WEBVTT - Wrestling with God

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<v Speaker 1>Previously on the Chosen People. Jacob looked behind him. His

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<v Speaker 1>family and all his men were clueless as to what

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<v Speaker 1>was happening. Only Jacob could see that they were in

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<v Speaker 1>a divine encampment. The angels of God were before them.

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<v Speaker 2>This is God's camp. I have not seen my brother

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<v Speaker 2>in a long time. I will go to him. You

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<v Speaker 2>will go to him. I'm not sure that's necessary.

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<v Speaker 3>He's merely going to pass through and only wishes to

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<v Speaker 3>have peace between the two of you.

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<v Speaker 1>I go, I go now, He so gestured to a

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<v Speaker 1>few of his men.

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<v Speaker 2>Bring four hundred men. My lord Jacob, we have news

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<v Speaker 2>from Esau's camp. What did you do to this man

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<v Speaker 2>to make him hate you so much? I wanted more.

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<v Speaker 2>I was willing to do whatever. It's top the kidd

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<v Speaker 2>I have it, and I fear it will be taken

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<v Speaker 2>from me. If we are to survive this sight, I

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<v Speaker 2>must seek god most eye. I'll return Shortly.

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<v Speaker 1>Jacob fell to his knees and gripped the dirt. For

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<v Speaker 1>the first time in his life. Jacob prayed with tears,

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<v Speaker 1>his heart ached for answers from his God.

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<v Speaker 2>You told me that I'll be great. You told me

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<v Speaker 2>that my osprey will outnumber the sounds of the sea.

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<v Speaker 2>If these are the promises you've made, then these are

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<v Speaker 2>the promises you'll.

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<v Speaker 3>Keep a man alone in the dark, wrestling not just

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<v Speaker 3>with God, but with his own identity. Shall oh, my friends,

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<v Speaker 3>from here in the Holy Land of Israel, i'm ya

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<v Speaker 3>l Extein with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews,

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<v Speaker 3>Welcome to the Chosen People. Each week we'll hear a

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<v Speaker 3>dramatic story inspired by the Bible, stories filled with timeless

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<v Speaker 3>lessons of faith, love, and the meaning of life. Through

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<v Speaker 3>Israel's story, we find this truth that we are all

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<v Speaker 3>chosen for something great. Have you been impacted by this podcast?

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<v Speaker 3>Do you enjoy listening to it? Well, I would love

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<v Speaker 3>it if you can leave it or review. I read

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<v Speaker 3>all of the reviews and they help me to gain

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<v Speaker 3>a better understanding of the types of people we're reaching.

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<v Speaker 3>And if you're really paying attention and enjoying it, I

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<v Speaker 3>want you to enjoy, So leave me a message and

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<v Speaker 3>let me know. Thanks again. And if you're interested in

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<v Speaker 3>learning more about the countless lives being saved by the

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<v Speaker 3>work at the International Fellowship of Christians and Jewsy, you

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<v Speaker 3>can visit IFCJ dot com that's IFCJ dot com and

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<v Speaker 3>you can see how we are on the forefront of

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<v Speaker 3>biblical prophecy here in the Holy Land, feeding the hungry,

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<v Speaker 3>clothing the naked, and sheltering the poor. Now let's begin

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<v Speaker 3>today's saga, inspired by Genesis thirty two. Twenty two to

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<v Speaker 3>thirty two brings us to a crucial point in Israel's history.

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<v Speaker 3>In fact, this story is the first time that we

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<v Speaker 3>hear the name Israel spoken by God. And this story

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<v Speaker 3>will invite us to think about what it means to

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<v Speaker 3>struggle on a physical, worldly level and also on a

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<v Speaker 3>spiritual level.

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<v Speaker 1>A dense fog slithered through the canyons like a specter.

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<v Speaker 1>The river Jabok hissed like a serpent through stone and brush.

