Jacob – A Prince with God Study 5 – “He had power with God”

Jacob – A Prince with God

“Jacob – A Prince with

God”Study 5 – “He had power with God”


… ….

Esau comes from Edom

Jacob journeys in haste from

Haran

Confrontation with Laban at Galeed

An angel wrestles

with him at Jabbok

Jacob Returns to the Land


The time of Jacob’s trouble Gen. 32:1-8 – Two camps becomes

three – insurance before prayer. Esau’s small-mindedness revealed. Gen. 32:13-23 – The longest night of

Jacob’s life – meticulous preparation to meet Esau – initial contact carefully choreographed.

“For Yahweh hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that

was stronger than he.” – Jer. 31:11


Mahanaim - Gen. 32:1-2 Signifies “two camps”. Gen. 28:12-15 – Angels already part of his

camp – “ascending and descending”. Ps. 34:7 – “The angel of the LORD

encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.”

Gen. 48:16 - Final realisation after a lifetime of experience – “The Angel which redeemed me from all evil.”

Heb. 2:14 – “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”


Insurance and PrayerGen. 32:6-12

V.6 – Esau’s ego revealed. V.7 – Jacob now has “3 camps”. V.8 – Insurance – Mitigation of loss. Vv.9-12 – Jacob’s great prayer of

dependence.

Why is it not immediately answered?


The Governing PrincipleJohn 6:28-29

“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”


Appeasing Esau’s faceGen. 32:13-23

A long night! – V.13, 21, 22. 580 animals in probably 5 droves – cp. 33:8. V.17 – Commanding deliverances for Jacob

– Ps. 44:3-4. V.20 – “For he said, I will appease

(kaphar paneh – cover his face) him with the present that goeth before me (paneh – my face), and afterward I will see his face (paneh); peradventure he will accept of me (paneh – my face).”


JabbokThe name signifies

“pouring out” or “emptying”. Jacob

was to be emptied of the “Syrian” by the

events of this place.Some suggest it is

from the root abak – to wrestle or struggle

(the verb translated “wrestled” in V.24.


… …. ...


God’s Method – Gen. 32:24-32 “left alone” – This is when our

relationship with God is tested – Jacob sought the angels (V.1).

“there wrestled a man with him” – This was an angel (Hos. 12:4). God initiated the struggle. His method is to use the circumstances of human life to test and purge His servants.

Why “a man” and not “an angel”?


God’s Method – Gen. 32:24-32 “thigh…out of joint” – Strongest part of

body dislocated – Lesson - no confidence in flesh – hence V.32.

Named changed to Israel, but not until Gen. 35:21 after Rachel (the Syrian) had died.

Peniel (“I have seen God”) – 1st person singular – Jacob’s lesson.

Penuel (“they have seen God”) – 3rd person plural – Lesson for all.


The sinew that shrankGen. 32:32

“sinew” – The sinew or tendon which holds the hip bone in its socket.

Thigh is strongest part of body = The strength of man.

Lesson – Israel’s ‘family builders’ do not put any trust in human strength.


Gen. 32:25 – “out of joint” – yaqa – dislocated.

“The sciatic nerve, the longest in the human body, runs from the lower back through the pelvic region and down the

“He halted upon his thigh”

back of the leg. To relieve the pain, sufferers often walk by bending the affected leg at the knee and rotating it outwards.” (Encarta)


“I will save her that halteth” Mic. 4:6-7; Zeph. 3:19

“Sciatica sometimes occurs during pregnancy when the sciatic nerve is pinched between the head of the foetus and the pelvic wall.” (Encarta)

Sciatic pain is the closest thing a man can experience to the pain of childbirth – Jer. 30:6-7.

“Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child?


Jacob to Israel Jacob = “heel-catcher”; supplanter. Israel - The name consists of two words

– sarah – to prevail; and El – might, power; hence Ygs. - “Ruling with God”, and Strong’s - “He will rule God”.

How can men prevail with

God?


Power over the AngelHos. 12:3-6

V.3 – “had power” – sarah – to prevail (as a prince). Ygs. Lit. “by his strength he was a prince with God”.V.4 – “power over the angel” – suwr – to vanquish; to rule. Ygs. Lit. – “Yea he is a prince unto the messenger”. Hence, Jacob “ruled over God” = ‘Israel’.

Proof – Hos. 11:12 – “but Judah yet ruleth with God (El)”.


“He found him in Bethel”Hos. 12:4 – Refers to 2nd visit to Bethel – Gen. 35:9-15. Free of the “Syrian” – Gen. 35:8-9, 19-20.

“there he spake with us” – The lesson is for us!

V.6 – Roth. - “Thou therefore by thy God shalt return”. Ygs. Lit. - “And thou through thy God, dost turn”. RSV – “So you by the help of thy God, return”.


“There He spake with us”“mercy” – chesed – loving-kindness - Ex. 34:6.

“judgment” – mishpat – justice. Divine ethics and characteristics.

“wait” – qavah – to bind together (perhaps by twisting). Echoes of Jacob’s wrestling!

“continually” – tamiyd – constant; in perpetuity.


The stolen blessing abandoned Gen. 33:8 – The blessings of the field

(“fatness of the earth” – Gen. 27:28) forfeited to find grace.

“My lord Esau” – Lordship in the earthly family (“be lord over thy brethren” – Gen. 27:29) abandoned – V.8, 13, 14 (2), 15.


This is how God deals with the

‘Jacob’ in all of us!

Jacob – A Prince with God Study 5 – “He had power with God”

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