Answering the Prayer: Blessing Genesis: Begin at the Beginning Genesis 32-33 Dr. Leon L. Sanders
Esau s Home
Mahanaim Mahanaim Two Camps (2Ki 6:15-17) Jacobs applies this name to the location where he saw an encampment of angels near to his camp There is no apparent significance given to this other than he is about to return to the Promised Land ; however, These chapters abound with references to two camps
Jacob Sends a Message Jacob sends Esau a message in true Oriental fashion Esau is called Lord, he is the eldest Jacob calls himself slave, showing due deference Jacob says that he has done well, not coming to beg He asks forgiveness of Esau
Esau Sends a Reply Esau s simple reply: I m coming (with 400 men) Jacob s response shows unresolved guilt, and fear He assumes Esau is coming to kill him, and his family, in revenge for Jacob taking the blessing Based solely on his unresolved guilt, now the saga begins
Jacob Prepares to Appease Jacob takes from his herds the best of the animals and divides them into four groups to go ahead of him These groups are to be separated so as Esau encounters a group, and is given the animals, perhaps his anger will be assuaged Of course, these have the opposite effect, Esau is confused because he has forgotten his anger, and he has no guilt
Mahanaim Esau is one camp which is riding rapidly up the Jordon River valley Jacob is the other camp which is waiting to meet Esau Notice the difference between the two camps
Two Camps -- Mahanaim
Mahanaim Differences Esau Jacob Wealth is based on men Wealth is based on animals He does not bring gifts for Jacob Gifts are given from guilt and fear to divert anger (death) Esau rides at the head of his men Jacob is the last to cross Jabbok though the first to meet Esau Esau wants to co-opt Jacob Jacob avoids assimilation
Mahanaim Jacob divides his livestock into two camps Jacob divides his family into two camps Slaves with their children together Legitimate wives with their children (two camps) Leah first Rachel last
Meeting of the Brothers
Facing Consequences Jacob s trickery of Isaac to obtain Esau s blessing Brought guilt that has not abated over the years Leaving God s will did not forgo facing the consequences God brought Jacob back to the Land to face the consequences Jacob had to meet with Esau, and God, before entering the land in God s name (Clear Conscience-Ac 24:16)
Facing the Consequences When you leave God s will, His path for you, the best accomplishment you achieve is wasted time When you come back to the path, His will, you must face the very consequences you tried to avoid You must make it right: first with God then with man This is the spiritual growth God prepares for each of us
Jacob s Mahanaim Old Jacob New Jacob Coward Would sacrifice Brave in Humility Saved Possessions Would meet Esau first Slaves Would sacrifice himself Family Would know God Lack of faith in God Lost Learned the value of prayer
el g n A e h t g n i l t s e Jacob Wr Which picture best matches your view of this misunderstood event?
Events as Read Angel (Pre-incarnate Christ) (Ho 12:3) jumps Jacob at night beside the stream He wrestles with Jacob all night but cannot win When day comes Angel is anxious to get away When Jacob refuses to let Him go, He cripples Jacob
Events as Read Jacob demands and receives a blessing Jacob asks the Angel for His name but is refused Jacob names the place face of God since he believed he saw God s face (struggled with God and lived) Now, he goes to see Esau, as a crippled having met God
Summary: Events as Read God: Is weak Cannot defeat a man in wrestling Is vindictive Cannot win unless he cripples Jacob Is arbitrary Refuses to identify Himself, gives no reason Man: Is strong, able to overcome God and demand the Blessing
Summary: Events as Read No wonder people are confused as they simply read through the Bible with little study Let us reason together and seek to put these events into proper perspective (Is 1:18-20) Our template will be Christ s parable of Importune Prayer (Lk 11:5-13)
What Started This Event? Jacob prayed to God (Ge 32:9-12). The struggle is his answer to this prayer! Identifies God as the One associated with Abraham Isaac Himself as next in line to receive the Blessing (per God) Recounts his vision of God s Throne in Heaven (Bethel)
