Old Testament - Genesis 32 - March 4, 2022

3/4/2022 – Genesis 32

Jacob is on his journey home after 20 years. What an amazing blessing he had --to be accompanied by angels. (v 1) Even with that company, he worries about coming back to live near his brother Esau, for there had been so much anger between the two when Jacob left so long ago. V 3 tells us that “Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau…” He told them to tell Esau that for the past 20 years, he has been with Laban, but now he is returning—and he is returning with oxen and asses and flocks and menservants and women servants, AND that he hopes “that I may find grace in thy sight”. (v 5) 

These messengers returned to Jacob with the news that Esau was coming, and he was coming with 400 men. (v 6) Jacob thought the worst. He divided his people and his wealth of animals with the thought that “If Esau come to the one company, and smit it, then the other company which is left shall escape.” (v 8). Jacob has been accompanied by angels, and yet he still has worries and deep concerns—but he makes preparations to protect as many of his people as he can.  And then he prays: he reminds the Lord that he had been instructed to return to his home country; he speaks with great humility instead of accusing the Lord of bringing him from a bad situation into a worse situation; he pleads for the Lord’s deliverance; and he remains right where he is and waits for Esau to come with his 400 men.  He then gathers presents of hundreds of goats and rams and camels and had his servants take these gifts to Esau as he is coming toward Jacob’s group—warning Esau that Jacob is coming and hopes that: “afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.” (v 20)

Jacob then takes Leah and Rachel and his sons and a few servants and secrets them in a safe place. (v22). If we follow Jacob’s example, then when we are faced with difficulties, we, too, should earnestly pray for help and then do what we can to overcome those difficulties. 

That’s just what Jacob did, and then he retreated to a private place where he is visited once again by an angel.  All night he “wrestled” with that angel, and then as the dawn began and the angel was going to leave, Jacob pleaded with him—he WRESTLED with him—until the angel blessed him.  When we seek help from the Lord, our efforts must be more than getting on our knees and saying a few sentences and then going on, leaving it all up to the Lord. When we ask for His help, we should also continue doing ALL we can to come closer to Him and to do those things that will help us out of our own difficulties. We need to persist in earnest prayer, and in doing that we can receive assurance that Heavenly Father will grant us the blessings we have sought for. I think the principle is this:                                                              WE WILL PREVAIL WITH GOD AS WE MAKE AND KEEP SACRED COVENANTS. 

Before the angel left, he gave Jacob a new name: Israel. “Israel” means “he perseveres, or prevails, with God”.  And the angel also gave Jacob a blessing, and he “touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh” which means a covenant was made. It sounds to me that Jacob was once again receiving temple blessings. 

 

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