Jacob: Wrestling with God

1Jacob Prepares to Face Up to His Past

• Just having endured the chase from behind him, Jacob now prepares for the doom that he is sure awaits in front of him
• Jacob prepares to “butter up” Esau 32:3-6
  • Jacob is beginning to show a or
  • When the messengers return, their reply is eerie
  • No message from Esau
  • Only a listing of what was coming
• Jacob prepares for the blow in “fear and distress” 32:7-8
  • Even though Jacob was afraid, he acts to make sure that he at least saves something if Esau should attack
  • By splitting his party in 2 groups, Jacob assured that at least one group would get a head start in the other direction

2Jacob Invokes the Presence of God

• Jacob boldly requests from God based on God’s promise to keep him safe 32:9-12
  • Jacob refers to God as “God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac…”
  • This type of formal speech is not typical

  • Why do you think Jacob uses this kind of speech?

  • Note Jacob’s gall in how he reminded God that his present predicament was because he was obeying God’s command in the first place.
  • Jacob also recounted God’s to him in his prayer
  • He takes a humble seat to God’s generosity in his life
  • He is “unworthy” of God’s kindness
  • But note: He is afraid that he will not get to enjoy these things if he should die a sudden and horrible death…so…
  • He requests help – “Save me, I pray…”
  • He has no idea of Esau’s intentions – only of his strength of numbers
  • He has no hope of surviving Esau’s onslaught of rage
  • He has no where to turn but to the promise of God

3Jacob’s Plan: Buy off His Brother’s Rage

• Jacob comes up with a plan to appeal to his brother’s wallet 32:13-21
  • He will send a series of for Esau. Why?
  • The bottom line was that he hoped would appease his brother’s wrath
• A Question of Character:

  • Was Jacob a man of fear?

  • Was Jacob a man of faith?

  • Was Jacob a man of doubt?

  • Was Jacob all the above?

  • Jacob sends all his loved possessions and people in his life over the river and waited for the dawn (32:22-24) – “…and Jacob was left alone…”

4Jacob Wrestles with “A Man”

• Jacob is assaulted by an unidentifiable male and has to fight for his life 32:24-26

  • Note the mention of the dawn: Why?

  • Why did the man need to leave at dawn?

  • The man touches Jacob’s hip and dislocates it
  • This gives the reader an idea that this man is supernatural
  • This only makes Jacob more determined to fight
  • Jacob will not let go until he received a blessing
  • Note how Jacob is constantly in a battle for blessings
  • The angel asks Jacob his name
  • Remember: יַעֲק(yacov) is a name
  • By divulging his name, Jacob is also divulging his character
  • Jacob is admitting that he is a deceiver, a swindler, a cheat
  • The angel changes Jacob’s name
  • With a new name comes a new future – a new destiny
  • Jacob is given a new name: יִשְׂרָאֵל (Israel – “El fights”)
  • Jacob’s new name is not merely an honorable gesture, it is itself a valuable blessing
  • “Whenever Jacob’s descendents would hear this name or use it to describe themselves, they were reminded of its origin and of its meaning…”
  • “That as their father had triumphed in his struggle with men (IE: Esau and Laban) and with God, so they too could eventually hope to triumph.”
  • -G. Wenham
• The man is identified as “God” 32:28-32
  • “Penuel” sounds like “ of God” in Hebrew
  • Jacob was most taken by the fact that he saw the face of God and lived
  • The rising of the sun (v.31) indicates the dawn of a new era in Jacob’s life
  • But he will always have that to remind him
  • His people will always have the tradition of not eating the sciatic nerve to remind them of the nation’s election

5The New Man; “Israel”, vs. His Past; Esau

• Look at the ominous writing of 33:1
• Jacob raised his eyes and saw…

6There was Esau…

• Coming with 400 men…
• Jacob prepares to salvage the most important to the least important 33:2-3
  • Those that he loved most would stand the best chance to escape

  • Note: Who was in the very front? Does this indicate a changed man?

• Jacob greeted Esau with great 33:4
• Esau is a changed man 33:4
  • Note: “running”, “embracing”, “kissing”, falling “on the neck”
  • There was a mutual change that had occurred over time: “They” wept

  • How does this picture image our relationship with God?

• Jacob offers Esau great 33:5-7
• Jacob offers Esau great 33:8-11
• Esau responds with great 33:12-15
  • Esau invites Jacob to come home with him

  • Jacob refused Esau’s kindness: Why?

  • Conclusion
  • Jacob and Esau are once again on terms
• Jacob is still very even though he has given away many belongings 33:16-19
• Jacob is a new – very much aware of God’s protection that He promised so long ago 33:20
  • The God who he had met at Bethel has been his protector and guide
  • The God who fulfilled His promises was worthy of being worshipped
  • The God who he had mocked with his life, was now the God of his life
  • Jacob finally realized God’s hand was at work all along
  • Jacob finally realized the scope of God’s forgiveness and mercy – He is meant like us, to marvel at the mercy and grace of God
  • The day I left Home, 
I knew I'd broken His heart 
I wondered if 
Things would ever be the same,
  • Then one night, 
I remembered His love for me 
And down that dusty road, ahead I could see 
It was the only time, 
the only time I ever saw Him run
  • Was when He ran to me, 
Took me in His arms, held my head to His chest 
And said "My son's come home again". 
Looked in my face, wiped the tears from my eyes 
With forgiveness in His voice 
He said "Son, do you know I still love you?"
  • It caught me by surprise, It dropped me to my knees 
When God ran

7-Phillips, Craig & Dean, “When God Ran”