Who Was Jacob Wrestling in Genesis 32?

John says that no one has seen the face of God.

But in Genesis 32 Jacob sees God's face is not a biblical contradiction that is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez as we head into this Memorial Day weekend. We want to say we are so glad you've joined us.

You can call us with your question about the Bible and the Christian life every day.

And here's the phone number to call right now for the next 25 minutes or so. It's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post a question on her Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Nathan in Tacoma, Washington Nathan, welcome to the program of liberalism and mankind about all expand the great question and I think sometimes the way in which people throw that that word around today's is unhelpful and historically when we are talking about things like Protestant liberalism. It was a movement 19/20 century and it was such a group of people that were in some ways they thought that what they were trying to do was protect Christianity and and safeguard the essence of Christianity know with with the modern man. How can we make Christianity appealed to the modern man. What we believe in miracles anymore and those kinds of things we need to set that that aside, the miracles, the resurrection of the dead me to focus on what Christianity really is that it's hard and it really has to do with loving one another. You know that the universal brotherhood of mankind. The fatherhood of God.

That kind of thing and so historically Protestant liberalism.

A lot of what would happen. There was denying the miraculous and essentially we do not deny the miraculous.

You deny the gospel because the linchpin of the gospel is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

If Jesus didn't actually rise from the dead were still in our sins. Paul says in first Corinthians chapter 15 and so typically before talking about it you know from from that perspective that that's referring to me talk about Protestant liberalism and the sad reality is that has crept into a lot of churches, a lot of mainline churches that have begun to deny the authority of Scripture same with them. You think things like the virgin birth, the resurrection of Jesus. You have this idea that Jesus just rose again in our hearts that this is just that of a spiritual story and were meant to, you know, maybe take away some moral applications that kind of a thing know the essence of Christianity. The Col. of the Christian faith is the gospel is that God sent his eternal son into the world to live to die for us for our sins than to rise again physically bodily from the dead for our justification for the hope of eternal life that we have and so so really you know Protestant liberalism that is to be struck at the vitals of what the Christian faith was in so far as it denied that very gospel now is that what you're thinking everything about something something different Nathan in terms of that were I've heard the term used times but will you live in different contexts know that makes sense.

Yeah, I hear a lot of today's people say things like, you know churches that focus a lot on social issues, social justice, that kind of thing. This is this is Protestant liberalism, and that that's not necessarily the case. Many can be that the question is what is the gospel.

Are we saying our works. What we do is the gospel which is essentially what what Protestant liberalism was was doing as a refocusing on the great commandment if you will.

We need to love each other but they were denying the gospel. The resurrection of Jesus. We embrace the gospel that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, that that's the hope for us for the entire world and their implications of that right were called to love one another are called to love our our our neighbors and so you me have both unity of the gospel, you have the gospel's implications and as churches we should we should pursue that I I've seen churches and heard of churches that have fallen for the trap of this Protestant liberalism is absently heartbreaking. One of the things you see I'm statistically is the same churches or are slowly dwindling because when you're no longer preaching the gospel when you're not giving people the message of eternal salvation in the spirit of God wasn't working there anymore mean that that the spirit works through the preached word to the faithful preaching of the word of God and if were not doing that. If not, proclaiming the gospel well doesn't matter how pretty our church building is you know how how dressed up we get that kind of a thing, instead there's no gospel and so is really unimportant question.

Glad you asked. Nathan and I thanks for giving us a call brother and all the other things concerning about Protestant liberalism is the often the denial of the sin nature and so people say they'll come to psychology rise sent away. Well, you have bad experiences so you just need to get you know your your act together and an rep whether rather than saying as Jeremiah so clearly says the heart is desperately wicked who can know it yet.

