Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he called the name of that place Mahanaim. And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.” (32:1–3)
And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’” ( 32:9-12)
Jacob has left Laban in peace, and now continues on his journey homeward. He is extremely afraid to encounter Esau, who, the last time they were together over twenty years ago, wanted to kill Jacob for stealing his blessing. The messengers that Jacob sent ahead to Esau return, reporting that Esau is coming to meet him with four hundred men. “Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed” (Genesis 32:7). And he had every reason to be. His brother from whom he stole the birthright would not be coming with four hundred men to throw a feast. So, what to do?
Jacob both acts and prays. His first action was to divide all he had (people and animals) into two camps, so that if one group was attacked, the other could escape. But then he prays the prayer above – he is humble, acknowledging that he is not worthy of all the love and faithfulness that God has shown him, and praying for deliverance from his brother, and reminding God of God’s promise to him, to do him good and make his offspring as numerous as the sand of the sea.
He then takes from all his animals, a very generous gift and sends it with his servants to Esau, five different droves of animals, telling his servants what to say to his brother.
That night he sent his two wives, two female servants, and his eleven children across the stream with everything else he had and stayed alone. He wrestled with a “man” until daybreak. Jacob would not let this man go until the man blessed him. The man changed his name from Jacob to “Israel” which means either “he strives with God” or “God strives.” Jacob named the place “Peniel” which means “the face of God,” saying “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered” (Genesis 32:30).
Jacob has some serious fear that is valid. He acts as wisely as he knows how, but then he appeals to God in humility. And he ends up wrestling with God.
When serious trouble or potential trouble comes our way, it is not time to figure it all out ourselves, it is time to press in, to cling to God. Sometimes when we experience consequences due to our own sin, our instinct might be to go far from God because of our failure, but that is the time to draw even closer to God and throw ourselves on His mercy, which is great!
Prayer: Oh Lord, may I not panic over the difficulties in my life, but may I act wisely, and may I rely on You! May I and my loved ones not run away from you when times are tough, but may we stick close to You, even if it involves wrestling with You. Amen.
