[Sermon notes / 설교노트 ]
Relational Wrestling: Who Are You Wrestling With?
창세기 22:1-14, 32:26 | Genesis 22:1-14, 32:26
관계의 씨름: 누구와 씨름하고 있는가?
Subtitle : The Faith of Abraham: Conversational Faith or One-Way Obedience?
부재: :”상의(商議)하는 신앙인가, 중심을 잃은 일방적인 순종인가?”
1.Biblical scripture / 성경본문
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(Genesis 22:1-14, NIV11)
“「1」 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
「2」 Then God said, “Take your son , your only son, whom you love - Isaac - and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
「3」 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.
「4」 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.
「5」 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
「6」 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together,
「7」 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
「8」 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
「9」 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
「10」 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
「11」 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
「12」 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
「13」 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram* caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. / *Many manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint and Syriac; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text a ram behind him
「14」 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.””
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“「1」 이런 일이 있은 지 얼마 뒤에, 하나님이 아브라함을 시험해 보시려고, 그를 부르셨다. "아브라함아!" 하고 부르시니, 아브라함은 "예, 여기에 있습니다" 하고 대답하였다.
「2」 하나님이 말씀하셨다. "너의 아들, 네가 사랑하는 외아들 이삭을 데리고 모리아 땅으로 가거라. 내가 너에게 일러주는 산에서 그를 번제물로 바쳐라."
「3」 아브라함이 다음날 아침에 일찍이 일어나서, 나귀의 등에 안장을 얹었다. 그는 두 종과 아들 이삭에게도 길을 떠날 준비를 시켰다. 번제에 쓸 장작을 다 쪼개어 가지고서, 그는 하나님이 그에게 말씀하신 그 곳으로 길을 떠났다.
「4」 사흘 만에 아브라함은 고개를 들어서, 멀리 그 곳을 바라볼 수 있었다.
「5」 그는 자기 종들에게 말하였다. "내가 이 아이와 저리로 가서, 예배를 드리고 너희에게로 함께 돌아올 터이니, 그 동안 너희는 나귀와 함께 여기에서 기다리고 있거라."
「6」 아브라함은 번제에 쓸 장작을 아들 이삭에게 지우고, 자신은 불과 칼을 챙긴 다음에, 두 사람은 함께 걸었다.
「7」 이삭이 그의 아버지 아브라함에게 말하였다. 그가 "아버지!" 하고 부르자, 아브라함이 "얘야, 왜 그러느냐?" 하고 대답하였다. 이삭이 물었다. "불과 장작은 여기에 있습니다마는, 번제로 바칠 어린 양은 어디에 있습니까?"
「8」 아브라함이 대답하였다. "얘야, 번제로 바칠 어린 양은 하나님이 손수 마련하여 주실 것이다." 두 사람이 함께 걸었다.
「9」 그들이, 하나님이 말씀하신 그 곳에 이르러서, 아브라함은 거기에 제단을 쌓고, 제단 위에 장작을 벌려 놓았다. 그런 다음에 제 자식 이삭을 묶어서, 제단 장작 위에 올려놓았다.
「10」 그는 손에 칼을 들고서, 아들을 잡으려고 하였다.
「11」 그 때에 주님의 천사가 하늘에서 "아브라함아, 아브라함아!" 하고 그를 불렀다. 아브라함이 대답하였다. "예, 여기 있습니다."
「12」 천사가 말하였다. "그 아이에게 손을 대지 말아라! 그 아이에게 아무 일도 하지 말아라! 네가 너의 아들, 너의 외아들까지도 나에게 아끼지 아니하니, 네가 하나님 두려워하는 줄을 내가 이제 알았다."
「13」 아브라함이 고개를 들고 살펴보니, 수풀 속에 숫양 한 마리가 있는데, 그 뿔이 수풀에 걸려 있었다. 가서 그 숫양을 잡아다가, 아들 대신에 그것으로 번제를 드렸다.
「14」 이런 일이 있었으므로, 아브라함이 그 곳 이름을 ①여호와이레라고 하였다. 오늘날까지도 사람들은 ②'주님의 산에서 준비될 것이다'는 말을 한다. ext goes here
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(Gn 32:26, NIV11) “Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.””
(창 32:26, 새번역) “그가, 날이 새려고 하니 놓아 달라고 하였지만, 야곱은 자기에게 축복해 주지 않으면 보내지 않겠다고 떼를 썼다.”