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<v Speaker 1>The air became thick with mist and tension. Jacob looked

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<v Speaker 1>at his family, then back up at the hill where

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<v Speaker 1>God's camp had been. He felt a tug upward and

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<v Speaker 1>a vine thread pulling him forward. God most High desired

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<v Speaker 1>to meet with him. He turned to Rachel with an

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<v Speaker 1>unfamiliar intensity in his eyes.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm going to meet with God. Should we come with you? No,

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<v Speaker 2>you will cross the Jabok take the camel's.

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<v Speaker 1>Rachel pulled Joseph in tight. The threat of Esau and

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<v Speaker 1>his men had her and the others shaking. The thought

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<v Speaker 1>of Jacob leaving their sight only added to the dread.

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<v Speaker 1>Jacob placed a gentle hand on her cheek and wiped

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<v Speaker 1>a tear from her eye with his thumb. He leaned

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<v Speaker 1>down to kiss Joseph's forehead.

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<v Speaker 2>I have to do this.

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<v Speaker 1>Alone, Jacob. I don't understand.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't quite understand myself.

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<v Speaker 4>How far do we go in front.

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<v Speaker 2>Enough to put distance between you and Esau? But before

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<v Speaker 2>goes well, I shall find you before any of that happens.

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<v Speaker 1>Jacob turned to his oldest son, Reuben and held his shoulders.

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<v Speaker 2>Keep the family safe, do you hear me? Good boy?

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<v Speaker 2>Now mount those camels and cross. I shall be behind you.

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<v Speaker 1>Jacob wasn't precisely sure why he was sending his family ahead.

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<v Speaker 1>He knew was that God Most High was beckoning him,

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<v Speaker 1>and he had to answer the call. Deception, tricks, half truths,

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<v Speaker 1>All the sins Jacob had committed to get ahead were

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<v Speaker 1>catching up to him. He cheated his brother out of

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<v Speaker 1>a birthright. He tricked his father into giving him his blessing.

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<v Speaker 1>He deceived his father in law before fleeing with his daughters.

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<v Speaker 1>Jacob's entire life had been about gaining a blessing from

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<v Speaker 1>God through some sort of trick, but there were no

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<v Speaker 1>more tricks to be played. His brother, Esau was approaching

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<v Speaker 1>with hundreds of men behind him. Years ago, Esau had

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<v Speaker 1>vowed to kill Jacob, and now it seemed the time

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<v Speaker 1>had come. Jacob prayed to the Lord for mercy. He

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<v Speaker 1>sent gifts of penance to his brother, for there was

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<v Speaker 1>no predicting what would come of it. Jacob watched his

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<v Speaker 1>family leave with tears in his eyes. He had acquired

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<v Speaker 1>so much through deception and flattery, but now seemed worth it.

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<v Speaker 1>His name was Jacob, meaning heel grabber. Everyone in his

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<v Speaker 1>land knew what the name really meant, deceiver. At that moment,

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<v Speaker 1>he wished he hadn't lived up to his name. Jacob

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<v Speaker 1>scaled the hill into the mist. Shadows played off the fog.

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<v Speaker 1>Whispers of childhood memories flooded his mind, Memories of playing

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<v Speaker 1>jokes at his father's expense, creating ruses to get out

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<v Speaker 1>of chores, scheming with his mother to get what he wanted.

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<v Speaker 1>He thought about Esau's anguish when father refused to bless him.

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<v Speaker 1>Jacob thought about the pain he felt when Larbon had

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<v Speaker 1>deceived him. He could only imagine the misery Esau had

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<v Speaker 1>to live with because of Jacob's deceit. Jacob stood over

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<v Speaker 1>the precipice and looked down in the distance. Through the mist,

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<v Speaker 1>Jacob saw a trail that by hundreds of torches.

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<v Speaker 2>He saw be here by dawn. What will I do?

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<v Speaker 1>He wondered. What fate awaited him at the bottom of

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<v Speaker 1>that hill. Would his sins finally catch up to him?