I know you're absolutely right mean those those things oftentimes will go hand-in-hand, the sort of minimizing of sin and of our need of the cross are need for the gospel because of if sin is an issue will then when we can just circle ourselves up by the bootstraps and and that that's what the Christian life is all about helping one another loving one another. That kind of thing. No, that's not the gospel of some of the Bible teaches we are called to love one another as an implication of the gospel. If you do away with sin, you do it away with the atoning work of Jesus Christ. The miraculous resurrection from the dead, you no longer have Christianity.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. You are welcome to call right now our phone lines will be open for the next 17 minutes or so, here's the number to call 833. The core 833, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Elias in Hempstead, New York, highlights what your question for pastor. Israel Dr. Bill Meyer very much questions personal background in the Old Testament God says I should change.Lord God says if you obey Mike a moment I will bless you, if you don't obey my commandments. I will curse you in the New Testament, Jesus says I've been told that the born-again believers in Christ, God will never love us more or less to me.

Love the smell God's love conditional or unconditional question is about God.

The mentally ill. Like with schizophrenia.

All the more liberal workers judgment on the mentally ill people about mental illness very much brothers I love you forever on this with Elias always said to hear from you into very good questions.

One is God's love is conditional or unconditional for his people and to how does God you know into in terms of the judgment has got deal with people who have mental handicaps and that that kind of thing that has your ass your question and you mentioned the Old Testament.

The first passage that my mind went to was Deuteronomy chapter 7 where God is speaking to his people, and this is what Moses says to Ronnie chapter 7. Beginning in verse six for you are a people holy to the Lord your God, the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and shows you for you with the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, the Lord is brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery. No right there. It's very clear right Moses is saying look.

God didn't love you because you were special because you were more in number than than the other nations as God sent his his particular love on on Israel on his covenant people as he called them out of Egypt as he redeemed them. He said look, it wasn't because you were holier. It wasn't because you were more righteous. It wasn't because you were stronger than the nations of the world. This is just God's goodness he loved you because it was that was in line with this promise you see this the same thing, but also the same idea in the New Testament. I think about what the apostle Paul said in the book of Ephesians really one of my favorite passages in Scripture in Ephesians chapter 2. Listen to what the possible says you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience, among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind, but God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ right there. I mean the two beautiful passages of Scripture Deuteronomy chapter 7 Ephesians chapter 2 and it's emphasizing that the unconditional nature of God's love. It wasn't because you were greater or more righteous. It wasn't because you were holier me right there in Ephesians chapter 2 George dead in trespasses and sins as we talk about God's love for his people. We think that this is an unconditional love.

Now that doesn't mean the that our sins don't grieve the Spirit of God is a Scripture says I think we have to we have to realize and we can do things that displease the Lord. But does that mean that God removes his covenant faithfulness from his people, his love from his people know that we have that promise, and in Hebrews chapter 13, he says I'm never gonna leave you or forsake you. And so really such a such a wonderful promise that we have from the Lord and then at with regard to your second question really a separate question. They know what is God and how does God deal with with people who have mental handicaps. Our mental illness in terms of the judgment well were not given I think a very clear answer to that specifically in Scripture. But we do know that God is good and that God is just and there are number of cases, publications, especially in the New Testament where it seems like people are are judged more severely on the basis of what they know or should know, so I certainly believe that God is merciful that God is that God that got on the day of judgment. Nobody, for the same and that's not fair. Lord God is is perfectly holy and perfectly just, and so how God is going to get deal with this question in particular. Not sure but I know that we can trust him and I know that you can trust him and that God is good and so thank you for giving us a call and a praise the Lord blesses you, thank you for listening. Thanks a much Elias would appreciate you being one of our regular listeners here at core Christianity are number to call if you have a question for pastor. Israel 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also leave a voicemail at that number anytime 24 hours a day and we should mention that does some radio stations actually air this program at a later time.

So if you're not hearing this program live then here's the time to call and get to Israel in the studio.

It's 11:30 AM Pacific 1230 Mountain 130 Central or 230 Eastern time. That's when were picking up the phone call. So if you heard of the program at a different time I leave a voicemail or call us during that 30 minute. Let's go to Brian in Waterloo, Indiana Brian, welcome to the program you done good, doing well how are you doing I don't find my question for today is the blind beggar named Archelaus he was just one of several people that Jesus healed his ministry.