2. Live Notes / 설교 노트
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📖 Sermon Manuscript (English Version)
Wrestling with Relationship: Who Are You Wrestling With?
Genesis 22:1-14 & 32:22-32 | February 22, 2026
📌 Key Verse
"Then the man said, 'Let me go, for it is daybreak.' But Jacob replied, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.'" (Genesis 32:26, NIV)
Introduction — Between Silence and Wrestling (4 min)
Looking Back at Last Week
Last week, we stood before this message together:
"Only when I stand alone before God can I truly stay with others."
Many of you practiced this during the week. Ten minutes in the morning, sitting in silence before God.
But today, I came with one question: In that silent space, did you open your mouth?
Boston's Silence
Kendall Square, a research lab. A doctoral student is looking at experimental results. Three months of failure. He thinks: "Just push through. I can't give up. Just endure."
But in that silence, is there dialogue with God? "Lord, is this really my path?" These questions don't exist.
A young couple in Cambridge. They decide about their child's school. "Of course we should do this. We're Christian parents."
But did they really ask God? "Lord, is this truly Your will?"
Abraham's Silence
Abraham, whom we'll discuss today, was also alone. The three-day journey to Mount Moriah. Perfect mature isolation.
But — what was the outcome?
Isaac never met his father again in his lifetime. God never spoke to Abraham again after Moriah.
He stood alone before God. But something was missing.
What Is Wrestling?
What exactly does "wrestling with God" mean?
Prayer without wrestling:
"Lord, give me wisdom. Amen." → Then decides on his own.Prayer with wrestling:
"Lord, honestly, I don't know. Am I choosing safety because I'm afraid? Lord, please answer me. I'll wait until this weekend."
→ Then actually waits. Doesn't give up. Keeps wrestling.Wrestling is not giving up. It's not running to easy answers. It's being honest before God.
C-1. Three Days of Silence — The Danger of Obedience Without Communication (6 min)
[Live Note]
"Abraham did not [communicate] with God or his family. If mature isolation created a space to meet God [face to face], now [wrestling] must begin in that space."Genesis 22:3. Three days. He walked for three days.
He didn't tell Sarah. He didn't tell Isaac. And — he didn't wrestle with God.
Abraham Was Different with Sodom
Remember Sodom and Gomorrah? Abraham spoke boldly to God:
"What about 50 righteous? 45? 40? 30? 20? 10?"
He persuaded God six times.
But with his own son — he was silent.
Have you ever done this?
"Just do it." "Of course I should." "Just endure."In that — was there dialogue with God?
Mount Moriah in the 21st Century
Stones were thrown at a church building. It was the deacon's son.
What the child wrote through tears:
"The church took my dad away."That deacon was the most dedicated person. Sunday worship, dawn prayer, small group leadership. But during all that, the child ate dinner alone and fell asleep alone.
"This is what I should do. I'm serving God."
He didn't ask God. He didn't share with community. He just remained silent.
The result — the child threw stones.
This Is the Result of Obedience Without Communication
Abraham offered Isaac on the altar without wrestling with God. Result — Isaac left his father.
What are we placing on the altar without wrestling with God?
Mature isolation created space for wrestling. But if there's only space without wrestling, it's like Abraham's three days.
Being before God, but not being with God.
C-2. The Test of Relationship — What God Really Wanted (5 min)
[Live Note]
"God tested Abraham's [relationship], not his [obedience]. Not 'Is your son more precious than Me?' but 'Are you and I really [friends]?'"Genesis 22:1. "God tested Abraham."
What was He testing?
What God really wanted wasn't Isaac's death. He wanted a friend. Not a servant who follows orders, but a friend who consults together.
The Difference Between Servant and Friend
A good servant does what he's told. Without questions. Just says "yes."
A close friend challenges when confused. Protests when wronged. Speaks honestly when afraid. And — still walks together in the end.
What did Jesus say to His disciples?
"I no longer call you servants... Instead, I have called you friends" (John 15:15)
God calls us friends.
With-God Life
GodLife-relationship. A personal and mutual relationship with God.
In the Black church tradition, the important question isn't "Are you saved?" but:
"Do you know Him?"Faith in God isn't "Do I believe these things about God?"
"Can I accept that God loves me and has chosen me?"Matthew's Warning
Jesus said something shocking in Matthew 7:22:
"Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?"
But Jesus answers:
"I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!"Why were they cast out from His presence? Because they didn't "know" Him. Because they weren't in relationship with Him.
