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'Angels Unawares' series (part 4) - The 'Man' that Jacob Wrestled

3/30/2017

PDF of all lessons should be available soon on our resources page, as well as out handout page (underlined words are blanks for class to fill out while following along).
IV.       The "man" that Jacob wrestled (Genesis 32:22-33):
            A.        (Review the story of Jacob up to this point)
                       1.    Prophecy concerning "younger" (Jacob)
                              and the "older" (Esau)
                                (25:23)
                       2.    Esau gives up his birthright (25:29-34).
                       3.   Jacob told by his mother (Rebekah) to
                             trick his father (Isaac) into blessing
                             him instead of Esau (27:1-35)
                       4.   Jacob sent to his uncle Laban (28:1-10)
                       5.   Jacob's vision in Bethel (28:11-19)
                       6.   Jacob's vow to God (28:20-22)
                       7.   Jacob marries his cousins Leah and
                             Rachel (29:18-30)
                       8.   After 20 years, Jacob tries to go back to
                             his father's land where God
                             had promised to return him safely
                             (chapters 30-31)
                          a.    God's promise before he went to work
                                 for Laban (28:13-15)
                         b.    God's promise when he leaves Laban
                               (31:3)
                B.        Jacob is shown a host of angels (32:1,2)
                       1.   This is probably to reassure Jacob once
                             again that God is with him
                       2.   See the story of Elijah's servant and the
                             revealing of the invisible army
                             (II Kings 6:16,17)
                         a.     Angelic beings often association
                                  with fire.
                                     1)      "A flame of fire" Psalm 104:4
                                              (Hebrews 1:7 quotes this
                                              psalm)
                                     2)     "flame of fire" out of the
                                             burning bush (Exodus 3:2)
                                     3)     "Pillar of fire" (Exodus 13:21)
                                     4)     "Chariots of fire" (2 Kings
                                             2:11)
                                     5)     God "Consumes" burnt
                                             offerings (1 Kings 18:38, 2
                                                    Chronicles 7:1, etc.)
                                     6)     God Judges with fire (Genesis
                                             19:24, 20:9, 2
                                             Thessalonians 1:8, 2 Peter
                                             3:7,12; Revelation 16:8,)
                               b.       Angelic beings often seen
                                         possessing the ability to smote
                                         the enemy with blindness and
                                         other plagues (As we saw in the
                                         study of the "men" that visit Lot
                                         in Sodom)
                C.       Jacob still fears his brother and take
                           precautions (32:3-23)
                D.       Jacob encounters the "man" (32:24)
                E.       Jacob wrestles the "man"
                        1.       Prevailing (v.25)
                        2.       Supernaturally prevented (v.25)
                        3.       Seeks a blessing (v.26)
                      4.       Name is changed to Israel (v.28)
                F.       Jacob calls the man "God."
                        1.       Calls the place Peniel ("facing God")
                        2.       Claims he saw God face to face
                        3.       Claims his life was preserved
      Conclusion:
                Based on the evidence of this passage, compared to other scripture, this "man" whom Jacob wrestles is at least an angelic being sent as a messenger of the Lord. At best, He is a manifestation of God Himself (or the preincarnate Christ).

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My Two Grandfathers-In-Law

3/29/2017

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While they were still alive, I had seriously played around with the idea of writing a book about them. Well, sadly they are gone now (albeit, certainly enjoying their Saviour and His rewards), but I'm considering taking on this project again.

Two faithful and dedicated men that left my kids an invaluable inheritance! I can't thank them or honor their names enough. I can't thank the Lord enough. And if only it were possible, I'd ask for a double portion of their spirits! Watch their memorials below:

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'Angels Unawares' series (part 3 - The 3 men who visited Abraham/2 men who visited Lot)