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<v Speaker 1>Would his brother respond to his kind gesture? Would God

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<v Speaker 1>answer his plea for mercy. As Jacob considered these things,

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<v Speaker 1>he felt a shift in the air. Some one was

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<v Speaker 1>there with him. He turned and saw a figure walking

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<v Speaker 1>toward him through the twilight haze. The moon cast shadows

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<v Speaker 1>against his frame, large and muscular. Jacob's heart quickened.

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<v Speaker 2>Esau, I is that you?

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<v Speaker 1>The figure emerged from the smoky murk, steps, deliberate and challenging.

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<v Speaker 1>It wasn't Esau, but Jacob certainly recognized him. Though Jacob

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<v Speaker 1>had never seen this man's face before, he knew who

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<v Speaker 1>he was. His grandfather Abraham once told him that God

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<v Speaker 1>had visited him as a man. He communed with Abraham

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<v Speaker 1>and shared a meal with him. This time, God had

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<v Speaker 1>not come to share a meal. He came as a challenger.

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<v Speaker 1>Jacob took a step forward. The ground beneath him felt

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<v Speaker 1>powerful holy. Jacob's heart thumped like war drums. The stranger

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<v Speaker 1>walked closer, and Jacob removed his tunic. There would be

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<v Speaker 1>no more running tricks or lies. If Jacob wanted a

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<v Speaker 1>blessing from God, he would have to face him. The

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<v Speaker 1>man's pace quickened from a walk to a run. Jacob

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<v Speaker 1>rolled his neck back, drew a deep breath, and charged.

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<v Speaker 1>The damp earth slid under each stride. Jacob knew what

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<v Speaker 1>he had to do. He felt sure that he had

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<v Speaker 1>to wrestle with God himself and prevail. The two men converged,

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<v Speaker 1>bodies clashing into each other like colliding waves in a storm.

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<v Speaker 1>Jacob leaned his shoulders into the man's chest and drove

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<v Speaker 1>his feet through the dirt. The man wrapped his arms

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<v Speaker 1>around Jacob's waist and threw himself back. Jacob was in

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<v Speaker 1>mid air and fell onto the ground with a seismic slap.

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<v Speaker 1>The broom escaped his lungs and his head rang like

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<v Speaker 1>a bell. Jacob knew instantly that he was outmatched, but

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<v Speaker 1>it did not keep him from striving. If this man

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<v Speaker 1>was God, then Jacob had to fight. He had to

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<v Speaker 1>contend and accept the challenge of struggling with him. Jacob

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<v Speaker 1>rolled away and leaped to his feet. Jacob readied for

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<v Speaker 1>another attack and roared a challenge.

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<v Speaker 2>Come on, fight me ah.

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<v Speaker 1>The man accepted and darted toward him. Jacob cocked his

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<v Speaker 1>hips back and met the man's advance with a blow

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<v Speaker 1>to the jaw. He pivoted his feet, landing another jab upward.

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<v Speaker 1>The man stumbled back. Jacob seized the opportunity and drove

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<v Speaker 1>his shoulders into the man's waist, slamming him into the ground.

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<v Speaker 1>He tried to make him submit, but the man rabbed

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<v Speaker 1>Jacob with his legs rolled him to the left. The

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<v Speaker 1>man was on top of Jacob now with his hands

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<v Speaker 1>pinning down his shoulders. Jacob rithed and wriggled, eventually kicking

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<v Speaker 1>his way out and standing up. Jacob walked backward, breath

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<v Speaker 1>rising in the chilled air, intermixing with the fog around him.

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<v Speaker 1>The two of them panted, priming themselves for another round.

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<v Speaker 1>Jacob made the first move and launched forward, but the

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<v Speaker 1>man tripped him onto the dirt and held him down.

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<v Speaker 1>As they fought, memories of all Jacob's sins flooded back

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<v Speaker 1>into his mind. He wanted God's blessing so badly that

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<v Speaker 1>he was willing to do anything for it, even lie.

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<v Speaker 1>But now as he rolled in the blood and sweat

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<v Speaker 1>so dirt, there was no talking his way into a blessing.

