Wrestling At The Chase-Based Upon Genesis 32:22-31

This Wednesday, we are continuing with the message that God has outlined for us in Genesis about the life and times of Jacob. As a further reminder of where we have been in the journey with Jacob, we have observed him in many different points in his life. A life filled with treachery and deceit, as he used these things to deny his brother Esau the birthright that he deserved. We have witnessed Jacob being sent out into the wilderness to start life anew when God starts getting into his life. We have seen how his best laid plans to find love and happiness where thwarted through his father-in-law. Now we encounter Jacob at his most vulnerable point in life. He is a man with two wives, eleven children and some concubines. If that were not enough stress, remember that his being hunted down by his brother for all the wrongs that have happened in the past. What better position in life can you possibly be to find God?

Starting this section of scripture, we have the image of a protective man looking out for the best interests of his family. Jacob wants to keep them safe and away from the harm that can come from desert travel, but also the problems that seem to follow him. When Jacob is assured of his families safety, it is time to sleep through a rather uneasy evening. Jacob is probably wrestling with his past, his present and his future. However, we know that Jacob becomes involved in one of the greatest wrestling matches of all times. Jacob takes on God face to face and wins. A mere mortal wins the match, but not by pinning the aggressor, but by changing his way of life. Jacob suffered a damaged hip in the process, but he was forever changed by seeing the grace of God face to face. He came to a sudden realization that God came into his life for a purpose and that was to be a leader for many. He was a leader willing to change his ways of living and honor God through being an example to others.

As a kid growing up, I was immersed into the world of professional wrestling and had my favorites and no so favorites. I remember staying up late on Friday and Saturday nights with my mom and dad watching the old National Wrestling Alliance. Stars such as Ric Flair, Arn and Ole Anderson, The Road Warriors and others came into my home and made me love them or hate them. One group in particular stood out for me and have a way of relating to this story. The Four Horsemen were comprised of Ric Flair, Ole Anderson, Arn Anderson, and Tully Blanchard. These were the dirtiest players in the game and dominated the sport for several years. They were wrapped up the high roller lifestyle and tried to maintain it anyway they could. I personally hated them, because they beat up the guys I always watched. However, when I discovered that wrestling decisions were predetermined, I wanted to know more about these guys.

Tully Blanchard really stands out in my mind as a guy who can probably relate best to the story of Jacob. He grew up in a home where going to church was optional, but there was a perverted sense of faith. His father was a former professional wrestler and began a small promotion out of southern Texas. His father applied all kinds of pressure on him to be the best and bring good attention to the family. Tully was the best athlete in high school for football, baseball, and basketball. He won a scholarship to Southern Methodist University for football, but couldn’t make the commitment to play due to injury, so he attended West Texas State. Even in this smaller environment, Tully could not move on to the professional glory. So he and a couple teammates moved on to the world of professional wrestling. Those teammates who joined him in the wrestling business turned out to be Ted DiBiase and Merced Solis, better known as Tito Santana.

The world of professional wrestling offered Blanchard everything he desired. Money, fame, expensive clothes, and cars were among some of his trophies in the world of professional wrestling. However, what Blanchard was not ready for was the isolation of being in a business where your every move is noted in the papers. He soon took his loneliness and resorted to drugs and womanizing. Blanchard was snorting cocaine on a daily basis and going through woman like they were nothing. He hit rock bottom in the late 1980s when he was cut from the roster of the WWF. His career and life were slowly ebbing away…that is, until God found him in a hotel room alone.

God came to this professional wrestler and engaged him in his final match. As Tully Blanchard tells it, “God pinned me to the bed and told me there was a greater purpose in my life and that purpose is to use your fame for the glory of God.” Blanchard changed his life around and helped others in his family change the purpose of their lives. He is currently the president of Exodus Ministries which helps churches and organizations meet the needs of people who are pretty much down and out in life. It encourages these organizations and members of the church to be candles in the community when there are people trying to snuff out the life from others.

Renita J. Weems has this to say about faith, “Faith is what you do between the last time you experienced God and the next time you experience God.” In the examples of faith were Jacob has been encountered by God, it is the second time where Jacob understands his purpose. We are very much the same way. Sometimes we have to find ourselves at the bottom, even though there have been people in our lives trying to help us through difficult situations. Our encounters with God can be life changing.

If there is anyone willing to share their struggles with faith, please do so. Or, if you have a moment where you wrestled with God over something and feel compelled to share it, I encourage you to lend a voice to this community and share openly.
Last night (National Night Out), I saw an amazing amount of people come into this community for the very first time, or in the case of some people, it was the first time in decades. Some people already know Christ and have a home for their spiritual lives, but many in this community are crying out for help. How amazing would it be if we were able to wrestle with God as a church and find out our purpose for those lost souls? How awesome would it be to open our doors to the community more often than just for special events and for selling food? How cool would it be to have all of those young families attending regularly, and helping them find the purpose driven life? How neat would it be to return to a multiple service Sunday and have an overflowing fellowship hall for Wednesday evenings? Maybe I am dreaming, or maybe I am wrestling alone. I would like you to join me in this match, as I cannot do it alone.