3/18/2017

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PDF of all lessons should be available soon on our resources page, as well as out handout page (underlined words are blanks for class to fill out while following along).
III.    The 3 "men" that visit Abraham/2 "men" that visit Lot
        (Genesis 18-19)
       A.      Abraham sees the three men but addresses "the
                 Lord."
               1.      It may be helpful to point out that he had
                        talked with the Lord in chapter 17, though no
                       description was given.
               2.     At first glance, it could seem like reference to
                        the Trinity.
                      a.     Three distinct people (persons) seem to be
                              referenced singularly.
                       b.    This could help explain some related
                              passages in the Bible.
                            1)       "Let us make man in our
                                       image" (Genesis 1:26)
                            2)       "Let us go down" (Genesis 11:7)
                            3)       "these three are one" (1 John 5:7)
                       c.     However, it is not likely that this is the
                               intended application here.
                            1)        John says no man has seen God
                                      (obviously reference to the  Father)
                                      (John 1:18)
                             2)       Jesus says that no one has seen
                                       the Father but that He and the Father
                                      are one. (John 6:46, 8:9, 10:30)
      B.     2 purposes of the visit
               1.       Deliver news about Sarah having a child in her
                         old age
                       a.     Sarah laughs "in herself."
                       b.     To her surprise, she is rebuked.
               2.       Observe the wickedness in Sodom and
                         Gomorrah
                       a.     The Bible had already pointed out in
                               Genesis 13:13 that the men of Sodom
                               were wicked sinners.
                       b.     Abraham knows that when they see the
                              wickedness they will destroy the city.
                              1)       Interestingly, he is never told that by
                                        the men, but he seems to assume.
                              2)       Men always fear God's Judgment
                                        when they have an accurate
                                        understanding of who He is and how
                                        He views sin.
       C.      2 of the "men" leave and Abraham continues to talk
                 to the Lord.
               1.      After Abraham tries to negotiate with him
                        about sparing Sodom, we see the Lord depart
                        at the end of chapter 18.
               2.      These same two "men" are most likely the
                        angels mentioned in chapter 19 who appeared
                        to Lot in Sodom.
                      a.     They are called men in chapter 18.
                      b.     They are called angels in 19:1.
                      c.     The men of Sodom call them "men" in
                              verse 5.
                      d.     They are called men again in verses 10,11.
                      e.     They are called angels again in verse 15.
                       f.     They are called men again in verse 16.
      Conclusion:
       1.   Two of the men mentioned are clearly angels as the
             words are used interchangeably in this text.
       2.   One of the men is called the Lord.
       3.   The 3 men who visited Abraham were most likely 2
             angels who accompanied an actual manifestation of
           the Lord (the "Son," the "Word," the "Angel of the
             LORD"...)
       4.   The 2 men who visited Lot were most likely the 2
             angels that left while Abraham continued talking to the
             Lord.

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'Angels Unawares' series (part 2 - Sons of God and the Daughters of Men)

