Read Genesis 32:1-32
Angelic Encounter 1-2
God’s host/Heavenly host: 1(Hebrew
Sabaoth "armies") refers
to a large army (Luk.2:13) of
good angels
mentioned both in the Hebrew and
Christian
Bibles, as well as other Jewish and Christian texts. Most descriptions of
angels in the Bible describe them in military terms, such as encampment (Gen.32:1-2), command structure (Ps.91:11-12; Matt.13:41; Rev.7:2),
and combat (Jdg.5:20; Job 19:12; Rev.12:7).
The heavenly host participates in the War in Heaven
and, according to some interpretations, will battle Satan and
Satan's own army at the End
of Days and be victorious. 1Wikipedia
2Mahanaim (meaning two camps
in Hebrew) located in the same general area as Jabesh-gilead. Jacob's
realization that the place was "God's camp", led him to name the
place Mahanaim - Two Camps, or Two Companies, to memorialize the occasion of
his own company sharing the place with God's. 2Wikipedia
The text
is not clear as to whether Jacob had a vision of angels or the angels were made
visible to him [as in Abraham’s encounter with the angels Gen.18:1-8]; also the
text is silent as to any other person beholding the host of angels.
Jacob contemplates Esau 3-8
Recall, if you will that
there was animosity between Jacob and Esau, the eldest, as Esau had threatened
Jacob for acquiring both the birthright and blessing which rightfully belonged
to him. Gen.25:27-34; 27:6-46.
One could presume that the
angelic encounter was a sign of God’s favor and protection of Jacob and company
over his brother Esau [at this point Jacob has both the birthright and the
blessing which by rights should have been Esau’s] as it appears that after the
angelic encounter Jacob sent messengers to his brother Esau’s camp.
Unresolved hostility can and
does carry on for years and years, but must ultimately be dealt with. Jacob
remembered Esau’s anger bearing it for at least 20 years ultimately causing him
great anxiety (7) when the prospect of meeting him face to face became a
reality. Vs 11 states his fear of Esau was so great he feared Esau would not
only kill him but also all the mothers and their children. That’s fear! No
wonder he called upon Abraham’s God! We need also to call on the One True,
Almighty God even in our deepest, darkest hour. That’s when He makes Himself
manifest to us and those around. Our God is the only Awesome God!
Even Christians can inwardly
carry a grudge for years on end yet appear normal and calm as a cucumber
outwardly. We become masters of deception, deceiving even those closest
to us. However: Numbers 32:23 …and be
sure your sin will find you out. In other words there is no escaping our
past…we might just as well deal with it in the here and now and save us a whole
lot of trouble including our health.
So Jacob devised a plan. He
divided his people and flocks, herds and camels as a diversion in case Esau
attacked one portion he would yet have another division whereby he could
survive.
It must be said that each of
us must allow our faith to grow with each and every trial we encounter. Jacob
was no exception. I believe his twenty years experience with Laban prepared him
for the encounter with his brother. Every event in our lives is meant to grow
our faith in Him. Oh! If only we would submit ourselves all the sooner to learn
of Him and multiply our faith how much stronger we should be.
Jacob’s prayer 9-12
·
Jacob’s address: O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac.
·
Petition: Jacob’s prayer begins by calling upon the God
of Abraham and rehearsing God’s directives return
to thy country and promise I will
deal with thee well. It is a good thing to begin calling on the Living God
in times of trouble instead of out flesh. It is far better to learn to call
upon Him when times are good that our faith might flourish before tough times.
·
Humility: Jacob’s humility is seen by his
declaration of unworthiness of even the
least of God’s mercies and truths
·
Call for deliverance: his humility leads to
the request for deliverance.
·
God’s goodness: Jacob repeats God’s promises.
Thus his entire petition begins and ends with God’s
faithfulness and righteousness. Jacob’s prayer sets the stage for his personal
wrestling match with the angel to follow.
If we are to be delivered it must start and end as
Jacob’s prayer.
Much
needless anxiety could be avoided by dealing with our problems quickly.
Matt.5:21-25…agree with thine adversary
quickly and 1Pet.5:6-7…Humble
yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He might exalt you in due time. Truly
Jacob was before his time when he cast his cares upon the God of Abraham and
humbled himself.
