Genesis 32

When God writes our story, each day is a new chapter. Whatever happened yesterday, happened yesterday. Whether yesterday was characterized by failure or success, it is over. Every day needs to be infused with fresh faith.

In Genesis 32, Jacob is making his way back home, having been away for twenty years. He left Canaan with nothing. Now, he is a husband, father of a large family, and a wealthy man. Jacob and his father-in-law had a difficult meeting, but that tense conversation, settled by a covenant, was yesterday. Today, there is another battle to face.

Genesis 32:1-2
Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. ² And when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

The expression “the angels of God” appears twice in the Old Testament.  Interestingly, “the angels of God” met Jacob twenty years ago as he fled Canaan (Gen. 28:12), and now they visit again on his return trip home. There are many similarities between these two meetings.[1] Jacob names the camp Mahanaim, meaning “two camps.” The name signifies that heaven and earth have met. Jacob’s camp and God’s camp are set next to each other.

Two decades earlier Jacob tricked his father, Isaac, into giving him the blessing of the firstborn that rightfully belonged to Esau. Esau, of course, was furious and threatened to kill his younger brother. Jacob had to run for his life. Now, as Jacob sets out from Paddan-aram, he isn’t sure if Esau is still holding a grudge against him, so he sends messengers to his brother “in the land of Seir, the country of Edom,” offering Esau generous gifts and seeking his favor. The messengers return with startling news. “[Esau] is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him” (Gen. 32:6). The Hebrew word “coming” (holek) pictures someone approaching rapidly. The four hundred men with Esau certainly gave the impression that this was going to be a hostile reunion. Jacob was “greatly afraid and distressed” (Gen. 32:7). To prepare for this confrontation, Jacob strategically divided those with him into two camps, believing that when one camp was attacked, the other could escape. The word used for “escape” often refers to refugees from war. Jacob is expecting a battle, and he was outnumbered and vulnerable. There was only one thing he could do. Jacob prayed.

Jacob’s prayer in Genesis 32:9-12 is a model prayer. First, Jacob exalts God as the God of his fathers (“O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac…). Second, he acknowledges that God is intimately involved in his circumstances. Jacob addresses God as Yahweh, the One who spoke personally with him. Third, he reminded God of his promises (Gen. 31:3, 11-13). Fourth, Jacob humbly said that he was not worthy of God’s goodness and faithfulness to him. He left home with only a walking stick, and now God has blessed him with a family and many possessions.  Fifth, Jacob asks God for help in delivering him from Esau. He is afraid of his brother and what he might do. Jacob recognizes that he and his family are defenseless.  Sixth, he expresses his fear and need for God. Finally, he ends by remembering God’s promise to protect and bless him (Gen. 28:13-15).

This prayer is based on God’s promises, communicates specific requests, demonstrates humility and transparency, and is acknowledging a dependance on God. And…notice that after Jacob prayed, he did not go take a nap. He went to work. Prayer is the basis for fresh faith. Action energizes fresh faith.

Jacob devised a plan for a series of groups, each one in turn, presenting Esau with gifts. He hoped this would appease his brother. You can read about this plan in Genesis 32:13-21. While the waves of gifts were making their way to Esau, Jacob took his family with some of his possessions and sent them across the Jabbok River. This river flows west, emptying into the Jordan River about fifteen miles north of the Dead Sea. For whatever reason, Jacob didn’t cross over. He stayed alone. And that night, he had a surprise visitor.

This divine encounter is a very significant story in Scripture. Before Jacob entered the promised land, God met him, wrestled with him, and gave him a new name.

Genesis 32:24-25
And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. ²⁵ When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.

Jacob was alone in the darkness of night and in the darkness of his soul. He was afraid and anxious about what the next day would bring. Then, there was a physical presence with him. While we know now that this was no ordinary meeting, Jacob is startled by the appearance of a man. It seems that the man initiated the physical engagement. We don’t know how long the struggle lasted; we just know that it started at some point during the night and didn’t conclude until daybreak. Earlier, we saw Jacob’s physical strength when he lifted a rock from the covering of a well that normally took several men (Gen. 29:10). In this encounter, Jacob demonstrated his strength again. The man realized that he could not defeat Jacob, so in a supernatural way, he touched his opponent’s hip socket, and “Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.”