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<v Speaker 1>No lies, no religious babble, just him and God struggling

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<v Speaker 1>to gain an advantage over the other. Jacob knew there

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<v Speaker 1>was no winning, but that didn't mean he would stop.

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<v Speaker 1>The two of them wrestled all night. Dawn was about

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<v Speaker 1>to announce itself. The fog thinned, revealing the trees and

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<v Speaker 1>stones surrounding the two challengers. Jacob wasn't sure how much

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<v Speaker 1>longer he could fight. With a final desperate war cry,

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<v Speaker 1>Jacob lunged forward. He aimed his strike too high. The

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<v Speaker 1>man lowered his stance, buried his shoulder into Jacob's ribs,

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<v Speaker 1>and flicked over his head. Jacob landed with a cruel

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<v Speaker 1>and quaking thud onto the dirt. The sides of his

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<v Speaker 1>eyes went dark. He looked up to see the upside

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<v Speaker 1>down figure walking away.

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<v Speaker 2>No dn't leave Ah I'm not finished.

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<v Speaker 1>Jacob hurried to his feet and ran again. The man

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<v Speaker 1>quickly turned and absorbed Jacob's blow. He slid back a

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<v Speaker 1>few feet, then leaned his hand toward Jacob's hip and

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<v Speaker 1>ah ah popped it out of place. Jacob shouted in

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<v Speaker 1>intense pain. It shot through his hip and leg, but

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<v Speaker 1>he didn't let go. He grasped onto his leg, refusing

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<v Speaker 1>to let him walk away. The man looked at the

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<v Speaker 1>sun's rays slowly peeking over the mountains. Then he looked

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<v Speaker 1>down at Jacob.

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<v Speaker 2>Let me go, the day has broken.

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<v Speaker 1>Tears streamed down Jacob's swollen and dirty face.

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<v Speaker 2>Never, I won't.

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<v Speaker 1>The man tugged his leg away, but Jacob refused to

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<v Speaker 1>let go.

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<v Speaker 2>Please, please bless me. I won't let you go until

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<v Speaker 2>you bless me.

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<v Speaker 1>A smile appeared on the man's face. He looked again

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<v Speaker 1>at the orange hues of the rising sun, and then

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<v Speaker 1>back down at the poor fellow clinging to him.

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<v Speaker 2>What is your name, Jacob?

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<v Speaker 1>The man shook his head and placed a hand on

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<v Speaker 1>Jacob's shoulder. Your name shall no longer be Jacob called Israel,

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<v Speaker 1>for you have struggled with God and have prevailed. Jacob

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<v Speaker 1>looked up and slowly released his grip. His body trembled

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<v Speaker 1>with fatigue and awe as he looked upon the man's

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<v Speaker 1>face aglow with the dawn's light. Israel. It meant to

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<v Speaker 1>wrestle with God and prevail. But Jacob understood the more

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<v Speaker 1>profound meaning his life. His families would be constantly wrestling

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<v Speaker 1>and warring with God, but in the end they would prevail.

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<v Speaker 1>They would not prevail against God. No, they would prevail

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<v Speaker 1>with God the struggle and strive for unity, blessing and significance.

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<v Speaker 1>But in the struggle they would share in his victories.

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<v Speaker 2>What is your name?

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<v Speaker 1>Now?

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<v Speaker 2>Why would you ask me for my name?

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<v Speaker 1>He extended his hand to help Jacob on to his feet.

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<v Speaker 1>He blessed him, and then vanished where he came from.

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<v Speaker 1>Jacob limped back to the hill's edge and looked down

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<v Speaker 1>at Esau's company. Four hundred torches flickered against the silhouetted

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<v Speaker 1>mountain range. The earliest signs of dawn peeked over the hills,

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<v Speaker 1>gently kissing Jacob's face. It was time to face his brother.

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<v Speaker 1>He drew a deep breath and limped back to his camel.

