Jim Parker
Member
Bible 101 Lesson 6B
Gen 32:13-21
Jacob decided to help God by sending four separate gifts ahead, 200 female and 20 male goats, 200 sheep and 20 rams, 30 milk camels and their offspring, 40 cows with 10 bulls. These would be the equivalent of investments today. Those small herds could be the beginning of flocks and herds numbering in the thousands. These were excellent gifts.
He sent them ahead with some distance between them so that, when Esau had received the first gift and saw that it was good he would be surprised to see a second gift coming and then a third and then a fourth. Jacob was trying to soften up Esau so that he would be glad to see Jacob and receive him back as his brother.
He instructed his servants to address Esau as lord (not “Lord” as in “God” but, “lord” as in master.”) and to refer to Jacob as Esau’s “servant.” He does this to tell Esau that he recognizes Esau as the older brother and the head of the family after Isaac. This way, he dispels any question of rivalry between them.
Meanwhile, Jacob remained with the rest of his people and herds planning to follow the next day.
Topic for discussion:
Jacob made a huge effort to placate his brother for the wrong that he had done to him. He did it because he remembered that, when he left to stay with Laban, Esau was planning to kill him when their father, Isaac, died. He was also afraid that Esau still had the same intentions because Esau was bringing 400 men to meet him. Why would he need 400 men except to kill Jacob, his wives and his children?
There is a New Testament teaching on this kind of situation.
Do you think Jacob was inspired by God to send all those gifts ahead to placate Esau’s wrath or was he just being cunning as usual? Maybe God used Jacob’s personality (“Tricky Jake”) to achieve His eternal purposes in Jacob.
Jacob “wrestles with God.” (And wins!) Well, sort of….. The passage is not too very clear as to exactly what is going on.
So Jacob sent everybody across the creek and he stayed behind by himself. Why?
Gen 32:24b-28 …and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.
And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”
But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
So He said to him, “What is your name?”
He said, “Jacob.”
And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
Comments:
1. In the NKJV, whenever the man with whom Jacob wrestled is mentioned, the word is capitalized. (Man and He) That is an indication by the translators that they understand “the Man” to be God, or more precisely, the “Angel of the Lord” who is considered to be the pre-incarnate Son of God.
2. Why could not the Angel of the Lord prevail against Jacob? My Orthodox Study Bible’s footnote suggests that this is a reference to Jesus Who, though being God, will come in weakness as a man and allow himself to be bound, beaten, spit upon, and crucified.
3. If it is the Angel of the Lord, He certainly already knows Jacob’s name but He wants Jacob to say it out loud. The name “Jacob” means, “supplanter.” A supplanter takes over or takes the place of someone else, usually on purpose. That’s what Jacob did; he took his brother’s place of firstborn. It is not a name to be especially proud of.
4. The “Man” renames Jacob, “Israel.” That name means “Prince from God.” That’s MUCH better. The name change marks a life change for Jacob. He changes from being a cunning and conniving self-centered person to being God’s personal, human, representative. That’s a BIG promotion!
5. Jacob struggled with God in prayer and he struggled with men by his wits. He succeeded in both struggles.
The word “Peniel” means “Face of God” so this event was a personal encounter with God.
That the encounter was a wrestling match reflects Jacob’s life experience up to this point. Everything he had accomplished had been a struggle with someone who didn’t want him to have the things he wanted.
But wait! There's MORE! There's more lesson 6 to come! Stay tuned.
Gen 32:13-21
Jacob decided to help God by sending four separate gifts ahead, 200 female and 20 male goats, 200 sheep and 20 rams, 30 milk camels and their offspring, 40 cows with 10 bulls. These would be the equivalent of investments today. Those small herds could be the beginning of flocks and herds numbering in the thousands. These were excellent gifts.
He sent them ahead with some distance between them so that, when Esau had received the first gift and saw that it was good he would be surprised to see a second gift coming and then a third and then a fourth. Jacob was trying to soften up Esau so that he would be glad to see Jacob and receive him back as his brother.
He instructed his servants to address Esau as lord (not “Lord” as in “God” but, “lord” as in master.”) and to refer to Jacob as Esau’s “servant.” He does this to tell Esau that he recognizes Esau as the older brother and the head of the family after Isaac. This way, he dispels any question of rivalry between them.
Meanwhile, Jacob remained with the rest of his people and herds planning to follow the next day.
Topic for discussion:
Jacob made a huge effort to placate his brother for the wrong that he had done to him. He did it because he remembered that, when he left to stay with Laban, Esau was planning to kill him when their father, Isaac, died. He was also afraid that Esau still had the same intentions because Esau was bringing 400 men to meet him. Why would he need 400 men except to kill Jacob, his wives and his children?
There is a New Testament teaching on this kind of situation.
Mat 5:23-24 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way.
First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way.
First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Do you think Jacob was inspired by God to send all those gifts ahead to placate Esau’s wrath or was he just being cunning as usual? Maybe God used Jacob’s personality (“Tricky Jake”) to achieve His eternal purposes in Jacob.
Jacob “wrestles with God.” (And wins!) Well, sort of….. The passage is not too very clear as to exactly what is going on.
Gen 32:22-24a And he arose that night and took his two wives,
his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok.
He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had.
Then Jacob was left alone;
his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok.
He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had.
Then Jacob was left alone;
So Jacob sent everybody across the creek and he stayed behind by himself. Why?
Gen 32:24b-28 …and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.
And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”
But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
So He said to him, “What is your name?”
He said, “Jacob.”
And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
Comments:
1. In the NKJV, whenever the man with whom Jacob wrestled is mentioned, the word is capitalized. (Man and He) That is an indication by the translators that they understand “the Man” to be God, or more precisely, the “Angel of the Lord” who is considered to be the pre-incarnate Son of God.
2. Why could not the Angel of the Lord prevail against Jacob? My Orthodox Study Bible’s footnote suggests that this is a reference to Jesus Who, though being God, will come in weakness as a man and allow himself to be bound, beaten, spit upon, and crucified.
3. If it is the Angel of the Lord, He certainly already knows Jacob’s name but He wants Jacob to say it out loud. The name “Jacob” means, “supplanter.” A supplanter takes over or takes the place of someone else, usually on purpose. That’s what Jacob did; he took his brother’s place of firstborn. It is not a name to be especially proud of.
4. The “Man” renames Jacob, “Israel.” That name means “Prince from God.” That’s MUCH better. The name change marks a life change for Jacob. He changes from being a cunning and conniving self-centered person to being God’s personal, human, representative. That’s a BIG promotion!
5. Jacob struggled with God in prayer and he struggled with men by his wits. He succeeded in both struggles.
Gen 32:30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel:
“For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
“For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
The word “Peniel” means “Face of God” so this event was a personal encounter with God.
That the encounter was a wrestling match reflects Jacob’s life experience up to this point. Everything he had accomplished had been a struggle with someone who didn’t want him to have the things he wanted.
But wait! There's MORE! There's more lesson 6 to come! Stay tuned.