Lesson 4

Twenty years passed in the life of Jacob (Genesis 31:38, 41). Genesis 30-31 summarizes those years. From Genesis 29:31 -30:24, we learn about the growth of Jacob's family. During this time eleven sons and one daughter were born to Jacob. Genesis 30:25 - 31:10 tell of the growth of Jacob's fortune. Although God had made Jacob into a rich man (in ancient times wealth was measured by having a big family, a long life, and a large herd), he was not a happy man. It was going to take a series of crises to make Jacob a new man.

Jacob tried to leave the service of his father-in-law once but was unsuccessful, 30:25-27. He dreamed of leaving but was compelled to stay. He schemed a method of enlarging his flocks even more, 30:28-43. The result was the growth in both size and strength of Jacob's flocks and herds but the deterioration of the relationship between Jacob and Laban (31:1-2). Jacob, the deceiver, was continually being deceived (31:5-7) by his father-in-law.

Jacob told his wives about a dream in which God had spoken to him, 31:11. God wanted Jacob to return to the land of his fathers, 31:3, 13. The Lord told Jacob that He had actually been the means through which Jacob had acquired the bigger and better herd, 31:10-12. The Lord reminded him of his experience at Bethel, when he had first become keenly aware of the presence of God (31:13; 28:10-22). Please understand that God is leading Jacob directly into a crisis situation.

Crises are often God's way of getting our attention. The Philippian jailor in Acts 16 was saved because of an earthquake. Crises make a person look up toward God. It was about to be so with Jacob. He secretly packed up his family and his fortune (31:17-18) and left while Laban was away, 31:19-21.

When Laban learned of it he headed in hot pursuit of Jacob, 31:22-23. Jacob's method of leaving made him look really bad, 31:25-28. Laban could have punished Jacob (v. 29a) and probably would have had God not intervened (vs. 24, 29). There came a moment of conflict between Laban and Jacob. First, Laban accused Jacob (vs. 25-30) and then Jacob accused Laban (vs. 36-42). What could have easily become an ugly conflict became a beautiful covenant between the two men (31-44-55).

For the moment the crisis was over. There was an agreement, an understanding, and even an expression of love (kisses and blessings) between Jacob and his father-in-law. Jacob could not help but see that God had seen him through this time of crisis. Jacob was indeed thinking about God.

But another crisis was just around the corner. And this one promised to be more serious than the first. Jacob was about to come face to face with a man who had sworn to kill him, 27:41-42.

Jacob was finally headed for home after twenty years of service to his unscrupulous father-in-law. But while on his way home, Jacob learned that Esau, his brother, was on his way to meet him, Genesis 32:6. This was indeed a crisis for Jacob. Fear gripped his heart, v. 7a. But, instead of calling on God, who had just helped him through a crisis, Jacob resorted to his old way of dealing with things - carnal scheming, plotting and planning to save his own neck (see verses 7b-8, 13-23) and making deals with God (verses 9-12). Verse 24 says, "And Jacob was left alone."

What followed was an all-night wrestling match, v. 24. Who was Jacob wrestling with? Verse 24 refers to the wrestler as "a man"; Hosea 12:4 says that it was an angel. But according to verse 30, it is clear that Jacob wrestled that night with God. Bible scholars refer to this as one of the several Old Testament appearances of Jesus Christ. (In the Old Testament "the angel of the Lord" refers to Christ - compare Genesis 22:15 with 16; also Exodus 3:2 with 4; see also Zechariah 12:8). Here is a classic case of a man fighting God. For a time, Jacob seemed to be able to hold his own against God! How sad it is that men are so strong in their resistance of God. But God persists in the pressure until he had finally disabled Jacob, verse 25. When he no longer had the strength to resist, Jacob wrapped his arms around the divine wrestler and refused to let go until he received a blessing, v. 26. As though that was not the point to which God had been working on Jacob for a lifetime! All along God wanted to bless Jacob.

Here, Jacob is truly "converted". This was the turning point in his life. Jacob was changed! (I believe) this was the moment of his salvation. It took a crisis to bring him to God. The blessing which he received was a new name. No longer would he be "Jacob" - "cheater." From henceforth, he would be called "Israel" - "a prince of God." That new name would become the name of a nation - the chosen people of God- the people through whom God would send a Savior. Jacob not only got a new name, he also got a new position and a new power - "for as a prince thou hast power with God and with men" (v. 28). He also took on a new walk. He halted (limped) thereafter as a simple reminder of his meeting with God.

The next day, Jacob was reunited with his twin brother Esau and there was not a battle but a brotherhood, see Genesis 33:1-16. God worked out all his problems with his brother after he came to God.

There is a simple lesson to be learned from this. It is that the best way to be blessed by God, is to be broken. We have to be humbled before we can be changed. Until one is broken, he is full of himself, his plans, his schemes, his dreams, his bargains, his opinions, his ambitions, his will.

God wants to save us. He want to change us, to give us a new name, a new position, a new power, a new walk. But before we can be changed, we must be broken. Jesus taught this, see Matthew 21:42-44.

Notes to teacher: This entire series, and especially this last lesson, is intended to be evangelistic. Review the lessons to show how "Cheater" who was caught "cheating" and got "cheated" was finally "changed" by God. There were some other practical lessons along the way ...

· A warning against being deceitful.

· The consequences of what you do (sowing and reaping).

· How we all need to be changed by God.

I suggest that you spend some time at the end of the class just presenting the plan of salvation.