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<v Speaker 1>Every stride of the camel was painful. He met up

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<v Speaker 1>with his family and dismounted. Rachel ran to him, horror

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<v Speaker 1>reflected in her eyes. What happened?

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<v Speaker 2>Who did this to you? Did Esau catch up to you?

0:14:43.520 --> 0:14:43.720
<v Speaker 1>Here?

0:14:43.920 --> 0:14:48.240
<v Speaker 2>Let's lay you down? No, no, I'm all right, it's

0:14:48.280 --> 0:14:49.360
<v Speaker 2>time to go meet Esau.

0:14:49.960 --> 0:14:51.080
<v Speaker 3>We're going to him.

0:14:52.320 --> 0:14:58.160
<v Speaker 2>I thought we were running. No running, we'll be fine

0:14:58.600 --> 0:14:59.000
<v Speaker 2>at least.

0:14:59.080 --> 0:15:01.120
<v Speaker 4>Let Reuben and sin and carry you.

0:15:01.160 --> 0:15:05.240
<v Speaker 2>No, I need to do this myself. It follow behind me.

0:15:06.480 --> 0:15:10.960
<v Speaker 1>The sun glistened over the horizon, melting away the last

0:15:11.000 --> 0:15:14.920
<v Speaker 1>of the fog. The valley was painted in shimmering hues

0:15:15.000 --> 0:15:27.400
<v Speaker 1>of amber. Jacob limped forward, content with whatever outcome awaited him.

0:15:27.720 --> 0:15:30.680
<v Speaker 3>When I go for my daily walks, I marvel at

0:15:30.760 --> 0:15:34.360
<v Speaker 3>the runners who pass me by. Sometimes they seem to

0:15:34.400 --> 0:15:37.560
<v Speaker 3>glide past, completely at ease, and I'm amazed that someone

0:15:37.560 --> 0:15:40.520
<v Speaker 3>can work so hard and make it look so effortless.

0:15:41.200 --> 0:15:43.240
<v Speaker 3>Other Times I see runners who look like they are

0:15:43.320 --> 0:15:47.680
<v Speaker 3>really struggling with every step. I've always been in awe

0:15:47.760 --> 0:15:50.920
<v Speaker 3>of their perseverance, but I used to wonder why these

0:15:51.000 --> 0:15:55.280
<v Speaker 3>runners keep going when it hurts so much. Then my friend,

0:15:55.320 --> 0:15:57.920
<v Speaker 3>a fitness instructor, told me that she learned to enjoy

0:15:58.000 --> 0:16:01.280
<v Speaker 3>the discomfort of working out, because it tells her that

0:16:01.360 --> 0:16:08.120
<v Speaker 3>her body is transforming. What high performance athletes know is

0:16:08.160 --> 0:16:10.600
<v Speaker 3>that it is only by struggling that they can achieve

0:16:10.680 --> 0:16:14.480
<v Speaker 3>their goals. That they can, as the Bible says, quote

0:16:14.760 --> 0:16:19.200
<v Speaker 3>overcome end quote, and I must tell you the same

0:16:19.320 --> 0:16:26.720
<v Speaker 3>is true spiritually. We overcome adversity, and we overcome through adversity.

0:16:27.480 --> 0:16:31.440
<v Speaker 3>Jacob's story reminds me that this struggle is holy. It's

0:16:31.520 --> 0:16:34.280
<v Speaker 3>part of our heritage as the people of Israel, and

0:16:34.320 --> 0:16:38.560
<v Speaker 3>it's part of our journey as people of faith. May we,

0:16:38.640 --> 0:16:42.160
<v Speaker 3>like Jacob, emerge from our struggles with the deeper understanding

0:16:42.200 --> 0:16:46.840
<v Speaker 3>of who God is and who we are Amen. The

0:16:46.880 --> 0:16:49.880
<v Speaker 3>story of Jacob's struggle comes up throughout the Bible and

0:16:49.920 --> 0:16:53.880
<v Speaker 3>throughout Jewish tradition. Joseiah twelve to four tells us that

0:16:54.000 --> 0:17:00.000
<v Speaker 3>Jacob quote struggled with the angel and overcame him end quote.

