"The one who struggles with God." 6.21.20.

6.21.20. Rev. Lewicki, preaching. In June, we began a fun summer preaching series: The Best. Story. Ever!  When  we are children, we learn about the Bible through its biggest,  brightest, most wonderful stories: wild animals, miraculous deeds, and  s/heroes of every shape and size. This summer, NDPC is going back to  re-visit the Biblical stories that captured our imaginations as children  to discover how their meaning deepens as we “grow up” and how they  speak into the social crises of this age. Strange things happen to us in the middle of the night. Something  truly strange happened to Jacob. On the eve before Jacob was to meet his  estranged brother, Esau, Jacob finds himself in a wrestling match with a  mysterious stranger. All night long they struggle in the dirt. Finally, as dawn breaks, the stranger demands that Jacob let him go. Jacob will,  on one condition: That the man bless him. The stranger blesses Jacob and gives him a new name: Israel–“the one who struggles with God.” Who  is this stranger–Esau? An angel? God? What does this story tell you about your own existential wrestling?