I was just curious young, very few people are not mentioned by name is or anything significant about Archelaus yeah that's that's a great question why why is it that oftentimes when Jesus healed someone you don't have their name mentioned and sometimes you do like like on this occasion and I do think that that there are that time, things that the gospel writers are trying to community sometimes is trying to live I believe protect the identity of some of these people who were eyewitnesses you think about it in those days that the kinds of persecution that the believers and especially those who were following Jesus would receive especially from from the temple authorities and that kind of thing. So there. Some people say some of the not anonymity there that's that's that's in the Gospels is is to protect these people and then there are other times, you know what you think of earlier in the gospel of Mark think that the situation with with Artemis is in Mark chapter 10.

The earlier you have. For example, a woman with with a hemorrhage who is not named, and then you have gyrus a famous synagogue official who was named in Jesus heals gyrus is his child and and this woman. He also heals her, but she's not name that the great bear markets emphasizing the fact that even further for the nameless Jesus is merciful. The people who you know, we might not pay attention to or look at more care to know their name. And certainly this woman in that society would've been someone who was sort cast aside by people even her Jesus.

This is so merciful and tender, and pays attention to her, which I think is it is a huge and not to be a huge comfort to us, but with Rick with regard to Bart Emmaus in Mark chapter 10. I'm not sure if there's if there's anything we can say in terms of why he specifically is named i.e. I I don't think that you know it in in that passage that there's anything indicated that would would tell us it is something unique. There is sought. I I'm not sure we could say more than that. Like I said, you know, sometimes they're not name there's there's a anonymity to to defend or protect some of these people and sometimes we do get the names in the Gospels and and that can be helpful, but I that is not much more I can say is as far as Bart Emmaus's concerns. Thank you for your question whether your listing the core Christianity work pastor Adm. Sanchez. If you or your loved one is still dealing with the consequences of cobra 19 or maybe you've been suffering in some other way. We have an important resource would like to offer you today. Yeah, we've been offering pricing calamity for a couple of days now and as Bill just said there especially know if you've been way down over the last several months here with with all the things happening in our in our nation with the pandemic with some of that the divisions that are out there it's really important to to focus on Christ and to receive the comfort that he gives us to his word and by his Spirit in this book will help you and that I told pricing calamity and and it's yours. I'm going to tell how to get hold of this could go to our website which is core Christianity.com/offers would love to send you that for a donation of any amount again. Core, Christianity.com/offers. You can call us without offer or any one of our offers at 833, the court will let's go to a voicemail from one of our younger listeners named Hayden so I question about Genesis chapter 32 conference wrestling with God until daybreak saw his face. I am John chapter 1 says that no one has ever saw the face of God except for Jesus paid. Let's look at those passages really quickly for John chapter 1 verse 18 no one has ever seen God. The only God who is at the father's side, he has made him known there referring to Jesus and you know harkening back to verse one of of John one in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, he saw the sun was with the father and the Word was God and that you will get you know that the past you brought up in Genesis chapter 32 him to begin reading in verse 24, it says Jacob was left alone and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day when the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket and Jacob's hip was put out of joint.

He wrestled with him. Then he said let me go for the day has broken, but Jacob said I will not let you go unless you bless me and he said to him, what is your name and he said Jacob when he said your name shall no longer be called Jacob at Israel, for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed and Jacob asked him please tell me your name, but he said why is it that you ask my name and there he blessed him, and so Jacob called the name of the place but Neil saying, for I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is been delivered and their places in the in the Old Testament particular document what you can see God's face and live and their other place where it seems like it you know the Texan to get the people did see the Lord there. There's a scene where a number of priests including Moses Rupp on a mountain and said that they saw the face of God. They saw God there admits in the book of Exodus Exodus 24, so how do we reconcile these things will Hayden I think there's a way in which we can say with these individuals saw God through his self revelation that is God is communicating himself to his people in a unique way.

And, especially, I think, and in Genesis 32 this is this is the angel of the Lord. This this figure who appears throughout the Old Testament.

This divine status now initially in in Genesis 32. Jacob probably thinks that he's wrestling with his brother Esau, because the context is about to meet he saw and he's terrified he thinks Esau is going to hurt them because you know he was a very good to his brother.

He got it deceived and that's an understatement. Yeah, Genesis 32 verse 11.

Please deliver me from the hand of my brother from the hand of Esau. For I fear him, that he may come and attack me.

