The Faithfulness of God

Genesis 32:1-32

We are studying Genesis on Sunday nights, and a lot of this material seems a little repetitive. But they say that it takes 7 times hearing something before it sinks in and we can remember it, so hearing it again will only be beneficial. This as we have read is the story of Jacob coming back to his homeland and facing big brother, and where he wrestled with an angel.

The last time Jacob had an encounter with Esau, Esau swore that he was going to kill his brother. How do you think that Jacob felt as he was about to enter the land where his brother resided? Probably pretty terrified. He probably wondered how long his brother might hold a grudge. As he approached the land where his brother lived, God sent a host of angels to to go along with Jacob. It does not say that they were there to fight, nor did they engage with Jacob, but the simple accompaniment gave Jacob a calming reminder that God was with him wherever he went.

Though Jacob trusted God he still needed to know the intentions of his brother before he brought his entire family and all of his possessions into the land. Jacob had far more to lose than just his own life. But Jacob was fearful that his brother might reject his gifts, so he prayed asking for God’s intervention. Jacob re-accounted how he was unworthy, and how gracious God is, Jacob confessed that he feared his brother and reminded God that He promised to protect him and make him into a nation. So Jacob sent messengers with gifts ahead of him into his brothers country hoping that they would soften his brothers heart and smooth out an rough patches that may be left between the two. He sent the messengers, the gifts, and he let them travel a ways ahead before he and his family began to journey again.

As he began his move again closer to Seir, Esau’s land, he sent his family across the little Jabbok river, but he remained behind.