Genesis 32:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

NIV: Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

NASB: Now as Jacob went on his way, the angels of God met him.

CSB: Jacob went on his way, and God's angels met him.

NLT: As Jacob started on his way again, angels of God came to meet him.

KJV: And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

NKJV: So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

Twenty years prior to the start of this passage, Jacob fled his home to escape the vengeful rage of his twin brother, Esau (Genesis 27:41). That led him into employment under Laban, his future father-in-law, who routinely cheated him (Genesis 31:6–7). After making a covenant of separation and peace with Laban, Jacob is finally free to cross over into Canaan and return to his people. God has commanded Jacob to make this move with the promise that He would be with Jacob.

Now the Lord provides new evidence to Jacob that He is still with him. Some "angels of God" meet him. This is Jacob's second encounter with angels. The first time, he received a vision from the Lord in a dream of angels going up and down a ladder or staircase with the Lord Himself at the top (Genesis 28:12–13).

This time, however, Jacob is apparently wide awake. We don't know what, if any, message is given by the angels, only that they meet Jacob. That alone would be enough to confirm God's presence with Jacob as he re-entered the promised land of Canaan.

Genesis 32:1–21 describes Jacob's preparations to meet his brother Esau, who is coming his way with 400 men. This will be the first time Jacob and Esau have spoken since Jacob fled Esau's rage as described in Genesis 27. Jacob is terrified this approaching force is coming to kill him. He divides his company into two camps. He prays in humility and faith to God for deliverance. He prepares a large gift of 550 animals to be strategically delivered to Esau to appease his presumed anger.

As Jacob turns from Laban and returns to his own country, he must face another fearful potential conflict. His twin brother Esau is coming with 400 men. Jacob fears this group approaches to take revenge for cheating Esau out of the family blessing 20 years earlier. Jacob is so afraid that he splits his company into two camps, even as he prays for deliverance. He also prepares an enormous gift to appease Esau. Finally, while alone in the dark, Jacob is unexpectedly forced to wrestle a mysterious man, who turns out to be God Himself in some manifested form. In a profound moment of symbolism, God forces Jacob to state his own name, which God then changes to Israel.

Jacob came to work for Laban while running from the murderous rage of his twin brother, Esau. Jacob was routinely cheated by Laban, eventually resolving to go back home along with his entire family. Unfortunately, this means coming back to face Esau. Jacob soon learns that Esau is headed his way with 400 men. Are they coming to kill Jacob in revenge for his deceit in stealing Isaac's blessing 20 years earlier? Jacob is afraid. He divides his large company into two camps. He prays earnestly to God for deliverance, and he prepares a huge gift to appease Esau. Finally, alone in the dark, Jacob physically grapples with a mysterious man who turns out to be God Himself, in some form. The man questions Jacob, changes his name to Israel, and pronounces a blessing. Thus prepared, Jacob will finally be reunited with his brother in the next chapter.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 5/3/2024 11:03:21 PM