*Genesis 32:1-33:16
Fearing his brother Esau’s revenge, Jacob prepares to meet him by sending gifts and wrestling with God, ultimately reconciling with Esau.
- Preparation for Reunion:
- Jacob, having fled from his father-in-law Laban, hears that his estranged brother Esau is approaching with 400 men.
- Fearing for his safety, Jacob divides his family and possessions into two camps, hoping to minimize potential losses in case of conflict.
- He sends gifts ahead to Esau in an attempt to appease him and seeks divine protection through prayer.
- Wrestling with God:
- Alone at night, Jacob encounters a mysterious man and wrestles with him until daybreak.
- The man, who is often interpreted as an angel or a manifestation of God, dislocates Jacob’s hip but Jacob refuses to release him until he blesses him.
- The man changes Jacob’s name to Israel, signifying his struggle and victory.
- Reunion with Esau:
- Jacob, limping from his encounter, approaches Esau with humility, bowing seven times as a sign of respect.
- Surprisingly, Esau runs to meet him, embracing him warmly and showing forgiveness.
- Jacob presents his family to Esau, including his wives and children, and offers him the gifts he had sent ahead.
- Esau initially refuses the gifts but eventually accepts them, indicating reconciliation between the brothers.
Genesis 32:1–33:16 teaches us about facing our fears, seeking reconciliation, and trusting God. Jacob was afraid to meet his brother Esau after years of conflict, but he prayed, prepared, and humbly asked for peace. Instead of anger, Esau responded with forgiveness. This reminds us that broken relationships can be healed when we approach others with honesty, humility, and a willingness to make things right. It also shows that God helps us when we trust Him. This passage encourages us to seek peace, let go of past hurts, and believe that God can restore what is broken.
Genesis 32:1-33:16 (WEB)
1 Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s army.” He called the name of that place Mahanaim.3 Jacob sent messengers in front of him to Esau, his brother, to the land of Seir, the field of Edom. 4 He commanded them, saying, “This is what you shall tell my lord, Esau: ‘This is what your servant, Jacob, says. I have lived as a foreigner with Laban, and stayed until now. 5 I have cattle, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.’ ” 6 The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau. He is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” 7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed. He divided the people who were with him, along with the flocks, the herds, and the camels, into two companies. 8 He said, “If Esau comes to the one company, and strikes it, then the company which is left will escape.” 9 Jacob said, “God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD, who said to me, ‘Return to your country, and to your relatives, and I will do you good,’ 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the loving kindnesses, and of all the truth, which you have shown to your servant; for with just my staff I crossed over this Jordan; and now I have become two companies. 11 Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and strike me and the mothers with the children. 12 You said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which can’t be counted because there are so many.’ ”13 He stayed there that night, and took from that which he had with him a present for Esau, his brother: 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 thirty milk camels and their colts, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals. 16 He delivered them into the hands of his servants, every herd by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put a space between herd and herd.” 17 He commanded the foremost, saying, “When Esau, my brother, meets you, and asks you, saying, ‘Whose are you? Where are you going? Whose are these before you?’ 18 Then you shall say, ‘They are your servant, Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord, Esau. Behold, he also is behind us.’ ” 19 He commanded also the second, and the third, and all that followed the herds, saying, “This is how you shall speak to Esau, when you find him. 20 You shall say, ‘Not only that, but behold, your servant, Jacob, is behind us.’ ” For, he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.”21 So the present passed over before him, and he himself stayed that night in the camp.22 He rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them, and sent them over the stream, and sent over that which he had. 24 Jacob was left alone, and wrestled with a man there until the breaking of the day. 25 When he saw that he didn’t prevail against him, the man touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was strained as he wrestled. 26 The man said, “Let me go, for the day breaks.”Jacob said, “I won’t let you go unless you bless me.”27 He said to him, “What is your name?”He said, “Jacob”.28 He said, “Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed.”29 Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.”He said, “Why is it that you ask what my name is?” So he blessed him there.30 Jacob called the name of the place Peniel; for he said, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” 31 The sun rose on him as he passed over Peniel, and he limped because of his thigh. 32 Therefore the children of Israel don’t eat the sinew of the hip, which is on the hollow of the thigh, to this day, because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew of the hip.33:1 Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men. He divided the children between Leah, Rachel, and the two servants. 2 He put the servants and their children in front, Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear. 3 He himself passed over in front of them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.4 Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck, kissed him, and they wept. 5 He lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, “Who are these with you?”He said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the servants came near with their children, and they bowed themselves. 7 Leah also and her children came near, and bowed themselves. After them, Joseph came near with Rachel, and they bowed themselves.8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?”Jacob said, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.”9 Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; let that which you have be yours.”10 Jacob said, “Please, no, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present at my hand, because I have seen your face, as one sees the face of God, and you were pleased with me. 11 Please take the gift that I brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” He urged him, and he took it.12 Esau said, “Let’s take our journey, and let’s go, and I will go before you.”13 Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are tender, and that the flocks and herds with me have their young, and if they overdrive them one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Please let my lord pass over before his servant, and I will lead on gently, according to the pace of the livestock that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord to Seir.”15 Esau said, “Let me now leave with you some of the people who are with me.”He said, “Why? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.