Imagine if you were the beetle in the picture above.
What circumstances would cause you to cling even tighter to the plant?
If the weather is mild, there would be no reason to cling even tighter to the plant.
But what if the weather was hazardous?
Or if another animal appeared to challenge you?
How does this relate to Jacob’s situation in Genesis 32:22-32?
Clinging Tightly to God | Genesis 32:22-32 | Trickery and Deceit with Laban
22 The same night [Jacob] arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had.[1]
Jacob, along with his immediate family and possessions, had recently fled from his father-in-law Laban before reaching the ford of the Jabbok. (See Genesis 31:21)
Much trickery had happened between Laban and Jacob that contributed to this hasty departure.
Laban had tricked Jacob into marrying Leah before Rachel. (Genesis 29:15-29).
Then, after Jacob had fathered eleven sons and one daughter, he told Laban he wanted to leave. (Genesis 29:31-30:26)
After some negotiations, Jacob agreed to continue to work for Laban in exchange for the speckled, spotted, or black sheep and goats. (Genesis 30:27-33)
35 But that day Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white on it, and every lamb that was black, and put them in the charge of his sons. 36 And he set a distance of three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob pastured the rest of Laban’s flock. [2]
What is Laban attempting to do with these actions?
Over time, because of some bizarre flock tending, Jacob ended up with the strongest speckled, spotted, or black lambs and goats. (Genesis 30:37-31:2)
Interestingly, the Lord enters the scene in Genesis 31:3.
3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.” [3]
But because of all the bad feelings between Jacob and Laban, Jacob did not tell this to Laban.
20 And Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended to flee. 21 He fled with all that he had and arose and crossed the Euphrates, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead. [4]
Who is Jacob trusting, the LORD, or himself?
Clinging Tightly to God | Genesis 32:22-32 | Preparing to Face Esau
After Laban caught up with Jacob and came to new terms of agreement (Genesis 31:22-32:2), Jacob prepared to face his brother, Esau.
3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, 4 instructing them, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, ‘I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. 5 I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.’ ” [5]
Why did Jacob send this message ahead to Esau? (See Genesis 25:29-34 and 27:1-41).
Esau responds to Jacob’s message by coming to meet Jacob with four hundred men. (Genesis 32:6)
Jacob was immediately afraid, taking action to divide his people and flocks into two camps so that if Esau attacked one section, the other might escape. (Genesis 32:7)
In addition, Jacob does something that is a first for him.
9 And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ 10 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, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. 11 Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. 12 But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’ ” [6]
Prior to this moment, scripture showed the LORD as the one who spoke to Jacob first.
After praying for deliverance from Esau’s wrath, Jacob spends the night choosing a generous gift of animals to appease Esau. (Genesis 32:13-21).
Why does Jacob pray to the Lord?
Who does Jacob say the LORD is the God of in this prayer?
Does Jacob trust the LORD to answer his prayer? Why or why not?
Clinging Tightly to God | Genesis 32:22-32 | God Prepares Jacob
After making all the preparations for Esau’s gifts, Jacob then separates himself from the rest of his family and possessions. (Genesis 32:22-23)
24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.[7]
Where did this man come from if Jacob was left alone?
25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”[8]
If the man wrestling with Jacob could not prevail against Jacob, how was he able to touch Jacob’s hip socket and put it out of joint?
What does this reveal about the “man”?
Why would the “man” want to leave at dawn?
Why does Jacob want the “man” to bless him?
27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” [9]
What is the point of the “man” asking Jacob what his name is? (See Genesis 25:26 and 27:36)
28 Then [the man] said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”[10]
What is the point of verse twenty-eight?
29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.[11]
What did Jacob come to realize? (Also see Hosea 12:4)
Jacob, a super deceiver, is now limping after an intense encounter with the LORD.
How did this encounter with the LORD prepare Jacob to meet Esau?
Clinging Tightly to God | Genesis 32:22-32 | Personal Application
Think about the times in your life when you came to the end of yourself and describe how you felt.
Did you wrestle with the LORD all night long like Jacob? Why or why not?
The apostle Paul understood Jacob’s limp.
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.[12]
What injuries or weaknesses have you experienced that have turned out to be a gift of God’s grace in your life?
Why is clinging tightly to God the most important thing to always do?
Blessings,
Barbara Lynn
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 32:22–23.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 30:35–36.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 31:3.
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 31:20–21.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 32:3–5.
[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 32:9–12.
[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 32:24.
[8] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 32:25–26.
[9] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 32:26–27.
[10] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 32:28.
[11] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 32:29–31.
[12] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Co 12:6–7.