Bible Study - The Wound
"In the heart of everyman is the desperate desire for a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue."
The Question that Haunts Every Man
“The tragedy of life is what dies in a man while he lives.” - Albert Schweitzer
The question that haunts every man: do we have what it takes? Am I powerful? (Important, valued, meaningful)
- Without a great battle in which a man can live and die, the fierce part of his nature goes underground and sort of simmers there in a sullen anger that seems to have no reason.…
- every man’s deepest fear: to be exposed, to be found out, to be discovered as an imposter, and not really a man. “I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid” – Adam, Genesis 3:10
The Wound
Do I have what it takes? Am I a man?
- Masculinity is bestowed by father (In the Bible: blessing, name)
- Even Jesus needed to hear words of affirmation from his father.
"You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." Luke 3:22
- Femininity can not bestow masculinity but can emasculate (over protection, names, etc.)
- Father must actively intervene; mother must let go.
- Father needs to engage; if not, we end up with a father wound
- Every man has a wound because every father is a son of Adam (Your father wasn’t Jesus)
- Not necessarily one day (subtle messages over time)
- Wounds causes a lie
- The lie leads to a vow which leads to a false self
(Father never affirms; Vow: I will get his affirmation; False self: overdriven, perfectionist) - False self is usually either violent (driven) or passive (retreat man) or both
Bible Verse
Genesis 27:1-41 Jacob and Esau (emphasizing below verses)
- Verse 34: When Esau heard his father's words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, "Bless me—me too, my father!"
- Verse 36: …"Haven't you reserved any blessing for me?"
- Verse 38: Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!" Then Esau wept aloud.
- Verse 41: Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob."
Study Questions
Review
- Describe Esau? Describe Jacob?
- What is the difference between the two blessings?
- Why was the blessing so important to Esau? Is your father’s approval important to you?
- How did these events impact Esau negatively? How did they impact Jacob negatively? (further reading)
- How has your father’s blessing (encouragement, pride) impacted you? What experience with your father stands out?
- How do you think you have you impacted your son(s) lives?
Next Week: Continue discussion with question #6 and relevant Bible Study
Next Topic: The solution to the father wound. Hint: Galatians 4:4-7