He's even afraid. And it's the middle the night somebody starts attacking him. He probably thinks this is Esau and he realizes after a while he disses and he thought that the other the sun starts to rise, and he realizes that this is like the angel of the Lord now, so in that sense, as God is revealing himself. Jacob could say I've seen God's face right now.

It now not in the same way that Jesus is talking about though. In John chapter 1C, no one can see God as he is in his essence were creatures were totally different than his weekend we can know God in that way we can only know God as he is revealed himself to us in throughout Scripture. Even with the angel Lord. This is God revealing himself to his people in a way that they can understand in a way that they can comprehend so that they can't say what I've seen the Lord he's revealed himself to me, but no one can see Jesus. No one can seek God in the same way that Jesus was talking about there I and John chapter was that was unique about you. The second person of the holy Trinity. He is God as as as light from light, God from God's is that the Nicene Creed says you know that that ancient Christian creed that that believers confess all over the world and so CSO that that's a distinguish right that's the way we would distinguish these two passages is one God is revealing himself. You note through to the self revelation. The angel of the Lord, but none of us can see God as he is in his essence because were creatures and he's the all holy all-powerful Lord great response and thank you Hayden for the great question. We appreciate your listing so nice to hear from some of our younger listeners on a regular basis at their engaging with God's word and are really trying to determine the truth for themselves at that young age that we love it. This is core Christianity with pastor Gabriel Sanchez. Let's go to Marissa who's calling from Jolly Iowa hi Marissa, what's your question for pastor. Israel and propagate adultery and and David had why concubine and he has been a doll bashing, but I bet I believe it to be one man one woman and yet you don't see in the Bible where a woman had many changed and expected that it was okay for the man that doesn't seem fair, does it verse I will let me just say this, you're right that it's supposed to be one man one woman we just think about the original creation in in Genesis right and in Jesus even refers to this later in the Gospels is why you know of a man shall leave his father and mother and and hold fast to his wife cleave to his wife. It was never judge assertive okay to go and have multiple partners effect early in Genesis, that was one of the things that got brought about God's judgment served polygamy and yet you do see these these ancient kings taking to themselves. Many wives and concubines and that kind of thing actually in kings like Solomon were warned against. This is not something that you should do and yet they did and I will say this, David was judged for his adultery.

I mean that the trip on the part of the judgment was God. You know, took the, the, the, the child that was that was born to he and Bathsheba was was a very serious thing and David talks about that. That judgment, in part, in Psalm 51, you know, or he finally comes to repentance after the prophet Nathan came to him and so varied that there is the ideal what's right and then what we have throughout Scripture is the sinful actions of humans and things that we do in disobedience to God and disobedience to what what should be and so I don't know that I would that it was it was ever just okay and that guy just I'll yeah that's no big deal.

There were constant warnings you had the sort of our original creation though it was meant to be. You have Jesus confirming that in the New Testament you have, even what we see in the New Testament. You know when Paul talks about elders and deacons. This is one of the qualifications need to be the husband of one wife, because this was always how God intended to be and so the sad thing is anyone since is also kind of a comfort. I think to us versus we look at the Bible we see is imperfect people that God uses right David send in horrible ways. He did think that he should not have done.

And yet the Lord is still used him and the reality is that all of us at Beta we can look at these characters in the Bible and sell man be such an example, but really the only real example the only one who was ever truly perfect was our Lord Jesus himself. All of these figures like David like Solomon. There were great things about them, but then there were also terrible things that they did so the point is for did that the true and ultimate pure and perfect king who took his bride is one bride, the church, Jesus, and is faithful to her and loves her and that's our model that that that should be the model a media you Paul in the book of Ephesians, he talks about the relationship between Christ and the church and how that essentially is the picture for marriage and always has been. From the very beginning that that's what it should look at one. One man one woman loving one another. The husband is to sacrifice for his wife to lay down his life for her. That's what God calls us to Marissa. We look at the Bible we see people didn't do that well do that perfectly went off and disobeyed God's word and that's why we need the gospel, the forgiveness of Jesus, the goodness of Jesus. The blood of Jesus to cleanse us. Thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer.

Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers and the menu or call us at 1-833-843-2673.

That's 833 when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together