1
00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,000
Speaker 1: And he said, thy name shall be called no more

2
00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:07,640
Speaker 1: Jacob but Israel. For as a prince, hast thou power

3
00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:13,200
Speaker 1: with God and with men, and hast prevailed Genesis thirty two,

4
00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:18,040
Speaker 1: twenty eight. Dear God, as I reflect on my life,

5
00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:23,080
Speaker 1: thank you Lord for the gift of reconciliation and forgiveness.

6
00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,880
Speaker 1: Thank you that even in my wrong doings you produce

7
00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:31,400
Speaker 1: grace moments for me. Like Jacob and Genesis thirty two

8
00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:34,320
Speaker 1: and thirty three, I choose to believe the words of

9
00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:38,880
Speaker 1: your angels that declare that here is the Lord's place.

10
00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:43,720
Speaker 1: I declare that my life is the Lord's place. I

11
00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:47,080
Speaker 1: declare that my business is the Lord's place, and that

12
00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:52,720
Speaker 1: my relationships are in the Lord's place. Therefore, I will

13
00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:55,639
Speaker 1: not be afraid of seasons. When I feel I am

14
00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:59,000
Speaker 1: wrestling for a new identity, a new blessing, and a

15
00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:03,960
Speaker 1: new beginning, I confess that I will hold on to you,

16
00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:08,080
Speaker 1: God until I receive my newness, and I will not

17
00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:13,720
Speaker 1: let go even after you bless me. You are my waymaker,

18
00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:17,039
Speaker 1: and you are the God that makes old things new.

19
00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,240
Speaker 1: Thank you, Lord, that even in the midst of dysfunction,

20
00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:25,959
Speaker 1: you still allow your glory to settle my differences and

21
00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:30,559
Speaker 1: bring restoration to my life. Thank you for a new

22
00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:34,120
Speaker 1: name of victory and a new purpose for my life,

23
00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:42,160
Speaker 1: filled with all your many blessings in Jesus name. Amen.

24
00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:47,240
Speaker 1: Thanks for making prayer or priority in your life to

25
00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:50,120
Speaker 1: hear the Bible come to life. Stay tuned for the

26
00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:53,240
Speaker 1: Bible in a Year brought to you by Bible in

27
00:01:53,280 --> 00:02:08,520
Speaker 1: a Year dot com. You are Israel. Before this story,

28
00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,960
Speaker 1: we learned of Jacob fleeing the service of Laban. He

29
00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:15,840
Speaker 1: packed his family and traveled back to Canaan. However, Leban

30
00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:19,600
Speaker 1: would not let Jacob go. Jacob and Laban bore their

31
00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:23,280
Speaker 1: souls before one another, sharing the anger that rested in

32
00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:27,960
Speaker 1: both their hearts. Eventually, the two made peace and Laban

33
00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:31,880
Speaker 1: sent Jacob on his way. Now we will learn about

34
00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:36,120
Speaker 1: Jacob entering into his homeland once again. Although he feared

35
00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:40,320
Speaker 1: the wrath of his brother Esau wrestling with God, Jacob

36
00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:42,920
Speaker 1: will cling to the blessings of God and get his

37
00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:49,079
Speaker 1: name changed inspired by the Book of Genesis. Hello, I'm

38
00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:51,880
Speaker 1: pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible in

39
00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:56,079
Speaker 1: a Year podcast. Previously, we heard the story of how

40
00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:58,920
Speaker 1: Jacob fled from Laban, a man who had wronged and

41
00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:03,119
Speaker 1: deceived Jacob for many years. In the end, the two

42
00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:06,080
Speaker 1: men made peace, and Laban let Jacob go to Canaan,

43
00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:09,840
Speaker 1: the land of Jacob's father, the land of Promise, and

44
00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:14,680
Speaker 1: Jacob took with him his wealth and a large family. Today,

45
00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:18,520
Speaker 1: we'll see how Jacob enters his former homeland and seeks

46
00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:23,079
Speaker 1: reconciliation with his brother Esau. If you remember their story,

47
00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:25,480
Speaker 1: it was Jacob who was the cheater and trickster in

48
00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:29,680
Speaker 1: that relationship, and when he fled more than twenty years before,

49
00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:35,080
Speaker 1: Esau was filled with rage and murderous intent. As you

