GateWay Church of Visalia

Everybody Qualifies
Genesis 25-32 Pastor Lance Ainsworth
Locations & Times
GateWay Church
1100 S Sowell St, Visalia, CA 93277, USA
Thursday 6:45 PM
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Introduction: What is your name?
Genesis 25:23 NASB
23 The Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb;
And two peoples will be separated from your body;
And one people shall be stronger than the other;
And the older shall serve the younger.”
23 The Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb;
And two peoples will be separated from your body;
And one people shall be stronger than the other;
And the older shall serve the younger.”
Genesis 25:27-34 NASB
27 When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents. 28 Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; 30 and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” 32 Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?” 33 And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
27 When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents. 28 Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; 30 and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” 32 Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?” 33 And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
Genesis 27:18-19 NASB
18 Then he came to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done as you told me. Get up, please, sit and eat of my game, that you may bless me.”
18 Then he came to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done as you told me. Get up, please, sit and eat of my game, that you may bless me.”
Genesis 28:11 NASB
11 He came to a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun had set; and he took one of the stones of the place and put it under his head, and lay down in that place.
11 He came to a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun had set; and he took one of the stones of the place and put it under his head, and lay down in that place.
Jacob’s change of heart.
Genesis 30:25 NASB
25 Now it came about when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my own country.
25 Now it came about when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my own country.
Genesis 31:3NASB
3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”
3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”
Genesis 32:9-12 NASB
9 Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord, who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will prosper you,’ 10 I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant; for with my staff only I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies. 11 Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, that he will come and attack me and the mothers with the children. 12 For You said, ‘I will surely prosper you and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which is too great to be numbered.’”
9 Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord, who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will prosper you,’ 10 I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant; for with my staff only I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies. 11 Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, that he will come and attack me and the mothers with the children. 12 For You said, ‘I will surely prosper you and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which is too great to be numbered.’”
Jacob is humbled by God. “I am unworthy...”
Genesis 32:24-31 NASB
24 Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
24 Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
Jacob is alone with God.
“To be left alone with God is the only true way of arriving at a just knowledge of ourselves and our ways.“ C.H. Mackintosh
“To be left alone with God is the only true way of arriving at a just knowledge of ourselves and our ways.“ C.H. Mackintosh
25 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.”
Jacob is honest with God.
Christian strength comes from admitting your weakness.
(2 Cor. 12:9-11)
Christian strength comes from admitting your weakness.
(2 Cor. 12:9-11)
God is glorified by forgiving sinners.
28 He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” 31 Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh.
Jacob won:
A new identity
A limp
Rest and Contentment
A new identity
A limp
Rest and Contentment
Jacob’s tombstone - “Here lies Jacob, a thief, and sinner claimed by God in order that God might bless the entire world.” - Crazy Book: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Biblical Terms
What is your name?
Hebrews 11:21 NASB
21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
Hebrews 11:21 NASB
21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
Everybody Qualifies Discussion Questions
Genesis 25-32, Pastor Lance Ainsworth
June 8 & 11, 2023
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: What is the meaning of your name?
Read: Genesis 32:24-31
#1. Jacob grew up hearing about the promise given to his mother Rebekah “the older will serve the younger.” Has anyone ever told you that you have great potential? How do you deal with high expectations? Can you relate to Jacob in that way?
#2. The name Jacob means heal catcher, supplanter, trickster which Jacob lived up to. How we identify ourselves matters. Has anyone ever tried to put a negative identity on you? Did Jacob have a choice to embrace his name or not? How has Jesus changed your identity?
#3. Genesis 30:25 Now it came about when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my own country. Jacob is done running and it’s time to come home and face the music. Do you see a correlation between Jacob and the prodigal son? (Luke 15) How did Jacob think Esau was going to act? How did the prodigal son think his father was going to act? What does this tell us about the heart of God?
#4. Genesis 32:24 We see many times throughout the Gospels Jesus practice the spiritual discipline of solitude. Why is solitude important for a Christ follower? Do we avoid solitude because we don’t want to change? Do we avoid solitude because we are afraid of what God might say? Do we avoid solitude because we are not accustomed to intimacy?
#5 Jacob wrestles with God and is left with a forever limp. Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 12:9-11 “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” How do our weaknesses tell a story of God’s strength in us? How does trauma and suffering draw us closer to God?
Family Time:
Look up the “skadoosh” video from Kungfu Panda on YouTube. Talk about how this is a great example of how God was wrestling Jacob. With one small touch Jacob is limping for the rest of his life. Discuss how sometimes we get impatient and we wrestle with God’s timing in our lives. Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established.
Genesis 25-32, Pastor Lance Ainsworth
June 8 & 11, 2023
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: What is the meaning of your name?
Read: Genesis 32:24-31
#1. Jacob grew up hearing about the promise given to his mother Rebekah “the older will serve the younger.” Has anyone ever told you that you have great potential? How do you deal with high expectations? Can you relate to Jacob in that way?
#2. The name Jacob means heal catcher, supplanter, trickster which Jacob lived up to. How we identify ourselves matters. Has anyone ever tried to put a negative identity on you? Did Jacob have a choice to embrace his name or not? How has Jesus changed your identity?
#3. Genesis 30:25 Now it came about when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my own country. Jacob is done running and it’s time to come home and face the music. Do you see a correlation between Jacob and the prodigal son? (Luke 15) How did Jacob think Esau was going to act? How did the prodigal son think his father was going to act? What does this tell us about the heart of God?
#4. Genesis 32:24 We see many times throughout the Gospels Jesus practice the spiritual discipline of solitude. Why is solitude important for a Christ follower? Do we avoid solitude because we don’t want to change? Do we avoid solitude because we are afraid of what God might say? Do we avoid solitude because we are not accustomed to intimacy?
#5 Jacob wrestles with God and is left with a forever limp. Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 12:9-11 “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” How do our weaknesses tell a story of God’s strength in us? How does trauma and suffering draw us closer to God?
Family Time:
Look up the “skadoosh” video from Kungfu Panda on YouTube. Talk about how this is a great example of how God was wrestling Jacob. With one small touch Jacob is limping for the rest of his life. Discuss how sometimes we get impatient and we wrestle with God’s timing in our lives. Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established.