Be You
“Call Me Jacob”
Genesis 32:26-28

Mark 8:36

Unless each one of us figures out who we are called to be, and embrace it, we will most likely fall into the trap of gaining the world but losing our soul.

Jacob is complicated. Just like all of us are. 

There are other complicated people in Scripture…
	Noah
	Moses
	David
	Peter

Jacob gives us a very intimate look at all of his complications and struggles. 

Genesis 32:22-29

He is in a wrestling match all night long!

At the very beginning of his life, he is in another type of wrestling match. 

Genesis 25:21-26

Esau – “Hairy”
Jacob – “Heel Grabber”

“Me first” is miserable!

Later on, Esau sells his birthright for a bowl of stew. And just like that Jacob gets the rights of the firstborn.

But that wasn’t enough, Jacob now wanted and needed his dad’s blessing on his life. This is another very important ritual that had to take place.

Jacob needed more! When you are centered on yourself, it’s never enough. When you have a “clutching of the heel” mentality, you’ll always need more.

“We don't actually take pride in the possession itself but in having more of it than someone else.” – C.S. Lewis

Genesis 27:15-24

You can get so good at being someone else that even the people closest to you cannot tell the difference anymore. 

Esau was tricked into blessing Jacob, the secondborn. The blessing was stolen.

God can’t bless who you pretend to be.

After 21 years of running from Esau, he finally decides he’s going back home to perhaps be able to make things right!

Genesis 32:26

You can safely say that you have found yourself when you hold on to God, even when it would be easier to let go!

Genesis 32:27

21 years ago, his dad said, “who is it?” Jacob lied, and claimed to be Esau. This time when someone asked what his name is, he says, “Jacob.”

At the age of 97, he finally realized who he was.

God changed his name to Israel which means, “Triumphant with God.”

Many years later God would introduce Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

We all know something about ourselves that disqualifies us. But God is saying, “you are not disqualified because I am the God of Jacob, too!”