50
00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:38,840
Speaker 1: listen to this passage of scripture, imagine the fear with

51
00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:42,880
Speaker 1: which Jacob stepped into this dangerous territory to face his

52
00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:47,480
Speaker 1: brother Esau. Before he encounters Esau, He's going to face

53
00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,720
Speaker 1: another man. But this is not just any man, and

54
00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:54,560
Speaker 1: he isn't a stranger, as Jacob will discover. It is

55
00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:58,400
Speaker 1: an encounter Jacob must have before he faces Esau, and

56
00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:02,080
Speaker 1: it will be a light changing turning point in his

57
00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:06,560
Speaker 1: life in future. So pay close attention as Jacob and

58
00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:10,400
Speaker 1: Esau finally face each other again, will there be bitterness

59
00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:15,240
Speaker 1: and bloodshed or renewal and reconciliation. Let's listen to God's

60
00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:20,000
Speaker 1: word and find out. A familiar breeze blew through the

61
00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:24,239
Speaker 1: valley below Jacob. The sweet summer air caressed the planes,

62
00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:28,599
Speaker 1: causing the grass to dance. Jacob smiled and turned his

63
00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:32,920
Speaker 1: face towards the sun. He was home again, still a

64
00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:36,120
Speaker 1: few miles away from Canaan. He then turned towards the

65
00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:39,559
Speaker 1: hill he had set camp on. Angels of the Lord

66
00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:43,640
Speaker 1: had met him there already. Jacob knew that something holy

67
00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:48,919
Speaker 1: in peculiar was taking place. This is God's camp, Jacob acknowledged.

68
00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:52,640
Speaker 1: The last time Jacob was there, he had run away

69
00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:56,719
Speaker 1: in fear of his brother Esau. Esau had vowed to

70
00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,680
Speaker 1: kill Jacob, so he left in hope that his brother's

71
00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:04,480
Speaker 1: anger would subside. Jacob sent messengers to go before him, saying,

72
00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,800
Speaker 1: I have sojourned with our uncle Leban, and have been

73
00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:12,960
Speaker 1: there until now. I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, servants that

74
00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:16,000
Speaker 1: I wish to share with you. I say all these

75
00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:21,520
Speaker 1: things to find favor in your sight. Jacob's servants had

76
00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:24,719
Speaker 1: sent Esau the message and waited on the outskirts of

77
00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:28,599
Speaker 1: his land to see what his response would be. Around

78
00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:32,240
Speaker 1: the corner of the canyons. The messengers saw Esau coming

79
00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:36,000
Speaker 1: out to meet with Jacob. Only behind him was four

80
00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:40,680
Speaker 1: hundred armed men. A great fear fell upon Jacob. He

81
00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:44,040
Speaker 1: remembered how wild of a man Esau was, filled with

82
00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:47,839
Speaker 1: power and tact Jacob did not have the strength nor

83
00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:51,760
Speaker 1: the men to defend himself. Jacob prepared for the worst.

84
00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,479
Speaker 1: He divided his camp into two parties and sent them

85
00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,919
Speaker 1: on opposite ends of one another. If Esaw came to

86
00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:01,839
Speaker 1: destroy one of the camps, the other would be spared.

87
00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:07,200
Speaker 1: Jacob trembled before God. Fear was overcoming him, and he

88
00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:11,120
Speaker 1: looked to heaven and said, God of my father's Abraham

89
00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:15,000
Speaker 1: and Isaac, you have told me to return. You desired

90
00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,200
Speaker 1: for me to be here so that you might bless me.

91
00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:22,320
Speaker 1: I am not worthy of your kindness or your provision. Jacob,

92
00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:25,920
Speaker 1: for perhaps the first time in his life, felt the

93
00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:30,080
Speaker 1: full weight of God's love for him. You have shown

94
00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:34,880
Speaker 1: me steadfast love and faithfulness. I began with nothing to

95
00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,040
Speaker 1: my name except a staff, and now I have two

96
00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:42,640
Speaker 1: camps that rely on me. Tears hid Jacob's trembling hands.

