Immerse: Beginnings Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 63
32:28–33:14
G enesis
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He replied, “Jacob.”
“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.”
“Please tell me your name,” Jacob said.
“Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he
blessed Jacob there.
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.” The sun was
rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping because of the injury to his
hip. (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.)
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. He put
the servant wives and their children at the front, Leah and her children
next, and Rachel and Joseph last. Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before him.
Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his
neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.
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. Then the servant wives came forward with their children
and bowed before him. Next came Leah with her children, and they
bowed before him. Finally, Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed
before him.
“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.”
“My brother, I have plenty,” Esau answered. “Keep what you have for
yourself.”
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! Please take this gift I have brought you, for God has
been very gracious to me. I have more than enough.” And because Jacob
insisted, Esau finally accepted the gift.
“Well,” Esau said, “let’s be going. I will lead the way.”
But Jacob replied, “You can see, my lord, that some of the children are
very young, and the flocks and herds have their young, too. If they are
driven too hard, even for one day, all the animals could die. Please, my lord,