What Started This Event? Expresses humility and inability to control others Jacob s flesh is reaching its limit, no more tricks Jacob is looking for strength in God Asks God for help after dividing into various Mahanaim Asks to be delivered from Esau, admits he fears him Implied: He needs salvation to receive the Blessing
What Started This Event? Finally, he identifies the Blessing with God Reminds God of His promise to do good to Jacob Multiply offspring as sand which cannot be numbered In essence then, what follows is God answering his prayer, to receive the blessing just as God gave the blessing to Abraham and Isaac
How to Read the Bible To know the story we must read it as the Hebrews would have read it and not as we read it today from our Western, modern (godless*), perspective
Jabbok (י ב ק) (Ge 32:22) י ב ק Means a pouring forth or a struggle Probably named by Jacob after his struggle Could also convey the idea of baptism, or power of God, crossing the stream after his encounter* Cataclysm (1Pe 3:18-22) Red Sea* (Jos 2:8-11) Jordon River* (Jos 4:23-24)
Wrestle (א ב ק) (Ge 32:24) א ב ק Means to literally to float away as dust This carries the imagery of a struggle (Ps 103:10-14) This word only used twice, both in this chapter Verb, niphal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular Jacob started this by continual, importune prayer to God because God brought the struggle to him (1Th 5:16-19)
Prevail (י כ ל) (Ge 32:25) The carries the idea of overcoming Verb, qal, perfect, 3 rd person, singular Qal Active voice Perfect Completed action The Angel did not dissuade Jacob from begging for the Blessing (1Co 10:13; Ph 3:13-16)
Prevail (י כ ל) (Ge 32:28) Verb, qal, imperfect, 2nd person, masculine, singular Active voice Progression action Jacob successfully importuned Jesus and received the Blessing, not a one-time event but an ongoing process of maturing growth in grace
What Happened? Jacob prayed God answered his prayer This is one of the earliest examples of the Hagiazo Process (See Job s lectures for a fuller explanation) God did not miraculously give the Blessing to Jacob, He taught him a better way apart from the flesh, through reliance on His strength, and Spirit
Jacob as Fleshly Man Also, the struggle between Jacob and Jesus was not a contest of strength, but of wills (Ro 8:5-8) Jacob wanted the Blessing but he could not receive it in his fleshly state His struggle to obtain the Blessing wrongly (trickery) Now, he struggled to receive the Blessing properly
Why Struggle with Jesus? Now he was beginning to understand God s plan This is a personal struggle each believer has with Jesus (rebirth or born again) Do we follow because we have God s vision of salvation Or do we seek Him for personal gain: power, wealth, prestige, fleshly relationships
The Struggle Jesus saw that Jacob would not be dissuaded from his earnest desire to obtain the Blessing, relationship with God The comment about the coming of day was to weaken Jacob s resolve (doubt) to obtain the Blessing Jesus disabled Jacob, not to get away, but to show him the cost of walking with God, weakening of the flesh (He 11)
The Name Jacob asks for, and receives the Blessing before releasing Jesus (Our prayers should be so importune, seeking growth) Jesus asks Jacob his name He answers, Supplanter (Shameful name) Jesus changes his name to Israel (One who struggles with God and men, and overcomes {through God s strength}
The Name
The Name Israel asks for God s name God refuses to answer as Jacob already knows He is God Jacob acknowledges this by calling the place: Peniel, Face of God He struggled with God in prayer and was delivered
Israel The name applies to: Jacob The People Their struggle to accept and be accepted by God: Then (Old Testament) Now (New Testament) until they are delivered
Best Representation* Though not correct in many respects this best illustrates what I believed occurred when Jacob prayed to God and had his prayer answered via the Hagiazo Process. Jacob hangs onto Jesus for strength Who holds Jacob up to receive the Blessing
Deliverance by Prayer The struggle of the man of dust Began in darkness (lost) in the strength of the flesh Ends with the sunrise (saved) strong in faith, weak in flesh When Jacob meets Esau he is a changed man (2Co 5:17) Prayer changed him; true prayer will change you
Your Prayers? Are your prayers trite, self-centered, asking for superficial needs, expecting immediate visible answers? Are you praying for real needs for others and yourself? Jacob did!