97
00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:48,200
Speaker 1: Please deliver me from the revenge of my brother. I

98
00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:51,800
Speaker 1: fear him and I fear for all the people here

99
00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:55,760
Speaker 1: under my care. But you promised to bless me and

100
00:06:55,839 --> 00:07:01,839
Speaker 1: to expand my offspring. I will trust you. Jacob lingered

101
00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:05,279
Speaker 1: there for the night. He sent out droves of gifts

102
00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:08,720
Speaker 1: of cattle, goats, and other live stock before him to

103
00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:12,800
Speaker 1: gain favor with Esau. Yet there was no predicting how

104
00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:16,680
Speaker 1: Esaw would receive his gifts, for he pursued Jacob with

105
00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:22,400
Speaker 1: four hundred men behind him. That same night, Jacob arose

106
00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:25,560
Speaker 1: with his wives and eleven children and sent them across

107
00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:29,160
Speaker 1: the stream of Jabbok. He sent them away to be safe.

108
00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:33,040
Speaker 1: With everything else he had in his possession, Jacob was

109
00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:36,600
Speaker 1: left alone until a man sprang up from behind him.

110
00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:39,880
Speaker 1: Struggling in the mud and gravel, Jacob wrestled with this

111
00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:42,920
Speaker 1: man in the dead of night, sweat and blood dripping

112
00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:45,440
Speaker 1: from his body. Jacob fought for his life under the

113
00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:49,400
Speaker 1: weight of this unknown stranger. The night drew on and

114
00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:53,480
Speaker 1: the sun was beginning to rear its head between the hills. Jacob,

115
00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,320
Speaker 1: while endeavoring with this man, became increasingly more aware of

116
00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:01,320
Speaker 1: his divine nature. His wrestling match was not an assault,

117
00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:08,080
Speaker 1: but an invitation. This is God's camp echoed in his memory. Jacob,

118
00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:11,240
Speaker 1: the once timid, tent dweller, found himself grappling on the

119
00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:17,000
Speaker 1: ground with God himself. Dawn peeked through the trees. The

120
00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:20,360
Speaker 1: man saw that he would not prevail against Jacob. He

121
00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,120
Speaker 1: touched his hip socket and jammed his hip out of

122
00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:27,080
Speaker 1: its joint. Ah. Jacob screamed and released his legs from

123
00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:30,440
Speaker 1: around the man. Yet he clung to him with his arms,

124
00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:34,559
Speaker 1: refusing to let go. Let me go, for the day

125
00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:39,560
Speaker 1: has broken, the man said. Jacob, who had spent his

126
00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:43,080
Speaker 1: entire life making his own luck, was face to face

127
00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:47,080
Speaker 1: with the end of himself. He had deceived his brother

128
00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:50,560
Speaker 1: into selling his birthright, he had tricked his father into

129
00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:54,280
Speaker 1: blessing him, and he had swindled Laban into making him richer.

130
00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:58,760
Speaker 1: Yet now Jacob was faced with God himself and had

131
00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:02,959
Speaker 1: no means to trick his way into victory. Jacob's eyes

132
00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:06,439
Speaker 1: closed tightly, and he flexed his arms firmly to the

133
00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:09,439
Speaker 1: legs of this man, and said, I will not let

134
00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:13,800
Speaker 1: you go unless you bless me. A slight smile came

135
00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:19,240
Speaker 1: across the man's face. What is your name? He asked Jacob,

136
00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:23,760
Speaker 1: He shouted in pain. You shall no longer be called Jacob,

137
00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:27,720
Speaker 1: he said, but Israel, for you have wrestled with God

138
00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:32,720
Speaker 1: and with men and prevailed. Please tell me your name,

139
00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:38,160
Speaker 1: Jacob asked, Now a full smile filled his face. Why

140
00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:41,360
Speaker 1: is it that you ask my name? He said, and

141
00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:45,680
Speaker 1: he blessed him. So Jacob called that place Penia, saying

142
00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:49,160
Speaker 1: I have seen God face to face, and yet my

143
00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:53,400
Speaker 1: life has been spared. The sun's rays reflected off of

144
00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:56,480
Speaker 1: the stream beside Jacob, and the warmth of the day

145
00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,240
Speaker 1: began to dry the blood and sweat off his body.

146
00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,160
Speaker 1: Limping back to his camp, Jacob felt ready for whatever

147
00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:07,520
Speaker 1: would come next. With the sun behind him, Jacob gazed

148
00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:10,920
Speaker 1: upon the fields below. He could see Esaw and his

149
00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:15,440
Speaker 1: four hundred men creeping closer and closer. Still filled with

150
00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:19,400
Speaker 1: an exhausted euphoria, Jacob hobbled towards his brother, with his

151
00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:23,880
Speaker 1: family traveling behind him. As the two drew nearer, Esaw

152
00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:27,920
Speaker 1: began running towards Jacob. He ran with fervor and power.

