Persons: Jacob
Theme/Event: Assurance of the Promise
Symbol: Angel and Jacob wrestling
Genesis 27:41-28:22
Do you remember Abraham’s son Isaac? When Isaac grew up he had a son named Jacob. God’s plan was still to bless all of Abraham’s descendants and to show His character to the world through His relationship with them. But Jacob had done unkind things, even to his own brother. Instead of asking for forgiveness, he had run away. Would God’s plan be ruined? Would God not fulfill His promises?
Genesis 32:9-30
9 Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’: 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. 11 Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children. 12 For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’” 13 So he lodged there that same night, and took what came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother: 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals. 16 Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put some distance between successive droves.” 17 And he commanded the first one, saying, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?’ 18 then you shall say, ‘They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.’” 19 So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, “In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him; 20 and also say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.’” For he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.” 21 So the present went on over before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp. 22 And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. 23 He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had. 24 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. 25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. 26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” 27 So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” 28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
God had not changed. Even though He made the promise to Jacob’s grandfather many years ago, and even though Jacob had done wrong things, God was always true to His Word and to His plans. Just like Jacob, we do not deserve God’s wonderful promises and love. But, God was faithful to Jacob and changed his name to Israel. Sometimes we do wrong things, even to our brothers and sisters. But, God made a plan for us to be restored to Him and to each other. If we confess our sins to God and to each other, and we ask to be forgiven, then because of what Jesus did on the cross, we can be restored. God is always faithful and His arms are full of blessings for the obedient.
Questions:
Did Jacob ruin God’s plan?
What new name did the angel give to Jacob?
Do you need to ask God or someone else to forgive you for something?
Prayer: Dear God, help me be quick to ask for forgiveness when I have been unkind or disobedient. Thank you for always forgiving me.
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