Day: October 17, 2021

The History of God in His Union With Man, Ch. 9, Sec. 3 of 6

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Facing the Trouble of Esau’s Dealing with Him

After dealing with the trouble from his uncle, Jacob had to face the trouble of his brother Esau’s dealing with him (Gen. 32:1-23; 33:1-16).

Wrestling with God

The night before Jacob confronted Esau, he wrestled with God until the break of day, and God changed his name from Jacob to Israel, indicating that God would transform him from a supplanter (Jacob) to a wrestler with God, or a prince of God (Israel). Jacob was such a strong wrestler that he even overcame God. Eventually, however, while Jacob was wrestling with God, God touched his thigh and made him limp (32:24-32). From that time Jacob became a lame person (v. 31).

We need to realize that although Jacob was touched by God, he was not yet a transformed person. After his being touched by God in chapter 32, we see in chapter 37 that Jacob still loved his son Joseph, the son of his beloved wife Rachel, more than his other sons. Because of Jacob’s preferential love, his other sons hated Joseph (vv. 3-4). This proves that Jacob was not transformed but still living in the natural life. When God changed his name to Israel, this indicated that God would eventually transform him.

Facing the Trouble of His Daughter Dinah

In Genesis 34 Jacob had to face the trouble of the case of his daughter Dinah. The Lord used the circumstance with her to deal with Jacob in a further way. Jacob had twelve sons and one daughter. He experienced trouble with each of his children. This was because God had destined him to live a struggling life.

Being Purified and Returning to Bethel

After the trouble related to the situation with his daughter Dinah, the Lord charged Jacob to go back to Bethel. Jacob and his family were then purified from the foreign gods and their ornaments that they loved, according to God’s commandment, so that they might serve God with an altar built at Bethel (35:1-3). When God appeared to Jacob at Bethel in Genesis 28, Jacob made a deal with God (vv. 20-22). Now God was reminding Jacob to fulfill his terms to God’s promise.

After Jacob and his family purified themselves from their foreign gods and ornaments, they returned to Bethel to serve God with an altar. Bethel was the place where God changed Jacob’s name to Israel. At Bethel God promised Jacob that He as the All-sufficient God would make him fruitful and multiplied, that a nation and a company of nations would come from him, and that kings would come forth from his loins. God also promised that He would give to him and his seed the land He gave to Abraham and Isaac (35:1-15). This was the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham and to Isaac. Eventually, that unique promise became a threefold promise to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

The History of God in His Union With Man, Ch. 9, Sec. 2 of 6

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Escaping from His Uncle Laban

Jacob escaped from his uncle Laban according to the indication of the complaint of Laban’s sons and the attitude of Laban and according to God’s instruction (31:1-21). Jacob stayed with Laban and worked for Laban for twenty years, and within this time Laban changed Jacob’s wages ten times (v. 41). The first fourteen years of his labor were his service to Laban so that he could gain Leah and Rachel as his wives. Jacob loved Rachel and told Laban that he would serve him seven years for her. Laban agreed to this, but when these seven years were completed, Laban tricked him and gave him Leah. Then he told Jacob that he would give him Rachel for another seven years of his service. Jacob agreed, and Laban then gave him his daughter Rachel (29:18-28). Jacob served Laban for a total of twenty years. Although Laban was so subtle and even changed Jacob’s wages ten times, Jacob was eventually the winner. He came to Laban’s house as a young bachelor, but he left Laban’s house with four wives, eleven sons, and many herds of cattle.

Facing the Trouble of Laban’s 
Pursuing and Overtaking Him

Jacob faced the trouble of Laban’s pursuing and overtaking him while he was under the secret care and protection of God as the Angel of God—Christ (31:10-13, 22-55). Laban was not an easygoing person. Jacob with his four wives did not say goodbye to him when they left. They stole away and fled from Laban (v. 20). When Laban realized this, he took his men to pursue them, and he eventually overtook them. Laban rebuked Jacob, but Jacob in turn rebuked Laban more strongly. That subdued Laban (vv. 25-44). Eventually, he and Laban made a covenant of peace with each other. Then Laban kissed his daughters and grandchildren, blessed them, and returned to his place (v. 55). This account is a good example of human diplomacy.

Actually, though, Jacob faced the trouble from Laban while he was under the secret care of God as the Angel of God—Christ. The first time we see Christ as the Angel of Jehovah to serve God’s people is in the book of Exodus. Exodus 3:2 says that the Angel of Jehovah appeared to Moses in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. Exodus 14 shows that when Pharaoh’s army came to overtake Israel, Christ as the Angel of Jehovah was going before them and was also taking care of them from behind to protect them (v. 19). Jacob was under the secret care of Christ as the Angel of Jehovah.

After Laban departed from Jacob, Genesis 32:1 and 2 say that “Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And Jacob said when he saw them, This is God’s camp. So he called the name of that place Mahanaim.” Mahanaim means “two hosts,” “two camps,” “two armies.” As Jacob was on his way, he was probably thinking about how he would face Esau. Much to his surprise, two hosts of the angels of God met him, indicating that they would protect him. Afterward, Jacob divided his family into two camps, two armies (v. 7). Jacob was under God’s protection because his preservation was vital to God’s New Testament economy. Out of Jacob eventually came Mary, of whom Christ was born (Matt. 1:2, 16).