GENESIS: Before We Make Amends with Others, We Have to Get Right with God; The Lord said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim. (Genesis 32:1-2) 

Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. And he commanded them, saying, “Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus your servant Jacob says: “I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now. I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.”’” (Genesis 32:3-5)

Jacob and his family left the east, Haran (ie. Syria) and were traveling back to the promised land.  But before they arrived their, Jacob desired to reconcile with his brother Esau (aka Edom). He was even prepared to give Esau a gift of all that he had in exchange for his forgiveness for taking away Esau's birthright and blessing. (Genesis 27)

Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies. And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.” (Genesis 32:6-8) After the news from the messengers, Jacob decided not to offer all he had to Esau. Instead, he would try to make sure half of what he had would survive, in case Esau attached.  

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’: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children. For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’” (Genesis 32:9-12)

Want our prayers answered? Pray God's Words back to him. The Lord Himself said, "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11) Interesting note, Jacob says the phrase, I have become two companies; and in his descendants future, they will divide into to countries, but later reunite.

So he lodged there that same night, and took what came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother: two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals. Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants, every drove [herd] by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put some distance between successive droves [herds].” (Genesis 32:13-16)

And he commanded the first one, saying, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?’ then you shall say, ‘They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.’” So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, “In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him; and also say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.’” For he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.” So the present went on over before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp. (Genesis 32:17-21)

Jacob's really trying to soften Esau up by the time he gets to him.  After dividing all he had into two companies, he sent his servants ahead by dividing up everything in the one company and presenting to Esau along his journey.  The other company, which included his wives and children he sent in another direction. And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had. Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. (Genesis 32:22-24)

Who is this "Man" that Jacob wrestled with when he was left alone?  The prophet Hosea explained, “The Lord also brings a charge against Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his deeds He will recompense him. He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his strength he struggled with God. Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; he wept, and sought favor from Him. He found Him in Bethel, and there He spoke to us— that is, the Lord God of hosts. The Lord is His memorable name. So you, by the help of your God, return; observe mercy and justice, and wait on your God continually." (Hosea 12:2-6)

The "Man" was the Lord God, a physical manifestation of Christ Jesus Himself.  From creation (Genesis 1), to the garden of Eden (Genesis 2-3), to meeting with Abraham after the battle with the kings as the High Priest Melchizedek (Genesis 14), to meeting with Abraham again with two of His angels before destroying Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18-19); this was another appearance of Christ Jesus.

Now when He [the Lord] saw that He did not prevail against him [Jacob], He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. (Genesis 32:25-29)

Why did the Lord wrestle with Jacob? Why did he put Jacob's hip out of joint? The Apostle Paul had a physical limitation that may help us understand the why's. Paul wrote, And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (II Corinthians 12:7-10)

God has a way of keeping us humble, so that we can never think because of how good we have been or what awesome things we have done that we have what we have.  We have no power or strength within ourselves, other than what God has given us. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:10) Jacob had done many things deserving of the wrath of God and Esau, but God had blessed him in spite of because Isaac had blessed him. 

So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip. Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank. (Genesis 32:30-32)