0:17:00.000 --> 0:17:03.600
<v Speaker 3>Tradition explains this further that the man who fought Jacob

0:17:03.720 --> 0:17:07.320
<v Speaker 3>was actually an angel of God, and his job was

0:17:07.359 --> 0:17:11.480
<v Speaker 3>to create adversity for Jacob so that through the struggle

0:17:11.520 --> 0:17:16.120
<v Speaker 3>he could transform and even advance in his spiritual growth.

0:17:16.920 --> 0:17:20.520
<v Speaker 3>It was through this struggle that Jacob was given a

0:17:20.600 --> 0:17:27.000
<v Speaker 3>new name, Israel. Appropriately, the name Israel contains the Hebrew

0:17:27.040 --> 0:17:30.439
<v Speaker 3>word that means struggle as well as the word that

0:17:30.600 --> 0:17:35.159
<v Speaker 3>means nobility. This is because Jacob obtained nobility by growing

0:17:35.200 --> 0:17:40.879
<v Speaker 3>through struggles, and my friends, so do we. Our greatest

0:17:41.000 --> 0:17:45.920
<v Speaker 3>challenges transform us into the greatest versions of ourselves. And well,

0:17:46.160 --> 0:17:48.720
<v Speaker 3>none of us would choose a life of constance, struggle

0:17:48.760 --> 0:17:53.520
<v Speaker 3>and never ending adversity. Difficulties do serve an important purpose

0:17:53.560 --> 0:17:58.159
<v Speaker 3>in our lives. They too, are gifts from God. The

0:17:58.240 --> 0:18:03.159
<v Speaker 3>Jewish ages have another interesting take on this angel from God.

0:18:03.280 --> 0:18:05.960
<v Speaker 3>They look at Jacob's opponent as the embodiment of his

0:18:06.119 --> 0:18:10.560
<v Speaker 3>twin brother, Esau, and all that Esau represented, the lack

0:18:10.640 --> 0:18:14.119
<v Speaker 3>of moral conscience, the lack of respect for the Word

0:18:14.200 --> 0:18:18.440
<v Speaker 3>of God, the devotion to the physical rather than the spiritual.

0:18:19.400 --> 0:18:23.000
<v Speaker 3>In that sense, Esa is seen as the forebearer of

0:18:23.040 --> 0:18:26.720
<v Speaker 3>the many nations that have oppressed the Chosen people throughout

0:18:26.760 --> 0:18:31.000
<v Speaker 3>our history. So the struggle we see in this Bible

0:18:31.119 --> 0:18:35.200
<v Speaker 3>story also represents the struggle between the two world views

0:18:35.280 --> 0:18:39.240
<v Speaker 3>of Jacob and of Esau, a struggle that originated in

0:18:39.280 --> 0:18:43.760
<v Speaker 3>their mother's womb. We know the outcome of this wrestling match.

0:18:43.920 --> 0:18:48.000
<v Speaker 3>We know that this opponent cannot prevail over Jacob, even

0:18:48.080 --> 0:18:51.800
<v Speaker 3>though Jacob is injured. But the moral of the story is,

0:18:52.119 --> 0:18:56.720
<v Speaker 3>of course, that the Chosen people, the bearers of God's Word,

0:18:57.880 --> 0:19:03.160
<v Speaker 3>will prevail, but that victory won't be without effort. It's

0:19:03.240 --> 0:19:07.960
<v Speaker 3>not going to be easy. We will win, we will

0:19:08.160 --> 0:19:12.359
<v Speaker 3>overcome darkness, but it won't be without injury and pain.

0:19:13.200 --> 0:19:17.480
<v Speaker 3>And the Jewish people see this throughout our history even

0:19:17.520 --> 0:19:21.480
<v Speaker 3>today as people of faith. It's hard being the bearer

0:19:21.480 --> 0:19:26.600
<v Speaker 3>of God's word, isn't it? Both Jews and Christians experience

0:19:26.720 --> 0:19:30.600
<v Speaker 3>that each and every day, and we know that even

0:19:30.680 --> 0:19:35.480
<v Speaker 3>today we have to confront the esaus of our world.

