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Monday 7 April 2014

Genesis Chapter 32


 

GENESIS 

CHAPTER 

32

 



1. Jacob went on his way and the angels of God met him; and 2 when Jacob saw them he said, "This is God's camp!" So he called that place Mahanaim.

(Genesis chapter 32 verse 1 and 2)


Although Jacob may have not actually seen angels, in a physical form or as we may imagine them with wings as we are traditionally accustomed to seeing them, Jacob may have seen good people of God who came to meet him. Jacob realised that that camp was of God in the sense, that God's Holy presence was already present there. At times we go to places, or meet with people, in whom the presence of God can be actually felt. At times God makes me meet people who either need Him or who have already met Him. Once when I was waiting with my mother at the local clinic, I met a young man, whom after I had spent about ten minutes speaking with him, I realised that although still young, this person had encountered God in his life, and we ended up talking about God until it was his turn to see the doctor. It was an awesome experience. For some reason, maybe personal spiritual growth, God wanted me to be there at that time and place.


3. Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, 4 instructing them, "Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, 'I have lived with Laban as an alien, and stayed until now; 5 and I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male and female slaves; and I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight"

(Genesis chapter 32 verses 3 to 5)


On going back it comes to mind that although fourteen years had passed since Jacob had left his father's house, the enmity and negative consequences of the circumstances of what had taken place between Esau and Jacob were still alive in Jacob, who on remembering his brother's anger and the wish to end Jacob's life still felt tremors running up and down his spine. Esau was still a skeleton in his cupboard, in old issue that sooner or later he would have to deal with. However this time, Jacob would not do it alone, because God had promised to be with him throughout the whole affair.


On reflecting if we had to look back we may also find skeletons or unresolved issues in our lives, or people with whom we still have dark areas or unresolved issues. I personally still have my own issues to solve. There are people such as my father with whom I still have issues that have feelings of anger, hurt that have not been settled. As in the case of Jacob I also dread the moment that the time of encounter will someday arrive, however God has also promised me, that He will be with me when the time comes. He is my counsellor and advocate, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.


6. The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, "We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him."

(Genesis chapter 32 verse 6)


We can only imagine Jacob's feelings on being informed that Esau, was not coming alone, but with a company of four hundred men strong. Many thoughts and questions come to mind. Is he coming in peace, or with an intention of war and strife? If so will I be able to cope against such a multitude of people. Even though Jacob was reassured by God, that He would be with Him, Jacob as a human still had his fears and doubts. Even though God promised me, that He will always be with me, when put to the test, I may also experience fears and doubts. However if I truly believe that God is with me, I need not have such feelings, because faith is to be in all or none at all. We either believe in God and take Him at His word or we do not believe at all. Although at times our humanity may take the better of us, and as a consequence we may sin against Him and others, we are to return back to God in a spirit of repentance and faith, for He is our saviour, line of defence forever.


7. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies, 8 thinking, "If Esau comes to the one company and destroys it, then the company that is left will escape."

(Genesis chapter 32 verses 7 to 8)


As a human Jacob's first reaction was to panic and raise the alarm to death call 100, and make the necessary plans and even contingency plans in order to protect oneself and ones' property against the lingering threat. Under pressure our brain either freezes or begins to function at a terrific speed. The decisions are basically two. We either fight or do our best to cope with the situation, or we run away and seek refuge. In such circumstances Jacob was faced with the same decision.


9. 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, and I will do you good,' 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan; and now I have become two companies. 11 Deliver me, please, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I am afraid of him; he may come and kill us all, the mothers with the children. 12 Yet you have said, ' I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted because of their number.'"

(Genesis chapter 32 verses 9 to 12)


Instead of totally relying on his own devices Jacob turned his focus on God. Jacob felt psychologically crushed as witnessed by his prayer as found in verses 9 to 12. On the one hand Jacob was aware of how God had always kept His promise ever since the time of Abraham and his father Isaac. Moreover Jacob also had his own personal experience of God when faced with the crisis at home with Esau and the affair of the blessing. However most of all Jacob made a direct experience of God when faced with the challenge when living with Laban. Although throughout all these circumstances God had always been with Jacob and had promised to be with him as referred to in verse 12, Jacob was still terrified by the possibility of his destruction and that of his family, along with all his property. Jacob was facing one of the greatest struggles of his life. During such moments one questions God's presence in ones life. Will God really deliver me as He did before? Is He still there? Will he punish me at the hand of my brother for being dishonest with my father and brother and stealing his blessing?


