Scars tell a story...

• Scars are tended wounds that healed. No pain in scars.
• Untended wounds infect areas around it. This is also true in the spiritual realm.
• Untended identity wounds impact you and everyone around you.

What do we learn from the story of Esau & Jacob about scars?

 Untended wounds in your identity will trip you up. Jacob was a wounded soul, growing up in a family where his brother Esau was his father’s favorite because he was a man’s man. Genesis 25:27-28.

• Until you wrestle with God around your identity, you will continue to hurt others. Jacob felt unworthy of his father’s love and his identity as a man suffered as a result.  He used manipulation to get what he wanted in life from family members. He bargained for Esau’s birthright as the oldest. Genesis 25:29-34.  Later he lied to get his father’s blessing, pretending to be his brother Esau to his blind father. Genesis 27.
• Wrestling with God results in a new identity. Jacob wrestled with God and God changed his name from Jacob meaning deceiver and manipulator to Israel which means one who struggles with God. Genesis 32:22-32.
• God wants you to fight and has promised to be with you. In Ephesians 6:10-14, we are told to put on the full armor of God. Verses 10-11: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”