Genesis 32
Jacob Meets Angels
As Jacob continued on his journey, God’s representatives met with him. When Jacob saw them he said,
“This is God’s camp.”
So he named that place Mahanaim [which means “two camps”].
Esau Approaches with 400 Men
As Jacob approached Seir in Edom, he sent people ahead of him to talk to his brother Esau. Jacob told them to tell Esau,
“Your servant Jacob has been living with Laban and has amassed cows, donkeys, sheep, and goats. He sent us ahead so you might accept him.”
When the messengers got back to Jacob they said,
“Esau is headed this way now with 400 men.”
Jacob Terrified
That left Jacob terrified, so he split up his entire party into two groups, including the animals. He said,
“If Esau attacks one group, then the other group can hopefully get away.”
Jacob said,
“Oh Existing One, God of my grandpa Abraham and my father Isaac, you told me to go back to my hometown and relatives so you could make me prosper. Seeing how kind and dependable you’ve been to me makes me feel insignificant. When I first crossed the Jordan I only had a walking stick, and now I have two entire camps. Please save me from my brother Esau. I’m scared that he’s gonna come attack my wives, my children, and me. You told me that you’d treat me well and cause my descendants to flourish like grains of sand on the beach, which is too numerous to count.”
Jacob Selects Present for Esau
So Jacob spent the night there and selected a present for his brother Esau of 200 female goats and 20 males, 200 female sheep and 20 males, 30 nursing camels and their young, 40 female cows and 10 males, 20 female donkeys and 10 males. He gave them all to his workers and said,
“Go ahead of me and keep some space between each animals’ herd.”
He told the one in front,
“When you meet my brother Esau and he asks what’s going on, tell him that the animals belong to his servant Jacob. Tell him that I’m gifting them to my superior, Esau and that I’m not too far behind you guys.”
He told the following workers,
“When you see Esau, tell him that his servant Jacob is coming, not too far behind you.”
Jacob said,
“I’ll lead with his gift in front so that when he sees me he might accept me.”
So he sent the gift ahead of him while he stayed back another night at the camp.
He got up that night and brought his 2 wives, 2 maids, and 11 children through the valley and across the Jabbok stream.
Jacob Wrestles God who Renames Him “Israel”
Then when Jacob was alone, a man wrestled him until dawn. When the man saw that he hadn’t beat Jacob, the man hit Jacob’s hip joint and dislocated it, saying,
“Let me go, because the sun is about to come up.”
But Jacob said,
“I won’t let you go until you bless me.”
So the man asked,
“What is your name?”
He said,
“Jacob” [which means usurper].
The man said,
“That won’t be your name anymore. From now on it’s Israel [which means “God prevails”], because you’ve contended with God and men and have prevailed.”
Then Jacob asked the man,
“What is your name?”
The man said,
“Why do you want to know?”
Then the man blessed him. Jacob named that place Penuel [which means “facing God”], and he said,
“I have seen God face to face yet my soul has been protected.”
Then the sun rose up as Jacob was passing through Penuel, limping because of his thigh. That’s why even to this day, Israelites don’t eat the socket of the hip joint, because He hit Jacob’s hip joint.