Genesis 32:24-30 - Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that He could not defeat him, He struck Jacob’s hip socket as they wrestled and dislocated his hip. 26 Then He said to Jacob, “Let Me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me.” 27 “What is your name?” the man asked. “Jacob,” he replied. 28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” He said. “It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked Him, “Please tell me Your name.” But He answered, “Why do you ask My name?” And He blessed him there. 30 Jacob then named the place Peniel, “For I have seen God face to face,” he said, “and I have been delivered.”
MANIPULATE - CONTROL OR INFLUENCE (A PERSON OR SITUATION), CLEVERLY, UNFAIRLY, OR DECEITFULLY.
Genesis 25:21-23 - Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife because she was childless. The Lord heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. 22 But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her: Two nations are in your womb; two people will come from you and be separated. One people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.
Genesis 25:24-26 When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb. 25 The first one came out red-looking, covered with hair like a fur coat, and they named him Esau. 26 After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel with his hand. So he was named Jacob.
Genesis 25:29-24- Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field exhausted. 30 He said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, because I’m exhausted.” That is why he was also named Edom. 31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” 32 “Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to Jacob and sold his birthright to him. 34 Then Jacob gave bread and lentil stew to Esau; he ate, drank, got up, and went away. So Esau despised his birthright.
NAME: JACOB - BUILT ON THE HEBREW NOUN FOR “HEEL” MEANING “HEEL GRASPER” OR “HE CHEATS, SUPPLANTS"
Genesis 27: 34 When Esau heard his father’s words, he cried out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me too, my father!” 35 But he replied, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.” 36 So he said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? {heel-grabber, trickster, deceiver} For he has cheated me twice now. He took my birthright, and look, now he has taken my blessing.”
Galatians 6:7-8 - 7 For whatever a man sows he will also reap, 8 because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.
MANIPULATION NEGATIVELY IMPACTS OUR CURRENT RELATIONSHIPS & OUR FUTURE RELATIONSHIPS.
TO WIN THE SKIRMISH AGAINST MANIPULATION WE HAVE TO TRANSFORM FROM DECEIVER TO DELIVERED.
Genesis 33:1-4 - Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with 400 men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two female slaves. 2 He put the female slaves and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. 3 He himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times until he approached his brother.
HEALING FROM MANIPULATION WILL REQUIRE REPENTANCE THAT IS MET WITH FORGIVENESS.
TO SURVIVE THESE SKIRMISHES WE MUST CONTINUE TO SURRENDER BOTH OUR MISTAKES AND OUR HURTS TO JESUS.