Genesis 32:26-28
Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” ²⁷ And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” ²⁸ Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

Jacob realized that he was wrestling with God, who had appeared in human form. He refused to let go until he received God’s blessing. While this wrestling match happened in real life, it is a great picture of wrestling with God in prayer. Before God gave a blessing, he required Jacob to tell his name. Remember, Jacob’s name means “one who grabs the heel” and had described Jacob’s life of deception. When Jacob stated his name, he was describing his character. But God was writing a new story for Jacob. He changed his name from Jacob (deceiver) to Israel.

The name Israel means “God fights.” Some have interpreted the name to mean “He fights with God.”  Could God have intended for both meanings to be true? Throughout the nation of Israel’s history, they would remember Jacob’s encounter with God as the origin of their name. Their relationship with God would be a struggle, and they always knew that God was on their side, fighting for them.[2] Today, we know the same to be true. The believer will always struggle with God. Check out the apostle Paul’s description of this in Romans 7. We will consider this in depth when we study Romans together. So, we know that we will struggle with God, and we know that God will also fight for us. What an amazing truth! God is always on our side!

Jacob called this place Peniel, which means “face of God,” to remember where he had wrestled with God and God had changed his name. It was commonly understood that if you saw God face to face, you would die (Exod. 19:21; 24:10; Judges 6:11, 22). Jacob has seen God and survived. The NET Bible notes that the name may have a double meaning. “On the surface Jacob seems to be saying that he saw God and lived. But . . . considering his prayer for deliverance in v. 11, Jacob recognizes that he has endured his encounter with God and his safety has now been guaranteed.”^[3]

When the sun rose, Jacob was a new man. He had a new name, and a new limp to remind him with each step that God was walking with him and would fight for him.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Genesis 32. As you read this chapter, put yourself in Jacob’s sandals. Imagine his fear as he thinks about confronting Esau. Imagine his aloneness and the darkness of the night when God comes, and they have a very personal encounter. Think of how he accepted his new name. And don’t forget his limp, a lifelong physical reminder of his face-to-face time with God.

Talking to God
Tell God about your fears, the dark night of your soul, the things you dread. Read Colossians 4:12 about Epaphras “wrestling in prayer” for the believers. Ask God to give you the strength to continue to wrestle in prayer for your children (grandchildren).

Have Questions?
I didn’t get to Genesis 32:32 today. If you have questions about that or any other questions, we have a great team who is ready to engage with you as you read and reflect on God’s Word. Simply submit your question below, and we’ll get back to you soon.

[1] The Hebrew p̱āga‘ with ḇe occurs in 28:11 (“reached”) and in 32:1 (“met”). Zeh (“this”) is used four times in 28:16–17 and is an important reference in Jacob’s response in 32:2. (Cf., e.g., “This is the gate of heaven,” 28:17, with This is the camp of God! 32:2) In both cases Jacob interpreted what he had seen before naming it (28:17; 32:2), and in Hebrew the identical expression is used in the naming of both places (28:19; 32:2). And finally hālak and derek (“to go on one’s way,” i.e., “to take a journey”) are used in 28:20 and 32:1.  Allen P. Ross, “Genesis,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 79.

[2] The NET Bible notes— “The name Israel is a common construction, using a verb with a theophoric element (אֵל, ’el) that usually indicates the subject of the verb. Here it means “God fights.” This name will replace the name Jacob; it will be both a promise and a call for faith. In essence, the Lord was saying that Jacob would have victory and receive the promises because God would fight for him. You have fought. The explanation of the name Israel includes a sound play. In Hebrew the verb translated “you have fought” (שָׂרִיתָ, sarita) sounds like the name “Israel” (יִשְׂרָאֵל, yisra’el), meaning “God fights” (although some interpret the meaning as “he fights [with] God”). The name would evoke the memory of the fight and what it meant. A. Dillmann says that ever after this the name would tell the Israelites that, when Jacob contended successfully with God, he won the battle with man (Genesis, 2:279). To be successful with God meant that he had to be crippled in his own self-sufficiency (A. P. Ross, “Jacob at the Jabboq, Israel at Peniel,” BSac 142 [1985]: 51–62). Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Gen 32:28.

^[3] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Gen 32:30.