0:19:36.119 --> 0:19:38.960
<v Speaker 3>We have to do everything we can, not to fight,

0:19:39.640 --> 0:19:44.280
<v Speaker 3>but to bring God's word, to bring God's love to

0:19:44.400 --> 0:19:46.760
<v Speaker 3>everything that we do. I've got a question for you,

0:19:47.680 --> 0:19:51.240
<v Speaker 3>what's the most important verse in the Bible? Part of

0:19:51.280 --> 0:19:53.720
<v Speaker 3>me wonders if there's even an answer to that. How

0:19:53.760 --> 0:19:57.200
<v Speaker 3>could one Bible verse possibly be more important than another.

0:19:58.040 --> 0:20:01.080
<v Speaker 3>Isn't every word in the Bible e equally the word

0:20:01.080 --> 0:20:06.359
<v Speaker 3>of God? Yet centuries ago, two great Jewish sages struggled

0:20:06.400 --> 0:20:10.520
<v Speaker 3>over this very question. One rabbi claim that the most

0:20:10.560 --> 0:20:13.480
<v Speaker 3>important verse in the Torah is Deuterotomy six ' four

0:20:14.160 --> 0:20:19.720
<v Speaker 3>Schma Israel ha shemeloceno as shemrad hero Israel, the Lord,

0:20:19.760 --> 0:20:23.560
<v Speaker 3>our God, the Lord is one. The second rabbi argued

0:20:23.600 --> 0:20:26.760
<v Speaker 3>that most important verse in the Bible is actually Leviticus

0:20:26.920 --> 0:20:31.879
<v Speaker 3>nineteen eighteen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. So

0:20:31.960 --> 0:20:35.560
<v Speaker 3>what's more important, faith in God or love for our

0:20:35.560 --> 0:20:41.960
<v Speaker 3>fellow man. Well, the truth is that both are pillars of.

0:20:41.880 --> 0:20:42.959
<v Speaker 1>A life of faith.

0:20:43.440 --> 0:20:48.200
<v Speaker 3>And that's what the story of jacob struggle with Esau

0:20:48.880 --> 0:20:53.639
<v Speaker 3>and how we struggle to understand it is really all

0:20:53.840 --> 0:20:59.119
<v Speaker 3>about our struggle as humans between the physical world in

0:20:59.160 --> 0:21:02.720
<v Speaker 3>which we live and the spiritual realm of God, who

0:21:02.760 --> 0:21:08.159
<v Speaker 3>created us in His image is real, and it's represented

0:21:08.480 --> 0:21:14.560
<v Speaker 3>by this fight of Jacob and Esau. This is a

0:21:14.600 --> 0:21:17.720
<v Speaker 3>pivotal chapter and the grand story of our people, the

0:21:17.880 --> 0:21:21.720
<v Speaker 3>Chosen People, is the struggle of a nation yet unborn,

0:21:21.760 --> 0:21:24.359
<v Speaker 3>of a people chosen to wrestle with the divine and

0:21:24.400 --> 0:21:26.520
<v Speaker 3>with their own humanity, and.

0:21:26.400 --> 0:21:32.080
<v Speaker 4>It reverberates through the ages, through the exodus from Egypt,

0:21:32.119 --> 0:21:34.840
<v Speaker 4>when we cried out under the weight of slavery and

0:21:34.880 --> 0:21:36.840
<v Speaker 4>saw the mighty hand of God.

