Genesis 31-33

Jacob continues to live a life of deceit in running from his father-in-law with all he owns and with all his family. He waits for the right moment, and his favorite wife steals her father's "household idols." I do not know what god they represented, but there is a wide variance there. Interestingly, when Laban does catch up (he had a dream the night before) he once again says, "Your father's god," as so many have done before, showing that Jacob here is in the minority. His wives may not worship YHWH – his father-in-law doesn't and the land he left didn't seem to either. It shows why Abram was charged to leave all those years ago. Laban tracks them all down, confronts them, makes a covenant and says good-bye. One thing I noticed here is that Jacob has worked for Laban for 20 years. The first 7 were working to acquire Rachel. Instead Laban gave him Leah, and then got Jacob to work another 7 for Rachel (he married them both within one week). This means he had two wives and they had their maidservants within the first 7 years and two weeks. He now has 11 sons and an undefined number of daughters (this will be proven next chapter) in a period of 13 years. This also shows that Reuben (the oldest) cannot be more than 12 years older than Joseph. This might put the rest of the story in frame for you so you see how far apart all the children are. Benjamin has not been born yet. He will truly be the baby of the family.

After dealing with Laban, Jacob has two major other battles to fight – Esau and God. Esau he tries to appeal to by sending huge gifts ahead to appease his brother. When it is all said and done, he still is not close to his brother, but settles near Succoth and then Shechem (important city for the next few chapters!). He really feels that Esau means him harm and continues to act sneaky by going away from his brother. However, the other fight he cannot get away from – it is important that he has this fight, and it becomes destiny in a way. He wrestles with a man until daybreak. Now the book of Hosea (12:4) tells us that this is an angel, or messenger. Others believe this to be the true God in a theophany (or christophany). *those words are fancy words that mean "God sighting" or "Christ sighting"* I know that this story is important no matter who it was. The man wrestles with Jacob until daybreak. The man touches Jacob's hip and causes him to limp for the rest of his life (at least that is implied). Then the man mysteriously wants to leave. Jacob will not let him go until he is blessed. The man asks for a name – which is a huge sign that suggests authority (you didn't ask for a name unless you wanted authority over someone) – and Jacob replies with his name. The man blesses him and gives him a new name – יִשְׂרָאֵל, or Israel in English – which means "struggles with God" or "contends with God." Then Jacob asks for the name of the man (always trying to get ahead) but the man knows what Jacob is doing and says, "why do you ask what my name is?" This is a time when God shows man that he can run as far as he wants, try as he may, but he will never outrun Him – the God of all. Jacob, Israel, is noticeably different from here. He deceives, yes, but he claims God as his own. He may not follow Him well, but He is now Jacob's God. This is significant. Are you wrestling right now?