SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 32
BIBLE VERSES:
“Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’” (Genesis 32:11-12)
“ Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” (Genesis 32:2
JACOB PREPARES TO MEET ESAU (vs. 1-21)
Jacob went on his way and the angels of God met him. He named that place Mahanaim – the camp of God. Jacob sent messenger ahead of him to Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. He told his messenger to tell Esau that he is returning with his cattle, donkey, sheep, goats menservants and maidservants from Laban’s place and wish that Esau will find favor with him. The messengers returned and told Jacob that Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men.
In great fear, Jacob divided his people into two groups so that in case Esau attacked, there was a group left to escape. Jacob prayed to the Lord to save him from the hand of his brother Esau. Then he selected gifts for Esau as follows: 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes and 20 rams, 30 female camels with their young, 40 cows and 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys and 10 male donkeys. He instructed his servants in the lead to tell Esau that those were Jacob’s gifts to him.
JACOB WRESTLES WITH GOD (vs. 22-32)
Jacob took his 2 wives , 2 maidservants and 10 sons crossed the ford of the Jabbok. While he was left alone, a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, the man touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched. Then the man wanted to go but Jacob retain him unless he would bless him. The man said: “Your name will no longer be Jacob but Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome. The man blessed Jacob. Jacob called the place Paniel meaning “It is because I saw God face to face and yet my life was spared” (v. 30). Jacob was limping because of his hip. to this day, the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip because the socket of Jacobs hip was touched near the tendon (v. 32)
THOUGHTS:
Jacob failed to put his faith in God. He started to trust his own schemes by preparing gifts for Esau and diving his company into 2 camps ignoring the protection of God. Many times, believers also forget that God is in control of everything. They claim they are walking in God’s will but they also take their own ways in carnal confidence.
Jacob wrestled with God. He refused to surrender. But God weakened him by touching the socket of his hip so that his hip was wrenched and he was limping. After he had been broken by God, he received the blessings and God gave him a new name Israel – meaning prince with God or a God governed man”. Before we receive blessings from God, we have to be broken first.