Genesis 32:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And 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 kindred, that I may do you good,’

NIV: Then Jacob prayed, 'O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, LORD, you who said to me, 'Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,'

NASB: Then Jacob said, 'God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, Lord, who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’

CSB: Then Jacob said, "God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, 'Go back to your land and to your family, and I will cause you to prosper,'

NLT: Then Jacob prayed, 'O God of my grandfather Abraham, and God of my father, Isaac — O Lord, you told me, ‘Return to your own land and to your relatives.’ And you promised me, ‘I will treat you kindly.’

KJV: And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:

NKJV: 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’:

According to Genesis 32:7, Jacob is terrified to hear that his estranged brother, Esau, is riding in his direction with 400 men. The language in the original Hebrew of verse 7 indicates a critical level of stress and fear. Jacob has good reason to believe Esau is coming to kill him. Twenty years prior, Jacob fled home to escape his brother's revenge (Genesis 27:41–45), after Jacob fooled their elderly father in order to steal Esau's blessing (Genesis 27:30–35).

How will Jacob respond to this fear? Despite his reputation for selfish scheming, his attempt to "plan" here actually makes a lot of sense. In that sense, Jacob provides a good model for us. He takes what action he can, positioning his large company to save as many as possible (Genesis 32:7–8). Then Jacob prays.

God has told Jacob repeatedly that He would be with him. God has often demonstrated to Jacob His protection and blessing. Now Jacob demonstrates his faith in the God who protects and provides: he turns to God for help. That's what believers do. Jacob begins his prayer by addressing God as the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac, connecting to God's legacy of blessing for his fathers. Then Jacob refers to the Lord as the one who told him to return to his country and family and promised to do good to him.

In terms of his literal words, Jacob is reminding God of God's own promise. In effect, though, Jacob is reminding himself, both of God's history of goodness and the promise to continue to do good for him.

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.