DaySpring Hope & Encouragement Bible - Flipbook - Page 64
G enesis 33
46
When I see him in person, perhaps he will be friendly to me.” 21 So the gifts
were sent on ahead, while Jacob himself spent that night in the camp.
Jacob Wrestles with God
22 During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two servant
wives, and his eleven sons and crossed the Jabbok River with them. 23 After
taking them to the other side, he sent over all his possessions.
24 This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with
him until the dawn began to break. 25 When the man saw that he would not
win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket.
26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!”
But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 “What is your name?” the man asked.
He replied, “Jacob.”
28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on
you will be called Israel,* because you have fought with God and with men
and have won.”
29 “Please tell me your name,” Jacob said.
“Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed
Jacob there.
30 Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said,
“I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.” 31 The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel,* and he was limping because of the injury to his hip.
32 (Even today the people of Israel don’t eat the tendon near the hip socket
because of what happened that night when the man strained the tendon
of Jacob’s hip.)
Jacob and Esau Make Peace
Then Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming with his 400 men. So
he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and his two servant
wives. 2 He put the servant wives and their children at the front, Leah and
her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. 3 Then Jacob went on ahead.
As he approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before
him. 4 Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around
his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.
5 Then Esau looked at the women and children and asked, “Who are these
people with you?”
“These are the children God has graciously given to me, your servant,”
Jacob replied. 6 Then the servant wives came forward with their children
and bowed before him. 7 Next came Leah with her children, and they bowed
before him. Finally, Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed before
him.
8 “And what were all the flocks and herds I met as I came?” Esau asked.
Jacob replied, “They are a gift, my lord, to ensure your friendship.”
9 “My brother, I have plenty,” Esau answered. “Keep what you have for
yourself.”
10 But Jacob insisted, “No, if I have found favor with you, please accept this
gift from me. And what a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing
the face of God! 11 Please take this gift I have brought you, for God has been
33
32:28 Jacob sounds like the Hebrew words for “heel” and “deceiver.” Israel means “God fights.”
32:31 Hebrew Penuel, a variant spelling of Peniel.
