longer do I call you sinner – I bless you with My name – you are a son of the Father – a Saint clothed in My rising victory of Easter dawn. I have united you to Myself – I, Jesus save sinners like you!
III. How can this be? Grace alone in Christ alone! (vs.29) Jesus doesn’t reveal to Jacob His Name, for he knew it in the blessing his father Isaac had spoken over him. Now pre-incarnate Jesus blesses Jacob – perhaps again repeating the promise spoken to Abraham.
Jacob sees the earth made new again. (vs.30-32) This is a holy place for here he saw the Lord face to face and lived to confess it. Pre-incarnate Jesus drew near to bless the sinner Jacob by becoming weak for him. He draw near to you still in the weakness of baptismal water, forgiveness spoken, His Word preached, bread and wine blessed to be fed you.
You receive the sign of the holy cross upon your forehead and heart in baptism. Reconciled limp forward into a new day! Forgiven, strengthened by Jesus’ blessing – Jacob would go forward to embrace Esau. The Lord reconciled the warring brothers to each other. Forigven – forgive! Live reconciled to God through the weakness of Jesus’ cross. Seek reconciliation with all your have sinned against, or who have wronged you – no longer let the sun go down on your wrath.
It was a death bed confession of sin. The thief came clean – he was only getting what he deserved. Luk 23:42-43 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." The Silent Sufferer heard his confession remembering the guilty in cross certified mercy! (43) And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
Rejoice in the God who loses to bless you! Amen.
Sermon Text: Genesis 32:22-32
Sermon Theme: “The God Who Loses To Bless!” I. He Defeats Our Spiritual Schemes! (vs.22-24). II. He Weakens Himself To Bless Us With His Name! (vs.25-28). III He Marks Us With His Cross To Limp Into Rising Reconciliation! (vs.29-32) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert.
As nails pierced the nerve bundles in the Silent Sufferer’s wrists He didn’t scream out cursing His executioners, as all men did. Instead He prays. Luk 23:34 .. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." … What a fool the thief thought. If God was His Father why didn’t He come down off the cross to save Himself and them? That would show the Romans and those who plotted to betray this innocent man. In suffering the thief’s mockery began to gnaw at his soul. Maybe he remembered singing with his family on the Sabbath, Psa 25:6-7 Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they are from of old. (7) Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness' sake, O LORD. The hymn taught him by his parents and sang in their weekly attendance in the synagogue sprang forth to new life. On his death bed, as it were, calling him to repent and believe the Promise...how did that hymn of David begin….Psa 25:1-2 To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. (2) O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me...” God the Holy Spirit used the Word of God planted in his heart through hymns and the prayer of the Silent Sufferer to open his eyes to God’s grace in weakness. His eyes are opened to see. The Man in the middle is his Lord and God. The Holy Spirit opens his sinful lips to declare His praise. St. Luke the historian records, Luk 23:39-42 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." (40) But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? (41) And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." (42) Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."
Today is “Remember” Sunday! “Reminiscere” in Latin. David teaches us to sing forth, Psa 25:6 Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they are from of old.” Learn from this history of your fellow partner in crime - Jacob, “The God Who Loses To Bless!” I. He Defeats Our Spiritual Schemes! (vs.22-24). II. He Weakens Himself To Bless Us With His Name! (vs.25-28). III He Marks Us With His Cross To Limp Into Rising Reconciliation! (vs.29-32)
I. He was a wrestler from conception grappling seizing the advantage to win. His mother, Rebekah, thought their was something wrong with the twins in her womb – constantly tossing, turning, struggling. Heel-Grabber wrestled his brother from the womb. A wrestler’s mind tries to stay at least ten moves ahead of his opponent. More than muscles, a wrestler employs his mind to be number one. Heel-Grabber lost his first match. Hairy-Red his twin brother won the title #1 son of Laughter. Heel-Grabber clung to his brother’s heel even as he emerged from their mother’s womb.
For the next seven decades the brothers wrestled to be #1. Hairy-Red, a hunter, was loved by his father Laughter. Smooth Heel-Grabber, a stay at home plotter, was loved by his mother Rebekah. One day famished Hairy-Red returning from an unsuccessful hunt begged Heel-Grabber for food. For a bowl of red stew compassion-less Heel-Grabber wrestled the birthright from his starving brother. Laughter’s vision began to fail. Fearing death was near he wanted to bless his nearly 70 year old #1 son Hairy-Red. You know what happened. Rebekah heard and schemed with Heel-Grabber to steal the blessing from blind Laughter. Hairy-Red was furious and vowed to slay Heel-Grabber as soon as Laughter died. Remember? How about if I call Laughter – Isaac, Hairy-Red – Esau, and Heel-Grabber – Jacob? Now does the history return?