Note: Every reconciliation always involves the following;
·
Addressing and submission to the Almighty God
·
Humility
·
Confession
·
Genuine remorse
·
Forgiveness
·
Submission to God and the adversary
·
Accepting responsibility for your own actions
without finger pointing or laying blame on the other (accountability)
It’s never easy but it’s always necessary. Interestingly
forgiveness is a major issue in Scripture; we are perpetually admonished to
forgive those who’ve wronged us that we might be set free from the anguish…and
yet so many of us refuse to take its medicine. The Father administered it to
all who believe on the blood sacrifice of Jesus for our sins knowing it was the
only way to deliver us a full pardon. Matthew 5:25; 18:21-35 detail the
consequences for unforgiveness:
·
Delivered to judge
·
Imprisoned
·
Tormented until the debt is forgiven
1. Forgiveness
always benefits both parties but is especially beneficial to the forgiveor.
2. Forgiveness
is the only key that will unlock your prison doors and set you free from
your prison of guilt, anger, self-condemnation, hatred, fear, anxiety.
3. To
forgive another is to release yourself from the inner prison
4. Most
often the prison is an inner prison; we appear free on the outside to others,
but like Jacob we’re tormented on the inside
Forgiveness is an act of kindness, mercy, love, and
tenderheartedness. Unforgiveness is an act of malice, hatred, anger,
Preparation for the encounter with an adversary 13-23
·
Jacob instructs his servants to bring
presents to Esau
·
Servant is instructed to announce Jacob as
the servant of Esau, thereby further humbling himself
Angelic wrestling match 24-32
·
All night Jacob tosses and turns wrestling with
the angel, God’s servant/minister
·
Jacob seeks a blessing of God and receives it
·
Jacob has seen
God face to face and lived [God is
so holy (separate from sin) that no man can look upon Him and live]
Chronological order of events
·
1-2 Jacob encounters God’s angelic host
·
3-6 Jacob is informed of Esau’s presence
·
6-8 Jacob, in distress, lays out a plan to
meet his brother
·
9-12 Jacob’s prayer of humility and
deliverance
·
13-23 he meets Esau for the first time in
well over 20 years
·
24-32 Jacob wrestles with an angel and has a
divine name change
As I study the text I see a definite flow of intricately
related events, none of which are inconsequential but all are dependent one upon
the other.
Jacob
could never have had a divine name change without first encountering the
heavenly host; I believe it was God’s way of preparing Jacob to confront and
resolve his past with Esau. That’s made evident in verse 7…he was greatly afraid and distressed.
·
It was God’s way of encouraging Jacob of His
presence and provision
·
It was God’s time to begin to use him but he
first needed to ask forgiveness of Esau.
·
Though the two brothers did not meet until
Ch.33 yet God saw his heart through his prayer of humility.
Has the Lord been dealing with you, as with Jacob, to
reconcile with someone? Is there someone in your past that has ought against
you? Are you imprisoned by past unresolved relationships? Now is the time to be
set free!
Faith
Building Practice and Review
1. With
what or whom are you wrestling?
2. What
does reconciliation include?
3. With
what have you been wrestling with God over?
4. Review
and ponder Jacob’s prayer.
5. What
lessons have you learned from Jacob’s prayer?
6. What
conclusions have you come to over similar prayer in your life?
7. Do
you now understand the 2 camps in your presence, yours and God’s?
8. Are
you currently self imprisoned by unforgiveness?
9. What
other NT passages might apply to this lesson?
10. What
insights have you personally gleaned from this lesson?
11. Explain
how you see forgiveness as a dominant
theme throughout Scripture.
Knowing
God
A brief [not complete, add
to the list] synopsis of the persona of God:
·
Love
·
Gracious
·
Merciful
·
Righteous
·
Longsuffering
·
Gentle
·
Faithful
·
Compassionate
·
Forgiving
·
Friend
The ultimate goal of Bible study is to
know God and not to merely memorize Bible trivia. As you study the lesson,
identify the attributes of God. For instance: make a note when you read of God
extending His forgiveness or compassion, and remember how He has done the same
for you.
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