Genesis 32
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When we get to Genesis 32, Jacob has ridden himself of his adversary and father in-law Laban, only to come to the realization that he has a greater adversary still waiting for him. Jacob’s brother Esau, though vowed to kill Jacob, and really is the reason he left in the first place those 20 years prior.
Before Jacob can be reconciled with his brother however, he has to be reconciled with his God.
(vs. 24) We notice that “Jacob was left alone” When is the last time, we got alone with God? Notice verses 22-23, Jacob had his security in his family, but God brought Jacob to this place of aloneness because He wanted to break him.
Galatians 2:20 “...yet not I, but Christ...”
(vs. 27) God asks Jacob his name, not because God didn’t know who Jacob was, but because Jacob needed to know that God knew who Jacob was. Jacob had to come to grips with who he was, by his very name, he spoke to what his life had been. Jacob means deceiver, and by it Jacob had lived, a liar, schemer, and deceiver.
As soon as Jacob gives his name to God, God through His infinite grace and mercy, gives him a new name.
Jacob to Israel - (Sup-planter) to (God prevails) signified in the statement that God makes (vs. 28) “power with God and men”
(vs. 31) Is the dawn of a new day for Jacob and his family…
Jacob has a new name, now Israel, and Jacob has a new walk, now with a limp...
Chapter 33 however, sadly begins with Jacob not living up to his new name, and new position with God. For, we can recognize it, as he is called “Jacob” and not “Israel”. It says “And Jacob lifted up his eyes,” indicating that he is not walking by faith, but by sight.
Like us, we have had a life changing experience with God, and have been given a new name.
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
A new walk:
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
and yet, often find ourselves following the same path and pattern of disobedience as Jacob did.
Which is why,
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Jacob reverts to the man he always was… Maybe it’s comfort, maybe it is for some other reason, but nonetheless, he doesn’t live up to his new name.
In Genesis 31:13
I am the God of Beth-el, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.
We notice where God called Jacob to go, Beth-el...
Look with me at
And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city.
This decision, costing not only Jacob, but his family as well.
Dinah -defiled
Simeon and Levi - Trying to do the right thing, as avenging the wrong done against their sister, end up following in their fathers foot steps.
There is an old saying...
“Sin will take you father than you want to go,
Slowly, but wholly, taking control,
Sin will leave you longer than you want to stay,
Sin will cost you far more that you want to pay.”
What I can never understand, is that through it all, Jacob’s response includes 8 personal pronouns and speaks to the nature of his concern.
And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
(me, me, I, me, me, I, I, my!)
It seems like now, Jacob fearing the people is ready to move. We find that Yet, God is still gracious… He reminds Jacob of the previous command to return to Bethel.
And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
1-5
Sadly, Jacob had been living near Bethel, only 30 miles away, but He was not dwelling near the God of Bethel… But Jacob knew what was required to get near God. (vs. 2)
James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
God leads Jacob back to Bethel, where He reaffirms the Abrahamic Covenant and the fact that He had changed his name to Israel. Praise God for His unbelievable patience, mercy, and grace towards people like Jacob, or should we say, people like us.
Hebrews 10:22 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Read: Gen. 35:16-19. Christ is revealed in Bethlehem…
The Bibles first mention of the town called “Bethlehem”. Notice it is the place where Rachel is told “Fear not; thou shalt have this son also” (vs. 17) She then gives birth in the city of Bethlehem to one whom his father calls Benjamin meaning “the son of my right hand.”
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Luke 2:4 “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Beth-lehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)”
Luke 2:7 “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Ephesians 1:20 “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,”
Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Joshua 24:19–28 “And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good. And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the Lord. And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses. Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel. And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey. So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. And Joshua said…”