0:21:36.960 --> 0:21:41.080
<v Speaker 3>Split the sea, through our wilderness wanderings where we stumbled

0:21:41.080 --> 0:21:44.399
<v Speaker 3>and complained. Yet we're fed mana from heaven, through our

0:21:44.480 --> 0:21:47.280
<v Speaker 3>conquest of Cain and the rise and fall of kings

0:21:47.400 --> 0:21:52.600
<v Speaker 3>exile and returned from Babylon. We are always wrestling, We're

0:21:52.760 --> 0:22:00.600
<v Speaker 3>always struggling, and we are always becoming. And so I ask,

0:22:01.200 --> 0:22:04.720
<v Speaker 3>what does Jacob's story mean for us today? How do

0:22:04.800 --> 0:22:09.080
<v Speaker 3>we in our modern lives find resonance with this ancient

0:22:09.280 --> 0:22:14.520
<v Speaker 3>tale that we know is a story of our lives. Well,

0:22:15.040 --> 0:22:18.480
<v Speaker 3>maybe you're wrestling with the decision about your career, unsure

0:22:18.480 --> 0:22:21.919
<v Speaker 3>of which path to take, or maybe you're grappling with

0:22:21.960 --> 0:22:26.560
<v Speaker 3>a relationship that's strained to the breaking point. Perhaps you're

0:22:26.600 --> 0:22:29.919
<v Speaker 3>struggling with your sense of worth and feeling inadequate in

0:22:29.960 --> 0:22:34.600
<v Speaker 3>the face of life's demands. Well, Jacob's story teaches us

0:22:35.560 --> 0:22:40.400
<v Speaker 3>it is okay to wrestle. It's okay to bring our fears,

0:22:40.480 --> 0:22:44.879
<v Speaker 3>our doubts, and our very real struggles to God. Because

0:22:44.920 --> 0:22:48.800
<v Speaker 3>God is in distant God is waiting for us to

0:22:48.920 --> 0:22:52.720
<v Speaker 3>turn to him and to clean up our act. But

0:22:52.840 --> 0:22:56.399
<v Speaker 3>before we could have clarity, we have to be ready

0:22:56.720 --> 0:23:01.600
<v Speaker 3>to bravely ask the questions. And when we ask those

0:23:01.760 --> 0:23:04.919
<v Speaker 3>hard questions that will lead to transformation, we have to

0:23:04.960 --> 0:23:09.600
<v Speaker 3>remember that God is right here with us, ready to engage,

0:23:09.720 --> 0:23:15.560
<v Speaker 3>ready to transform. In our wrestling. We are not alone.

0:23:16.400 --> 0:23:20.600
<v Speaker 3>God is with us, and so I pray that you

0:23:20.720 --> 0:23:28.679
<v Speaker 3>find in Him the strength, the grace, the transformation and

0:23:28.760 --> 0:23:30.800
<v Speaker 3>the blessings that you seek.

0:23:32.680 --> 0:23:35.760
<v Speaker 1>You can listen to The Chosen People with Isle Exstein

0:23:35.960 --> 0:23:39.280
<v Speaker 1>add free by downloading and subscribing to the Prey dot

0:23:39.280 --> 0:23:43.480
<v Speaker 1>Com app today. This Prey dot Com production is only

0:23:43.520 --> 0:23:48.040
<v Speaker 1>made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina,

0:23:48.320 --> 0:23:52.200
<v Speaker 1>Max Bard, Zach Shellabaga and Ben Gammon are the executive

0:23:52.240 --> 0:23:55.960
<v Speaker 1>producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, edited by

0:23:56.000 --> 0:24:01.879
<v Speaker 1>Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltefianu are voiced by Jonathan Cotton,

0:24:02.000 --> 0:24:07.280
<v Speaker 1>Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc

0:24:07.359 --> 0:24:10.560
<v Speaker 1>and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music

0:24:10.720 --> 0:24:15.159
<v Speaker 1>by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Bree Rosalie and Aaron Salvato.

0:24:15.600 --> 0:24:20.160
<v Speaker 1>Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin, kayleb Burrows,

0:24:20.320 --> 0:24:24.199
<v Speaker 1>Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians

0:24:24.240 --> 0:24:27.360
<v Speaker 1>and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot com productions

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<v Speaker 1>Chosen People with Yeile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review.