Session 7

Wrestled

Genesis 32:22-32

Memory Verse: Genesis 32:10

God changes His people when they encounter Him.

Prior to the session:

Display Pack Item 1 (Map: The Travels of Jacob), and
Pack Item 5 (Poster: Key Moments in Jacob’s Life).

ENGAGE

alone and wrestle

Begin:

“before and after” pictures may reflect weight loss, hair regrowth, makeup, or other products.
The main claim is usually something like “if you use this product or follow this plan,
you will see visible results.”

sometimes we want to embrace change, while at other times we resist change.

Discuss:

the introduction on page 64 of the PSG.

In our culture, names don’t typically carry the significance they did in biblical times.
Nevertheless, our names often convey significance in other ways.
Years ago, one of my professors started calling me “Huldah,” and the nickname stuck.
Huldah was an Old Testament prophetess (2 Kings 22:14-20), and my professor felt like I was a serious student of God’s Word, like Huldah.

In the Old Testament world, names expressed character and essence.
In Session 3 we saw Jacob live up to his name of “deceiver.” In Genesis 32, though, God gave him a new name to reflect His redeemed character.

Name some of your life-changing moments.

What are some significant changes people face and what might the “before and after” pictures look like for each one?

Ask:

• Why are people often resistant to change? (PSG, p. 64)

Transition:

Life throws changes at us
whether we like it or not,
but we know that an encounter with Christ transforms our lives in a way nothing else can.

In today’s session, Jacob had a life-changing experience with God that had a personal impact on him, his immediate family, and his descendants.