Note: When doing a study on a book in the Bible you use a lot of resources. The major influence for me on this study of Genesis is The Genesis Record by Henry Morris.
Genesis 32
We enter into chapter 32 and will see many new things in the life of Jacob. After the many experiences of Jacobs life including the lessons he learned at Labans Jacob is about to have a life changing experience with the Lord. He is coming to a crisis point in his life. God had to humble Jacob and break Jacob to make him realize who he truly was. Now we will see the results.
I believe if we could talk to Jacob he would let us know what is meant in
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every
son whom he receiveth.
1. And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This [is] God's host: and
he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
Mahanaim means "two camps". Jacob was freightened. He knew he had to deal with his brother. It had been twenty years and Jacob did not know what the reaction of his brother would be. So God sent some comfort. He sent his angels. "God's host".
3. 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.
Jacob is working up a scheme to try to appease Esau. He remembered how he deceived him before and he has no idea how to deal with this. We see that even though he was reassured by the angels he still tries to use his own power and wits. This will change in the end.
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.
So the servants did meet with Esau but Esau gave no idea about what his intentions were. So this is why we see the reaction of Jacob.
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.
So Jacob has a two part plan to talk to Esau. First was this. Divide the flocks and servants into two. If one was attacked maybe the other would escape. He was covering his self. Now lets look at Jacobs second part of his plan.
9. And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my
father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy
country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:
Notice his greeting to God. He is the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac still there is no relationship. Sure he believes but only through his family. Some people rely on the salvation of their parents and friends but it will not do them any good until they themselves come to know the Lord. Till they have a crisis experience. This will change soon. Soon this God will be his.
10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all
the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my
staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
Finally a confession. Oh do we need a confession. He admits that he was wrong and in sin. This is the first mention of him sinning. This is what it takes. Remember Jesus said he came to save the lost not the ones who were not lost.
11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from
the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me,
[and] the mother with the children.
12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy
seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for
multitude.
Jacob remined God of what he had promised him. He had a purpose for Jacob. He asks for deliverence.
13. And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which
came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;
14 Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred
ewes, and twenty rams,
15 Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten
bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.
16 And he delivered [them] into the hand of his servants, every
drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before
me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.
Why do you think he did this?
Jacob still dosen't want to take any chances. Maybe he thinks he needs to help God out. Maybe he don't fully trust the Lord. For some reason he sent this to Esau.
17 And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother
meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose [art] thou? and
whither goest thou? and whose [are] these before thee?
18 Then thou shalt say, [They be] thy servant Jacob's; it [is]
a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he [is]
behind us.
19 And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that
followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto
Esau, when ye find him.
20 And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob [is] behind
us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth
before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he
will accept of me.
Stradegy: Send out each camp. The first one to greet Esau is to introduce himself a a servant of Jacob who is Esaus servant. Here is a peace offering. Three times would this happen until Esau God the idea.
21 So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that
night in the company.
22 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.
23 And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent
over that he had.
24. And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him
until the breaking of the day.
The first question is who was this angel? Here we see the wrestling match. Jacob wrestles with God.
25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he
touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh
was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
Why do you think that he did this? that is touch the hollow of his thigh?
26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I
will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
Holding on until God blesses him. This is what we need to do.
27 And he said unto him, What [is] thy name? And he said,
Jacob.
28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but
Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men,
and hast prevailed.
Jacob-deceitful one has been renamed to Israel-one who strives or prevails with God
29 And Jacob asked [him], and said, Tell [me], I pray thee, thy
name. And he said, Wherefore [is] it [that] thou dost ask after
my name? And he blessed him there.
30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have
seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
Peniel-face to face with God
Why did Jacob prevail when he saw God face to face? He seachered for God and did not give up until he was closer with the Lord.
31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he
halted upon his thigh.
32 Therefore the children of Israel eat not [of] the sinew
which shrank, which [is] upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this
day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew
that shrank.
The Lord left him with a mark.
