Genesis Chapter 32
Jacob received reassurance of God’s presence as he set out with a massive caravan of his family and herds to journey back to the land that God had promised to him. We learn from reading scripture that there are angels all around us, but we cannot see them. Jacob had the unique experience of actually seeing angels as he set out on his journey. Even though armed with the knowledge that he was protected by angels, Jacob was extremely afraid of his twin brother Esau. Afterall Esau had vowed to kill his brother because he had stolen from him not only the birthright but the family blessing.
Jacob, like so many of us Christians we pray and ask God to direct our path but as soon as we are done praying, we begin to devise our own plans and solutions. I have been guilty of this myself. It is easy to judge the faith of Jacob who had just been given the honor of seeing angels and then went into panic mode as he thought of the hatred his brother had for him. We ourselves may not see visible angels but we have the Holy Spirit residing in us all the time. He never leaves us. We just often choose to ignore Him.
Let's Reflect
1. As you read through the scriptures, I hope you begin to see the value God places on creating memorials. He wants us to make memorials or write down the things that God did for us on a special occasion so that we do not forget. We can look back on those memorials when we are discouraged, and it will encourage our faith. What did Jacob name the place as a memorial to the visitation of angels?
2. Jacob knew he was going to pass through the land where his brother Esau lived. He began planning how he might appease his brother. His servants were told to tell him about his many herds that he had accumulated so that Esau might know that Jacob would not be taking anything from him. What message did he tell his servants to tell Esau?
3. I don’t think that Jacob got the response that he was hoping for. What message from Esau did they deliver to Jacob?
4. What was Jacob’s response to this message?
5. In verses 9-12 we read the prayer of Jacob which came after he had taken matters into his own hands. What did he ask God to do for him and what did he remind God about?
6. After praying Jacob went right back to his own planning. We might think that God gave him the idea to send the droves of animals to Esau (as we often justify the brilliant ideas we calculate), but the rest of the chapter tells a different story. Did Jacob lead the caravans of gifts for his brother, or did he stay behind?
7. Jacob still had to learn that he needed to trust God. And so, God Himself came in human form in the middle of the night and wrestled with Jacob. Bible scholars believe that this was not just another angel, but it was the angel, Jesus. Jacob himself realized who he was wrestling with even though he asked for His name. What was the reason Jacob named the place Peniel (or Penuel)?
8. When all strength had left Jacob during this wrestling match, Jacob clung on to the man and would not let go of him. What did Jacob ask him to do before he would let go of him?
9. God asked Jacob to say his own name out loud. Jacob had lived a life of deceiving his brother Esau, but it was time to put the past behind him and to move forward with God’s plan. God would be the leader of Jacob’s life now and so God gave him a new name. What was it?