C-3. Biblical Models of Wrestling (5 min)
[Live Note]
"Obedience [after] wrestling is deeper. Jesus, Moses, Jacob — they [questioned], protested, and persuaded God. That is living [relationship]."Do you think wrestling is irreverent? Look at Scripture.
① Moses — Persuasion
When Israel made the golden calf, God said, "I will destroy this people."
Moses didn't back down. He persuaded God three times.
"Lord, what will the Egyptians say? For the sake of Your reputation, You cannot do this."
And God — changed His mind.
God likes to lose arguments. Because that wrestling itself is relationship.
② Jesus — Gethsemane
"My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39)
"Please take this cup away." This is refusal. This is protest. This is wrestling.
And after wrestling — "Yet not as I will, but as you will" came.
Abraham obeyed without wrestling. Jesus obeyed after wrestling.
Obedience after wrestling is deeper.
③ Jacob — All Night Long
Genesis 32. Jacob wrestled with God all night long.
"Let me go."
Jacob answered:
"I will not let you go unless you bless me."And God changed his name.
"Israel" = "One who wrestles with God"The name of God's people isn't "Ones who obey God."
"Ones who wrestle with God."C-4. Kingdom Community — A Community That Wrestles Together (3 min)
[Live Note]
"Abraham gave up both wrestling with God and communication with [community]. Kingdom Community is where both are [alive]. Prayer is not report submission but [advisor meeting]."Abraham gave up two things.
Wrestling with God. And communication with community.Result? Abraham returned alone. Isaac never saw his father again. God remained silent.
The Advisor Meeting
A Harvard student visits their advisor. "Professor, is this dissertation topic right?" Advisor and student dialogue. They wrestle. In the end, the dissertation is completed.
But what if the student submits the dissertation without any consultation? Is that an advisory relationship?
Has our prayer become report submission for too long?
An advisor meeting should be different. Sharing my thoughts, asking questions, challenging "Why is this like this?", waiting for the answer.
That is prayer. That is wrestling.
And sharing that wrestling within community — this is Kingdom Community.
C-5. Conclusion — Toward a Wrestling Life (2 min)
[Live Note]
"Wrestling isn't us trying to [grab hold] of God. Because God has already [grabbed hold] of us, we enter into that [relationship].""You did not choose me, but I chose you." (John 15:16)
Wrestling doesn't start with us. God first chose us. First grabbed hold of us.
What Abraham should have done — enter into that relationship. Through wrestling.
I Ask You
Is there a question you haven't brought to God lately?
Is there something you don't understand but just say "Amen" to?Bring it out.
God doesn't fear that wrestling. Rather, He's waiting for it.
Because wrestling is proof that the relationship is alive.
This Week's Three-Step Practice
① Write on Paper — Write the question you haven't asked God.
② Read Wrestling Scriptures — Read Psalm 22 or Jeremiah 20 aloud.
③ Share with Community — Share your wrestling with one person.
Especially for Parents
"The church took my dad away." Do you hear this child's cry?
The things you think "of course I should do" — children's education, ministry, career —
Are you taking them before God to wrestle?Don't remain silent. Wrestle.
Like Jacob
Can you say like Jacob?
"I will not let you go unless you bless me."
This is faith. This is wrestling. This is relationship.
Overall Key Sentence
"Only those who stand [face to face] with God alone can [communicate] with God. God sees [beyond] our obedience, looking at our [relationship]. Wrestling is not unbelief but proof that the relationship is [alive]."
Closing Prayer
[Live Note]
"Lord, let me not obey [without] wrestling, but [wrestle] with You to deepen our relationship. And [hold] me in that wrestling. Amen."Lord, we stand before this Word today.
Keep us from obeying in silence like Abraham, but make us those who wrestle with You like Jacob, Moses, and Jesus.
We know wrestling is not unbelief. Wrestling is proof that the relationship is alive.
Thank You that You first chose us. Help us fully enter into that relationship.
This week, help us take out a piece of paper and write the question we haven't asked God.
Hold us in that wrestling.Let our wrestling be shared within community.
Make us a Kingdom Community that wrestles together.We especially remember parents.
Place us before the child's cry: "The church took my dad away."Don't let us sacrifice the most precious relationships
in the name of ministry, success, or education.In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
3. Week Notes / 주중 노트
WEEK Notes is a devotional journal for reflecting on God's word throughout the week.
WEEK Notes는 말씀을 한 주 동안 붙잡고 살아내기 위한 짧은 묵상 노트입니다.