GENESIS CHAPTER 32 ------------------ Verse 1, Pink says that Jacob is now on the path to obedience, and it is on this path that the angels of God met him. Notice that the angels met him rather than just appearing to him. Verse 2, Jacob had just left one adversary, whom the Lord prevented from doing any harm to him, and now he approaches another adversary, Esau. Mahanaim: that is, Two hosts, or, camps Thus it was one host of angels yet they were divided into two hosts or camps as the word "Mahanaim" implies. They were probably before him and after him, meaning that they protected him from harm where he had been and they will keep him from harm in his destination. Mahanaim: that is, Two hosts, or, camps Verses 3-5, Jacob had not seen his brother in some 20 years and the last thing he remembered was Esau's anger toward him. READ Gen 27:41-45 Notice the craftiness of Jacob as he tells his servants what to say to Esau. The Lord had said that the elder shall serve the younger and Isaac had foretold that all his sons would bow down to Jacob (27:29); yet, we see her that Jacob comes to Esau as the servant rather than the master and rather than claiming his double portion, he gives Esau the message that "I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants." Verse 6, It appears that they never delivered the message to Esau, but as they were approaching they discovered that Esau was also approaching them, and with 400 men. Verses 7-12, We see that Jacob's fear was a lack of faith, but at the same time we see Jacob's faith mixed in, because he remembers that the Lord had told him that he was to go back home and that the Lord would bless him, and surely the Lord would not lie and it on the grounds of this promise that Jacob makes his plea to the Lord. Isa 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to [them that have] no might he increaseth strength. Jacob acknowledges his unworthiness before the Lord, but he still addresses him as the Lord of his father, Abraham, and his father, Isaac, but the one who said unto him, "Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee." We see that Jacob, through faith, cast himself on the sure WORD of Jehovah, himself, and this is what faith really is. True saving faith NEVER looks to our own ability but always to the WORD of Jehovah and his ability to bring his promises to pass; and it is this that Jacob has faith toward. Notice how his faith only looks to the promise that God had made to him and utterly casts aside and worthiness in himself for any protection from the Lord. That if the Lord is pleased to protect him against Esau that it would be mercy with the Lord rather than anything that Jacob deserved. Notice too that Jacob's motive was not just selfish or out of natural love of his family, but was faithful in that God had promised that he would make his SEED as the sand of the sea, and now he asks for protection lest Esau come and destroy the mothers of his children and his children with them. Verses 13-23, We see now that after Jacob exercises faith in prayer he turns back to his old ways. From prayer to scheming, from God to his own devices. Notice in verse 20 that Jacob says, "I WILL appease him," speaking of Esau. This he thought to do by setting up presents, three sets of them, between him and Esau, thus appeasing the wrath of Esau. Notice that after all of Jacob's fleshly efforts he could only say "peradventure he will accept of me." But if his faith had looked to God's promise he could have said for certainty that Esau would accept him. So too with SALVATION. If a man is working for his salvation he has assurance within himself that God will accept him, but when we trust Christ's atonement we know for certainty that we will be accepted. Then he "took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok." (His seed, that the Lord promised to bless.) Jabbok = "emptying" Jacob was left alone (empty). Verses 24-26, This is the place we must all come to "alone" with God. It is not what our friends think about us, but what does God think about us. Our friends may tell us that we are good folk, but before God, outside of Christ, we are nothing but filthy sinners. There Jacob wrestled "a man with him." "Until the breaking of the day." God is long-suffering with his people. This also speaks of the amount of Jacob's self-will and how much he trusted in his own might. It was not that the man was weak and could not prevail, for he just touched his thigh and Jacob's wrestling became a clinging for a blessing. Jacob's thigh was out of joint and now he has to lean his entire weight upon the stranger. It speaks of the sure inability to refine the natural man, it takes the touch of God in the new birth. Now, after the seat of Jacob's strength has been touched, he declares, "I will not let Thee go, except thou bless me." It is not till our own strength is touched that we see our own helplessness and unworthiness and learn to cling to the Lord for our strength. The old proverb, "The Lord helps those who help themselves," is a product of man's invention, and is the "way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Pr 14:12). Verses 27-28, Here God reminds Jacob about his name. Jacob = supplanter Now his name is to be called Israel. Israel = "God prevails" or as Pink says, "God commandeth." However the marginal notes read: "A prince of God" Pink says, that the Lord says this not to dignify but to reproach. He has been rebellious. Jacob had contended with Esau in the womb and thus got his name Jacob. And long had Jacob "the orderer" of his life contended "with God and with men." "And hast prevailed" or succeeded. "He contended for the birthright and had succeeded. He had contended for the blessing and had succeeded. He had contended with Laban and had succeeded. He had contended with men and succeeded. Now he contended with God , and fails. Hence his new name was changed to Israel, God commands. As Jacob he had prevailed, but now as Israel God would command and prevail. The other view is that Jacob contended with God by faith for a blessing and succeeded. Verses 29-32, We see from these verses that it was God the Son that Jacob wrestled with, "a man." This was the Lord in pre-incarnate form. Peniel = "facing God" or "The face of God." We see that Jacob halted upon his thigh afterward. Notice in verse 32 that the "sinew" only "shrank." The flesh is never eradicated from the believer, but the believer is given power over the flesh to crucify it daily. The fact that he halted or limped upon his thigh afterward speaks a continued life of faith. What God had started he would continue or perform unto the day of Jesus Christ.