153
00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:32,920
Speaker 1: The years had not taken away Esau's strength. Before Esaw

154
00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:35,720
Speaker 1: could catch Jacob, he fell to his knees and bowed

155
00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:39,960
Speaker 1: before him as a bear wood. Esaw wrapped Jacob up

156
00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:43,960
Speaker 1: in his arms and embraced him. He kissed his neck

157
00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,200
Speaker 1: and wept at the sight of his twin brother. The

158
00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:50,800
Speaker 1: years had wiped his bitterness away, and all that remained

159
00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:55,400
Speaker 1: was the affection of two twin brothers united after decades apart.

160
00:10:56,840 --> 00:11:01,560
Speaker 1: Esaw lifted his eyes past his brother towards Jacob's Who

161
00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:05,520
Speaker 1: are these with you? Esaw said. Jacob then introduced his

162
00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:10,120
Speaker 1: family to Esaw, and they embraced his kindred spirits. Why

163
00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:13,880
Speaker 1: have you sent so many gifts, Esa asked, to earn

164
00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:18,840
Speaker 1: your forgiveness, brother, Please take them. Esaw refused them at first,

165
00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:22,800
Speaker 1: but Jacob insisted. Jacob knew that he had truly wronged

166
00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:25,880
Speaker 1: his brother and felt the depths of what he had done.

167
00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:31,040
Speaker 1: The two of them embraced again, and Esau forgave Jacob.

168
00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:36,120
Speaker 1: Esa departed that same day, and Jacob settled in a

169
00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:39,400
Speaker 1: place near Sikah and built an altar to God called

170
00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:45,280
Speaker 1: El elohe Israel, meaning the God of Israel, and Jacob

171
00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:48,280
Speaker 1: built a new life for him and his family, a

172
00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:53,040
Speaker 1: life of flourishing and love. Though sorrow would not remain

173
00:11:53,080 --> 00:12:00,800
Speaker 1: a stranger to Jacob, God's love was present. After years

174
00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:06,560
Speaker 1: of self imposed exile, Jacob is finally going home. He's

175
00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,440
Speaker 1: now a wealthy man and much older, and he has

176
00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:13,160
Speaker 1: a large family. It seems that God's plan to make

177
00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:18,240
Speaker 1: a great nation from his family is beginning to take shape. However,

178
00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:20,920
Speaker 1: there matters to be dealt with first, and Jacob is

179
00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:24,960
Speaker 1: not expecting to return home to a hero's welcome. Will

180
00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,800
Speaker 1: his brother Esau's anger remain or even worse? Could it

181
00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:32,440
Speaker 1: have grown stronger and more bitter? Jacob had run in

182
00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:35,360
Speaker 1: fear from his problems. That's what he always did, run,

183
00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:39,640
Speaker 1: because he was filled with selfish ambitions and deceptive in

184
00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:43,520
Speaker 1: all his ways. We've been there, haven't we. We know

185
00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:47,640
Speaker 1: when we have disobeyed God messed up, and then there

186
00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:50,960
Speaker 1: comes the time of consequences, the fact that we can't

187
00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:53,920
Speaker 1: hide our sin any longer, and it comes time to

188
00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:57,640
Speaker 1: face the music. God wants to remind Jacob that even

189
00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:02,319
Speaker 1: in this moment, he is not alone, so he sends

190
00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:06,400
Speaker 1: angels to meet him on the outskirts of Canaan. Jacob

191
00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:09,400
Speaker 1: sends messengers ahead to let Esau know that he's returned

192
00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:11,960
Speaker 1: and that he is ready to share his accumulated wealth.

193
00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:15,440
Speaker 1: Can you imagine the fear Jacob must have been feeling

194
00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:20,040
Speaker 1: just waiting to see how Esau would react. But notice

195
00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:24,839
Speaker 1: that this time, rather than resorting to scheming and cleverness,

196
00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:28,320
Speaker 1: Jacob goes to God in prayer. He turns the problem

197
00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:32,719
Speaker 1: over to God. Jacob acknowledges God's presence and how unworthy

198
00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:35,600
Speaker 1: he was of the faithfulness and the blessing of the Almighty.

