- A lack of faith
- Praying and acting in a ministry of reconciliation
(Genesis 32:21)
So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.
- The mention of "in the company is a sign that he may have had his own tent previously, but wanted to "blend in"
(Genesis 32:22)
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.
- No images available directly, but the Yarmouk/Yarmooch River cuts through it and it has steep sides
- This was a natural barrier between the two, to slow Esau down if he had ever attacked but God is on control anyways Jabbok means "wrestler"
(Genesis 32:23)
And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.
- The last to cross over is Jacob, out of fear of Esau
- He must have been so scared that God had to once again meet with him and comfort him
- Once across, there would be no route for retreating. Total commitment.
The struggle with Laban was outside of the Promised Land; with Esau it was within it
- The same struggle is within us, as the world and the flesh.
Jacob's mother never apparently sent for him when "Esau's wrath turned away", so he is going blind, because Esau said he would kill Jacob.
- He stole Esau's birthright
- He stole Esau's blessing from Isaac
- Esau could amass an army by now, after all of this time
- Now it is just Jacob and God
(Genesis 27:41)
And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.
(Genesis 27:45)
Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one
day?
(Genesis 32:24)
And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
- He forgot the visit from the angels
- Verses 9-12 is his prayer of faith, fear, humility
- This is a pre-incarnate Christ, not just any man
(Genesis 32:25)
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.
- Perhaps this signifies that he will also prevail in gaining the favor he seeks with Esau
- He already has favor with the LORD, and has prevailed in his wrestling with the LORD
- We wrestle when we pray, and when we wrestle in prayer, we always win in the end
- This is by divine design, God desiring us to pray, letting us win
- We can't defeat God, nor move His Hand, but we can win over the struggle when God is with us
(Genesis 32:26)
And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
- Who does not want a blessing from God, especially after so long wrestling with the issue?
(Genesis 32:27)
And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
(Genesis 32:28)
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.
- Israel means "Prince of God" or "One who fights with God victoriously," or "Prevailer"
- Israel means a great nation blessed of God, in favor with God, a powerful nation with land, people, through whom all of the promises to Abraham and Isaac came
- It means that today also
(Genesis 32:29)
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.
- Jesus Christ is not to be named until His time.
- No one got the real name then at that time
(Judges 13:18)
And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?
(Genesis 32:30)
And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
- Peniel means "the face of God"
- Jacob knows that seeing God the Father would be death
- This shows that this was no ordinary angel, but is none other than God the Son, Jesus Christ
(Exodus 33:20)
And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
(Job 19:26)
And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
(1 Timothy 6:16)
Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man
hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
(Matthew 5:8)
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
(John 1:18)
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he
hath declared him.
(1 John 4:12)
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is
perfected in us.
(Genesis 32:31)
And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.
- Meeting with God always means a sun rise. And a Son Rise
- 2 Peter 1:19 is the perfect verse for this
- The "halting on his thigh" may be a way to keep Jacob humble before God and Esau who he is about to encounter
(2 Peter 1:19)
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
(2 Corinthians 12:7-9)
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
(Genesis 32:32)
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.
- A tradition held still today, called eating "The twisted nerve", which they call gid hanasheh, or the sciatic nerve, and so today still it cannot be eaten and is removed by the butchering process called nikkur
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Genesis Chapter 33