Genesis 32

With Laban and the Aramean relatives behind him, and the land of Canaan and the prospect of seeing his brother Esau again after twenty years in front of him, Jacob was understandably afraid. When he last saw his brother, Esau was comforting himself with the prospect of killing him. Now the angels of God encouraged Jacob on his way home. Despite the obvious risk, Jacob was on the right pathway, and he needed to keep on going. God's camp was traveling with him.

Jacob sent servants ahead as his ambassadors to ease the way to Esau. They were messengers of peace and blessing, but would they be received well? They returned to Jacob with a word from Esau that was ambiguous: “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.” Jacob became even more afraid. He made a plan to divide his family and possessions into two camps so that if one was attacked the others might still live. Then he called upon the name of the Lord.

Jacob humbly reminded God that this trip was in response to the Lord's clear direction. Now he needed the Lord's help! He did not come before God in his own worthiness. He said, “I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant.” He recounted the facts of his solitary departure from Canaan, and acknowledged before the Lord his present prosperity. The Lord had blessed him. Would it all be for nothing? Would his brother murder him and slaughter all his descendants after all?

This was a key moment in the life of Jacob. He sent everyone ahead of himself until he was alone again as he had been when he first journeyed away from Esau and Canaan on his way to Paddan-aram. Once again he was brought to a recognition of his desperation, and once again, the Lord met him.

Through our deepest struggles, in our most needy moments, we quickly think of the Esau coming against us, rather than the Jacob within us who finally needs to change. What are the fruitless thoughts and patterns of life that must be put off at this moment when the Lord has our fullest attention? How do we think of ourselves and others in ways that must change? What patterns of speech and action must stop now before it is too late? What do we already really know from the God who we need, but from whom we have been running away?

Now is the time to be serious about life. Now is the time to remember the promise of the Lord. “I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.” This was God's promise not only to Abraham and Isaac, but also to Jacob. This promise was inconsistent with the complete slaughter of his family, though the Lord can surely raise the dead. Remember the promise of God and speak to the Lord about the ones he has given you when you are afraid for them and for yourself. Remember the death of His Son and His resurrection, and speak to God as one whom God has purchased and redeemed through the blood of His only Son. Remember that you have been brought into the household of God through the Spirit of adoption.

Jacob needed to be changed that day more than Esau needed to be restrained. Could it be the same for you today?

Jacob was left all alone, and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. That Man was somehow God, perhaps through an angelic mediation or a preincarnation of the Lord's eternal Son. But Jacob would not be beaten. Are you like that? Are you stubborn about what needs to change in you? Will you fight, even fight with God, rather than give in to His gracious correction?

When God's man from heaven saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he took the next step. He brought injury upon Jacob for Jacob's own good. Before Jacob would be blessed, he needed to be wounded and weakened. Jacob did not choose the pathway to holiness through a hip injury. God chose that for this man who would be Israel. Blessed be the Name of the Lord! And injury became the vehicle for receiving the Lord's blessing, though Jacob did not immediately give up the fight, even after he was injured. God does wonderful things. The greatest mercy that God ever performed required the death of His Son.

Jacob knew that he had been with God. He would face other very significant trials recorded for us in the book of Genesis. But Jacob was a changed man. God had met him on the way to Paddan-aram, and now God met him again on the way back home to Canaan. He met him in this moment of great fear, and He changed him.

This struggle was something for Israel to remember. We remember it too, now with the brighter light of the cross of Christ. God is for you, and He is changing you. Let Him bless you today.