Foundation Book of the Bible

Mike Mazzalongo

Genesis

40

Now as Jacob went on his way, the angels of God met him. Jacob said when he saw them, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim.

- Genesis 32:1-2

Then Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. He also commanded them saying, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: ‘Thus says your servant Jacob, “I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed until now;

- Genesis 32:3-4

I have oxen and donkeys and flocks and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.

The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and furthermore he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”

- Genesis 32:5-6

Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies; for he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the company which is left will escape.”

- Genesis 32:7-8

• Couldn’t go back

• Couldn’t Remain

• Going Forward = Death

Jacob’s Impossible Situation

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

relatives, and I will prosper you,’

- Genesis 32:9

Review the Promises

I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and

of all the faithfulness which You have shown

to Your servant; for with my staff only I

crossed this Jordan, and now I have

become two companies.

- Genesis 32:10

Recognizes his Situation

Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my

brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him,

that he will come and attack me and the

mothers with the children.

- Genesis 32:11

Makes a specific request

For You said, ‘I will surely prosper you and

make your descendants as the sand of

the sea, which is too great to be

numbered.’”

-Genesis 32:12

Reminds God of Promise

The conflict (wrestle) is the pressure of two opposing forces colliding:

• God’s promise of protection• Esau’s vow to kill him.

Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.

- Genesis 32:24

When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him.

- Genesis 32:25

Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.”

- Genesis 32:26-27

He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there.

- Genesis 32:28-39

So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.”

- Genesis 32:28-30

Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh. Therefore, to this day the sons of Israel do not eat the sinew of the hip which is on the socket of the thigh, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew of the hip.

- Genesis 32:31-32

Then Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids. He put the maids and their children in front, and Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. But he himself passed on ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

- Genesis 33:1-3

Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. He lifted his eyes and saw the women and the children, and said, “Who are these with you?” So he said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”

- Genesis 33:4-5

Then the maids came near with their children, and they bowed down. Leah likewise came near with her children, and they bowed down; and afterward Joseph came near with Rachel, and they bowed down.

- Genesis 33:6-7

And he said, “What do you mean by all this company which I have met?” And he said, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” But Esau said, “I have plenty, my brother; let what you have be your own.”

- Genesis 33:8-9

Jacob said, “No, please, if now I have found favor in your sight, then take my present from my hand, for I see your face as one sees the face of God, and you have received me favorably.

- Genesis 33:10

Please take my gift which has been brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me and because I have plenty.” Thus he urged him and he took it.

- Genesis 33:11

Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey and go, and I will go before you.” But he said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail and that the flocks and herds which are nursing are a care to me. And if they are driven hard one day, all the flocks will die.

- Genesis 33:12-13

Please let my lord pass on before his servant, and I will proceed at my leisure, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”

- Genesis 33:14

Esau said, “Please let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”

- Genesis 33:15

So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built for himself a house and made booths for his livestock; therefore the place is named Succoth.

- Genesis 33:16-17

Now Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram, and camped before the city.

- Genesis 33:18

He bought the piece of land where he had pitched his tent from the hand of the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money. Then he erected there an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

- Genesis 33:19-20

1. If God is with you, who can be against you?

Lessons

1. If God is with you, who can be against you?

2. Pray with all your heart, work with all your might.

Lessons

1. If God is with you, who can be against you?

2. Pray with all your heart, work with all your might.

3. When I am weak, I am strong.

Lessons