And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.

This is the story of Jacob returning to his home after spending 20 years working for Laban. Jacob was afraid of his brother, Esau, because he had deceitfully stolen Esau's birthright and blessing before going to seek a wife in his mother's homeland.

Genesis 32:3-8

And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom. [4] And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now: [5] And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight. [6] And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. [7] Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands; [8] And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.

After Jacob divided his family and servants into two companies, he sent his wives and children over the brook, Jabbok, and he went back, where he wrestled with a man all night. Verse 24 says,"And Jacob was left alone." We all have to individually meet God---alone. No one else can meet God for us. He wants to deal with us each individually. In this wrestling, we see that the man asked Jacob his name. God wants us to confess who we are. Jacob's name meant supplanter, heel-grabber, and deceiver. The first step to character change is confessing our faults. After Jacob wrestled with God, God changed his name to Israel, which means "one who has power with God and men".

Pastor Doyle talked about three crossings in the Christian's life. First, the "Red Sea Crossing". This relates to salvation. We cross over from death to life. Freedom from the bondage of sin.

After going through the wilderness, we come to the second crossing--"The Jordan River Crossing". This is the crossing into the Promised Land. In the wilderness there were no giants and everything was provided--(manna, water, cloud by day, fire by night, clothes lasting 40 years, shoes not wearing out)--but now, there are giants to fight and overcome, and abundant blessings(land flowing with milk and honey).