3/11/2017

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PDF of all lessons should be available soon on our resources page, as well as out handout page (underlined words are blanks for class to fill out while following along).
II.   "Sons of God" and the daughters of men (Genesis 6)
       A.   As far back as we have records, Theologians have
             disagreed about who is referred to here as the "sons
             of God"
        B.   There are basically 3 views:
              1.   They were fallen angels
                    a.    Support for this view
                            1)     Other references to "sons of god" in
                                    the Old Testament seem to refer to
                                    angels.
                                     a)   Job 1:6
                                     b)   Job 2:1
                                     c)   Job 38:7
                             2)     Ancient sources, and particularly "The
                                     Book of Enoch" (which is most likely a
                                     complete fabrication)
                                     a)   The book of Enoch gives names to
                                           particular fallen angels.
                                     b)   It describes them as Nephilim
                                           (which is the Hebrew word
                                           translated "Giants" in our Bible)
                                     c) It explains that they intermixed with
                                           human women.
                              3)    "Strange flesh" mentioned in Jude 6
                                     and 7 has been assumed by some to
                                     refer to this story.
                       b.    Problems with this view
                               1)    There is no absolute proof that the
                                       sons of God in Job are "angels."
                                      a)    If they were fallen angels that
                                             God chained up for eternity due
                                             to their wickedness (Jude 1:6),
                                             would God still have referred to
                                             them as "sons of God?"
                                       b)   New Testament scripture would
                                             seem to contradict the idea.
                                                 1))          John 1:12
                                                 2))          Romans 8:13-21
                                                 3))          Philippians 2:15
                                                 4))          1 John 3:1-2
                              2)    The Book of Enoch was not accepted
                                     as part of the Bible because it is most
                                     likely ancient science fiction, based
                                     on Scripture but totally fabricated.
                              3)    There were still giants mentioned
                                     throughout the Bible after the flood.
                                       a)     Og, king of Bashan in
                                               Deuteronomy 3:11
                                       b)     Sons of Anak in Numbers 13:33
                                       c)    Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:4
                              4) Matthew 22:23-20 suggests that
                                   angels do not procreate as humans.
              2.      They were mighty humans
                       a.     Support for this view
                              1)   Term "god" or "lord" was sometimes
                                     used in Middle East and Far East to
                                     denote "rulers" and "judges"
                              2)    Term "sons of" followed by the name
                                     of their god was used of kings in
                                     ancient times
                                       a)    "Son of Ra" in Egypt
                                       b)    "Son of Zeus " in ancient Greece
                              3)     In Jewish culture it may have been
                                      common to refer to human leaders as
                                      "a god" or "a son/child of Jehovah"
                                       a)       Exodus 7:1 (Moses a
                                                 "god" to Pharaoh)
                                       b)      John 1:49 (Nathaniel
                                                 recognized Jesus as the
                                                "Son of God" and thus the
                                                "King of Israel" [no doubt
                                                due to Messianic prophecy])
                             4)      "Mighty men" historically become
                                       rulers.
                             5)      "Men of renown" (famous, well-known)
                             6)      This view could be combined with the
                                       fallen angel view in that these rulers
                                       could have been possessed.
                       b.    Problems with this view
                             1)      There is the question of the Nephilim
                                       (giants).
                                       a)     One who believes in the fallen
                                               angel view believes there is a
                                               connection.
                                       b)     As pointed out, however, there
                                               are giants mentioned
                                               throughout the Bible and there
                                               are still giants today (which
                                               don't seem to be anything
                                               supernatural but rather some
                                               rare genetic mutation)
                                        c)    (some do combine the fallen
                                               angel view with this view to give
                                               an explanation)
                             2)        It is unlikely God would want to
                                        destroy the whole world because of
                                        some evil men who took wives.
                             3)       "Son's of God" seems to be too
                                        obviously contrasted with the phrase
                                        "daughters of men."
              3.    They were the sons of Seth (This is the
                      position we take)
                      a.    Support for this view
                              1)       In Genesis 4:26, Seth and his son
                                      seem to be the start of a holy
                                        generation holy generation.
                              2)       His brother Cain had slew Abel and
                                        was a fugitive and a vagabond.
                              3)       References throughout Bible of God
                                        calling the righteous His  children
                                       (passages referred above when
                                        discussing problems with the fallen
                                       angel view).
                              4)       Noah was a descendant of Seth.
                              5)      All other descendants of Seth had
                                       died before the flood.
                              6)       God makes it clear He is unhappy
                                        when His people mix with ungodly
                                        people.
                                        a)      The line of Christ was
                                                   supposed to be preserved.
                                          b)      Ungodly people would
                                                   naturally draw godly
                                                  people away from proper
                                                   worship.
                                          c)      Nearly impossible to do work
                                                   for the Lord with a partner
                                                   who does not (This explains 2
                                                  Corinthians 6:14).
                                7)    Such intermarriage could indeed
                                        have polluted the godly line of Seth
                                        (not that all his offspring were
                                        necessarily godly, but those who
                                        were godly were important to God's
                                        future plan)
                       b.      Problems with this view
                                 1)     This view still doesn't address the
                                         Nephilim (perhaps that is because
                                          too much emphasis is made about
                                          them in the other views).
                                  2)     If references to "sons of god" in Job
                                          refer to angels, then it could be said
                                          that this view wouldn't be
                                          consistent with the Old Testament
                                          usage of the term.

                                   3)    It is unclear why the offspring
                                          would become "mighty men."
        C.     Conclusion:
                 1.   These three view, particularly the first and the
                       third, will no doubt continue until the Lord
                       comes.
                 2.   This is certainly not important enough of a
                       matter to divide with anyone over (agree to
                       disagree if you must).
                3.   We do believe, however, that the third
                       view has the best application that is certainly
                       consistent throughout scripture.

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'Angels Unawares' series (part 4) - The 'Man' that Jacob Wrestled

My Two Grandfathers-In-Law

'Angels Unawares' series (part 3 - The 3 men who visited Abraham/2 men who visited Lot)

'Angels Unawares' series (part 2 - Sons of God and the Daughters of Men)

Bro. Rocky

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