At the point of death we may also face the following dilemma. Questions such as God's love, our promised place in heaven, what will become of our families after I leave this earth may all crop up when being under such pressure. However as in the case of Jacob we are to turn on to God and cast our burdens on to Him, who is always faithful, compassionate, loving and caring.


13. So he spent that night there, and from what he had with him he took a present for his brother Esau, 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 thirty milch camels and their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. 16 These he delivered into the hands of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, "Pass on ahead of me, and put a space between drove and drove." 17. He instructed the foremost, "When Esau my brother meets you, and asks you, 'To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And whose are these ahead of you? 18. then you shall say, 'They belong to your servant Jacob; they are a present sent to my lord Esau; and moreover he is behind us,'" 19. He likewise instructed the second and the third and all who followed the droves, "You shall say the same thing to Esau when you meet him, 20 and you shall say, 'Moreover your servant Jacob is behind us.'" For he thought, " I may appease him with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterwards I shall see his face; perhaps he will accept me." 21 So the present passed on ahead of him; and he himself spent that night in the camp.

(Genesis chapter 32 verses 13 to 21)


In order to compensate for his sins and injustices towards his brother Esau and maybe secure his own well being and that of his family and property, Jacob gives as a present a very generous portion of his property to his brother Esau. In our relationship with God we might try to do the same thing. We might decide to fast on a daily or weekly basis or say the rosary frequently (not that these things are bad to do) in order to try and please God. However when the period of testing comes, we may remind God that we had done these acts and try to use them in our favour as good points as a means of persuasion to God.


22. The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had.

(Genesis chapter 32 verses 22 to 23)


During such moments of solitude we are able to face our reality. Jacob wanted to be alone. He secured the safety of his wives, maids and children and decided to face the consequences of his meeting with his brother Esau by himself. However although Jacob thought that he was by himself, but this was not so, because God was with him.


24. Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.

(Genesis chapter 32 verses 24 to 25)


The image portrayed is that God wrestled with Jacob. The biblical author may have given physical properties to God. On the other hand it could have been a mental wrestle that took place in a dream. However it seems that through this ordeal with God Jacob was physically impaired. For some reason God weakened Jacob. It could be that if Esau saw Jacob in such a condition he would have mercy on him and forget his anger for Jacob. Who would ever think of fighting against a man who was physically impaired or disabled?


26. Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." 27 So he said to him, "What is your name? And he said, "Jacob" 28 Then the man said, 'You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed." 29 Then Jacob asked him. "Please tell me your name." But he said "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved."

(Genesis chapter 32 verses 26 to 30)


Apparently Jacob wrestled with God. Whether God became human I can neither confirm or deny, however for God anything is possible. During my life I have had many struggles with God. Recently I was praying God to let me return back to the world of Social Work, where I used to work. My battle with Him like Jacob became so strong and fierce that God somehow had to overpower me, from becoming hurt, hurting others such as my clients, or most of all, bringing harm upon my family. In order to prevent this from happening God gave me a chronic condition called Irritable bowel syndrome that causes me great pain in my abdominal whenever I am under stress. Although as in the case of Jacob God did not change my name, He succeeded in changing my outlook to life forever.


31. The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the thigh muscle that is on the hip socket, because he struck Jacob on the hip socket at the thigh muscle.

(Genesis chapter 32 verses 31 to 32)


As God's light shone on Jacob he was a different person. His encounter with God made a big change in him, not just physically but also on a spiritual level. God empowered him, so that he could meet his brother. Moreover Jacob could now be a good leader of the people, that would continue to develop from his offspring, the people that God had chosen.


I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-


Oh God my father thank You for making me as I am. Thank you for the chronic condition that you have given. Again and again, I thank you for overpowering me, in my life-long struggle with you, over the decision of my previous work. Now I realise that what you did was for my own good. Forgive me for those moments, when I was totally against you. Thank you for making me a call agent and degrading me from the position of social worker. Thank You for raising the awareness of your presence in me. I also wish to thank you for giving me this special calling that of spreading your Word on line. I pray that all those whom you call to read and pray on Your Word, will gain a hundred times of the benefit that I have gained through meditating on Your Word. I would also like to thank You God for friends such as Mr. Deevain Ajit Pawar, who has become a brother to me in this assignment that You have given me. I pray that you continue blessing him and helping him in his spiritual life and also in his academical life. For me Deevain Ajit Pawar is like Saint Paul's assistant Theofilius, a trustworthy friend working with me in the field of God.


Thank You God, may Your name be blessed forever and ever in both heaven and earth
Thank You God







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