Today, our reading is in Genesis 32. In this chapter we see Jacob preparing to meet his brother Esau, and understandably Jacob is afraid of meeting with his brother.
Jacob was literally surrounded by the angels of the Lord, and yet he was afraid.
He clung to the promises of the Lord, reassuring himself in the knowledge that he is carrying out the instructions he was given, and yet he was afraid.
Jacob prepared, and sent his household out in an effort to win favor, and yet he was still afraid.
Then once Jacob was all alone, the angel of the Lord came and wrestled with him until daybreak.
But why?
Jacob was in a life-threatening predicament, and so scared that the presence of a heavenly host could not calm him, so why did the angel come to wrestle with him? Can you imagine losing an entire night of sleep wrestling with someone just before you have to meet your brother who likely intends to kill you?
But at daybreak, he was blessed. He walked the path the Lord had given him, and he was faithful. When the angel met him, he would not give up the struggle until he received his blessing, and as a reward he was named Israel, and from him came a nation that continues to this day.
It is often during the most difficult struggles, that the greatest blessings come.
So when we find ourselves in times that seem overwhelming and unimaginable, remember what Jacob did. He focused on the promises of the Lord, leaned on the comfort and wisdom granted to him, and never gave up until he received his blessing.
Contend for the faith, and never give up on the Lord's promises and blessings, as He will never give up on us!
Jacob calls the place of his vision, Mahanaim
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.
His message to Esau
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.
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.
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.
He prays for deliverance
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:
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.
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.
He sends a present to Esau
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.
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.
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.
Jacob wrestles with an angel at Peniel, where his name is changed to Isreal
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
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.
26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
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.
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.
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.
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Comments 7
It is astounding how time Jesus spent telling people "be not afraid". In the storm tossed sea, when a child died and there seemed no hope or even when he appeared after the resurrection. He would say things like, "she's not dead, she is only sleep". He could see things as they REALLY were and so often people can only analyze the circumstance for face value. There is more to our circumstance than we can see and the Lord has been speaking in sermon after sermon "don't be afraid, I've got this all under control...........just believe".
Thank you Cory, this is awesome and very encouraging. Jacob had so many strengths and what patience!
great job! It reminds me of a story Bro. Don told about when he owned Comfort Air in Visalia. Some contractor was going to sue him and Bro. Don was not a little concerned about it. He worried and prayed. It seemed like a "giant tidal wave" coming at him! but when all was said and when it got to him, it turned into a "little splash of water at his feet". Oh the workings of the Lord for His people are great!
Beautifully written!
I have had those sleepless nights where I am worried about what’s going to happen the next day. It would be way cooler to get to wrestle with an angel all night. Perfect way to tear down the flesh and act solely on faith!
Well said!...Contend for the Faith
Bro Cory,
What an inspiring devotional about learning to trust in the Lord despite our fears!