Journey Through Humility: Triumph Amidst Trials

Bible Passage: Genesis 32:4–36:43

Summary: In this passage, we see Jacob's tumultuous journey as he confronts both his history with Esau and his ongoing struggle with his identity and relationship with God. Jacob's encounters illustrate how God uses trials to shape our character, as he transitions from a life built on deception to one grounded in faith and reliance on God's promises.

Application: This sermon can guide individuals facing their own fears and struggles. By reflecting on Jacob's journey, listeners can learn the importance of surrendering to God's will, embracing vulnerability, and cultivating a faith that trusts in God's plan amidst uncertainty and conflict.

Teaching: The teaching emphasizes that God often calls us into the uncomfortable spaces of our lives, demanding that we face our fears and past mistakes. As Jacob wrestled with God, so are we invited to wrestle with our doubts, ultimately leading to deeper faith and transformation by confronting the sources of our discomfort.

1. Humility as the Beginning

Genesis 32:4-21

2. Brokenness and Blessing

Genesis 32:22-32

3. Triumphant Reconciliation

Genesis 33:1-17

4. Returning and Renewing

Genesis 35:1-15

5. Two great men and their families multiply and fill the land

Genesis 35:16-36:43

Jacob prepared to face his estranged brother Esau after two decades of separation. Having been gone for twenty years, Jacob was compelled by God to return to Canaan. Unable to stay with Laban any longer, he had no choice but to move forward. To avoid catching Esau off guard, Jacob sent him a message in advance—a peace offering of sorts. In the message, Jacob emphasized his wealth and the extravagant gifts he was bringing, requesting safe passage. However, Esau’s response was alarming: he mobilized 400 armed men, a move that filled Jacob with dread.

Though Jacob had witnessed God’s blessings and protection—such as his triumph over Laban, visions of angels, and assurances of divine favor—he now trembled at the prospect of death. To prepare for a potential attack, Jacob split his family into two groups as a precautionary measure and prayed fervently, pleading for divine intervention. He knew that only God could save him from the deadly vow Esau had once made to kill him.

Jacob coupled his prayers with strategy. He arranged a series of gift-bearing delegations to meet Esau. Three waves of servants carried livestock as presents, each group instructed to announce that Jacob was following behind them. This plan was designed to soften Esau’s heart and demonstrate Jacob’s humility. Jacob and his family followed at a distance, but despite these efforts, Jacob’s fear persisted. After sending the gifts and his family ahead, he chose to stay behind, alone.

That night, Jacob encountered a mysterious figure—an angel unlike any he had ever seen. This divine being was reminiscent of the visitor who had appeared to Abraham to announce Isaac’s birth and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. But unlike Abraham, Jacob was bold. He wrestled with the angel, refusing to let go until he received a blessing. The struggle continued until dawn, the day of his anticipated confrontation with Esau. During the encounter, the angel struck Jacob’s hip, leaving him physically weakened and unable to fight. In this moment of vulnerability, Jacob realized the futility of his schemes and fully relied on God. His faith transformed him, earning him a new name: Israel, meaning “one who wrestles with God.”

This transformative encounter at Peniel (“the face of God”) not only changed Jacob but also altered the course of events. When Jacob, now humbled and injured, finally met Esau, his brother responded with compassion rather than hostility. Esau embraced Jacob and even offered to assist him on his journey, a clear demonstration of God’s intervention and grace.

Jacob’s journey continued with deep spiritual significance. He settled in Succoth, where he built temporary shelters, a practice later commemorated in the Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth), which celebrates God’s presence with His people. From there, Jacob traveled to Shechem, the site where Abraham had once worshipped. This place, located between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal—the future locations of the covenant’s blessings and curses—became a site of worship and sacrifice for Jacob. This foreshadowed Israel’s future covenantal worship in the Promised Land.

However, peace was short-lived. Tragedy struck when a Canaanite prince defiled Jacob’s daughter, Dinah, and proposed marriage to unite their tribes. Jacob refrained from making any agreements, but his sons Simeon and Levi devised a deceptive plan. They convinced the men of Shechem to undergo circumcision as part of the proposed alliance. While the men were weakened from the procedure, Simeon and Levi attacked, killing them all and plundering the city. In fear of reprisal, Jacob moved his family from Shechem to Bethel, a place of divine safety despite the violence and treachery that had occurred.

At this time, Jacob purified his household by discarding all foreign gods, occultic items, and idols, burying them beneath a tree at Shechem. Obeying God’s command, Jacob moved to Bethel, where he built an altar and worshipped with his family. Here, God reaffirmed His covenant with Jacob, formally bestowing upon him the name Israel. Jacob marked the occasion by erecting a pillar and anointing it, finding a measure of peace in the land God had promised him—a peace rooted in the presence of the Lord. There Israel fathered one more son. However, Rachel died during brith and was buried in Ephrath which is Jerusalem. As if Israel had not had enough difficulty his firstborn Reuben slept with his concubine. Israel had sons of a difficult kind and they will continue to cause him problems. However, they were a great number of young men with names we all know.

The twelve tribes as we understand them today were to be founded by these men. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. Israel brought this large group of twelve young men to say goodbye to his father Isaac. Isaac was in Hebron. Where the cave at the end of the field was also located. Isaac would be buried with his father Abraham and his wife Sara. Esau and Jacob buried him there together.

This section closes with the descendants of the mighty men of Esau. Edom was his kingdom and his family were comprised of strong men. They were able to live in peace with Israel but that may not last forever. Esau was blessed as well. He however, did not carry the mantle of the God who called Abraham from Ur to Canaan. While Edom may have held the land for a long period of time before Israel ever ruled, this was by the might of men, and not by the might of God!