Rebekah hearing Esau’s threats begs Isaac to send their wifeless 70 year old son back to the homeland to find a believing wife. Jacob flees. The Lord Jesus appears to him in a dream standing by a ladder from heaven to earth - vowing to bring him back home to the promised land. Now another two decades have passed. Jacob had out tricked Uncle Trickster – Laban. Remember Jacob’s surprise waking up married to the wrong sister? Uncle Trickster had changed Jacob’s wages ten times, but our Lord used it for his good. The wrestlers are now about 97 years old, but still Heel-Grabber is plotting his next move ahead of Hairy-Red. Drawing near home, he sends messengers to Esau. They return that he is coming to meet them with 400 men – the size of a militia. Heel-Grabber plots – sending gifts ahead to pacify his brother’s just anger. Then he divides his family into two camps. Still he can’t sleep – is this his last move. (vs.22-23) Fearing Esau will not let them cross back into the land of promise, he scouts out a crossing over the Jordan River at the ford of Jabbok. He sends all he has away. He is left all alone in the dead darkness of the night. Heel-Grabber’s plotting, stealing, cold-hearted contention, trickery had brought him here. This is the end of our sin. It leaves us abandoned in hell’s flames and darkness forsaken by God Himself.
Jesus doesn’t leave us to save ourselves by our manipulation of others or of our heavenly Father. (vs.24) The Silent Sufferer comes in the darkness grabbing Heel-Grabber. He will not let Jacob enter the promise land by his own plotting, planning, and trickery. A minute period on the wrestling mat is exhausting – this match goes on for hours. Does Jacob wonder if perhaps the Lord has changed His mind? Chosen Esau to carry the blessing forward? Clinging to the promise of Isaac’s blessing and that Jesus gave him at Bethel – he grapples on as dawn begins to break.
Jacob’s scheming cannot save him now. If God’s promise is only a man imagined scheme there is no hope. Dear trickster – stop your spiritual scheming – wrestling with God that He owes you heaven because of your good life, your gifts, your spirituality. Stop striving in the lie that you can fix things yourself to make things right with your Oldest Brother – Jesus. Stop listening to your flesh and its proud plots. Stop listening to the world’s lies that you are good enough. Stop listening to the devil accusing you in the darkness that you have no right to wrestle with Jesus – your a damned sinner!
II. The Silent Sufferer cannot pin Heel-Grabber to the dusty ground. (vs.25) Behold the strength of this Man – a mere touch dislocates Jacob’s hip. Hip pain makes life almost unbearable – let alone to be able to wrestle through it. Jacob will not let this Man leave the match (vs.26) Heel-Grabber has come to realize his Opponent is Head-Crusher – the Promised Seed of the Woman! Jesus! What wrestling move does Jacob employ? A full nelson? The Holy Spirit teaches you through Hosea, Hos 12:3-5 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, And in his strength he struggled with God. (4) Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; He wept, and sought favor from Him. He found Him in Bethel, And there He spoke to us— (5) That is, the LORD God of hosts. The LORD is His memorable name.” Heel-Grabber wins over Head-Crusher by weeping and prayer. He faces the truth and weeps over his sin. He prays, “Lord, have mercy upon me the sinner!”
Now the Silent Suffer is beaten by His heart of mercy! (vs.27-28) His strength is made perfect in the weakness of suffering – even death for us upon the cross. What is your name? “Jacob” “Heel – Grabber” “I give you a new name - ‘Israel” What is your name? Self-worshiper? Profaner of God’s Name? Curser? Despiser of preaching and God’s sacred Word? Rebel? Murderer? Hater? Fornicator? Adulterer? Thief? Gossiper? Slanderer? Covetor? Discontenter? What’s your name? Let God’s Law wrestle the truth that your name, like mine is ‘poor, miserable, sinner!”
Then falling down clinging to Jesus’ feet pray with the distressed Canaanite mother, “Lord, save me!” “I only want to be a little house dog getting the scraps of bread falling from your table!”
Humbled in honesty, listen to your new name given you by the Silent Sufferer - ‘Mine! - I baptize you in My Name – You are Mine, I have saved you, I will save you! I Am the same yesterday, today, and forever!” No longer do I call you sinner – I bless you with My name – you are a son of the Father – a Saint clothed in My rising victory of Easter dawn. I have united you to Myself – I, Jesus save sinners like you!
III. How can this be? Grace alone in Christ alone! (vs.29) Jesus doesn’t reveal to Jacob His Name, for he knew it in the blessing his father Isaac had spoken over him. Now pre-incarnate Jesus blesses Jacob – perhaps again repeating the promise spoken to Abraham.
Jacob sees the earth made new again. (vs.30-32) This is a holy place for here he saw the Lord face to face and lived to confess it. Pre-incarnate Jesus drew near to bless the sinner Jacob by becoming weak for him. He draw near to you still in the weakness of baptismal water, forgiveness spoken, His Word preached, bread and wine blessed to be fed you.
You receive the sign of the holy cross upon your forehead and heart in baptism. Reconciled limp forward into a new day! Forgiven, strengthened by Jesus’ blessing – Jacob would go forward to embrace Esau. The Lord reconciled the warring brothers to each other. Forigven – forgive! Live reconciled to God through the weakness of Jesus’ cross. Seek reconciliation with all your have sinned against, or who have wronged you – no longer let the sun go down on your wrath.
It was a death bed confession of sin. The thief came clean – he was only getting what he deserved. Luk 23:42-43 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." The Silent Sufferer heard his confession remembering the guilty in cross certified mercy! (43) And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
Rejoice in the God who loses to bless you! Amen.
Content Copyright Belongs to Emmanuel Lutheran Church
5761