The sermon text is Genesis 32:24-25: "And 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 the hollow of his thigh; and Jacob’s thigh was put out of joint as he wrestled with him."

Have you crossed the stream named Jabbok?

Another way to ask the same question is:

"Have you been left alone to struggle with God?"

Or, it could be asked:

"Have you moved beyond the spiritual experience of your youth

to encounter God

in newer and more fearsome ways?"

Let’s think back,

back to the days of our youth

when we first began to see the glimmer of God

that would one day begin to glow

as the faith we now have.

Think back;

back to the days of Sunday School

when names like Jacob and Esau

were as familiar and as pleasant

as the…