199
00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:40,000
Speaker 1: Then he made his honest petition, openly telling God of

200
00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:44,200
Speaker 1: all his fears and reminding God of his promise to

201
00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:47,719
Speaker 1: bless the nations through him. So now we're seeing a

202
00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:51,520
Speaker 1: much more mature and reverend Jacob than we've seen before.

203
00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,840
Speaker 1: He's now truly humbled and knowing how much he owes

204
00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:59,920
Speaker 1: Esau for his treachery, Jacob sends three league parties ahead,

205
00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:04,600
Speaker 1: filled with gifts of livestocks to meet Esau. What he

206
00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,640
Speaker 1: does next is yet another sign of Jacob embracing the

207
00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:10,520
Speaker 1: mantle of leadership and role of protector of his family.

208
00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:13,840
Speaker 1: He guides him across the river and then returns alone

209
00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:20,200
Speaker 1: to Kemp. It's only him, now exposed and vulnerable. That

210
00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:23,040
Speaker 1: very night there is a battle, but not with his

211
00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:29,760
Speaker 1: estranged brother. The Lord himself wrestles with Jacob. Jacob stubbornly

212
00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:33,440
Speaker 1: refused to quit or to give up. Even after God

213
00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:36,040
Speaker 1: touched his hip and threw it out of socket, Jacob

214
00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:39,360
Speaker 1: would not relent or let go of his opponent. This

215
00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:42,720
Speaker 1: is one of the most fascinating scenes in all the Bible.

216
00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:47,160
Speaker 1: He doesn't recognize this stranger he is wrestling with is God,

217
00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:51,000
Speaker 1: but he knows there's something very special about him. In

218
00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:53,040
Speaker 1: the Gospel of Luke we find a story of the

219
00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:56,760
Speaker 1: risen Christ walking on the road to amais His traveling

220
00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:00,160
Speaker 1: companions did not recognize him for who he was is

221
00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:03,600
Speaker 1: in Christ, but their hearts were strangely warmed. They knew

222
00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:09,920
Speaker 1: something was different. Was Jacob's heart also warmed. Jacob agrees

223
00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:12,760
Speaker 1: to only release his opponent if the man will bless him.

224
00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:16,680
Speaker 1: He cries out but the blessing of God. But before

225
00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:20,120
Speaker 1: God gives him the blessing, he gives him a new name.

226
00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:24,880
Speaker 1: And this new name has great significance. Jacob the cheater

227
00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:28,280
Speaker 1: will now be called Israel, the Prince of God, because

228
00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:32,440
Speaker 1: he wrestled with God and did not quit. Jacob leaves

229
00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:35,160
Speaker 1: that encounter with a brand new name, but also a

230
00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:39,640
Speaker 1: limp as a reminder of that night forever, when we

231
00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:42,480
Speaker 1: truly encounter God it will change us in ways that

232
00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:47,200
Speaker 1: we cannot understand or even possibly sometimes imagine, and it

233
00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:51,320
Speaker 1: will bless us in ways we cannot foresee. That very day,

234
00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:56,680
Speaker 1: Jacob finally meets Esaul and reconciliation occurs. The Lord God

235
00:15:56,720 --> 00:16:00,600
Speaker 1: had gone before Jacob now Israel. It was the shower

236
00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:05,360
Speaker 1: of gifts that softened Esau's heart, but God's grace. Jacob

237
00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:10,880
Speaker 1: is now humble and repentant, making no excuses for his actions. Esau,

238
00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,640
Speaker 1: for his part, makes no attempt to take advantage of

239
00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:18,120
Speaker 1: his upper hand. There's no more need for hate, no

240
00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:22,600
Speaker 1: more need for running, no more need for separation. Now

241
00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:28,400
Speaker 1: there is peace. The two brothers embrace, and Esau forgives Jacob.

242
00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:34,280
Speaker 1: As Esau departs, Jacob Israel builds an altar to remember

243
00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:37,840
Speaker 1: God's faithfulness. The altar is called the God of Israel,

244
00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:42,120
Speaker 1: for that is who God is, Dear God of Israel

245
00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:45,520
Speaker 1: and of all nations, the God and Father of our Lord,

246
00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:49,400
Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. Thank you for being the God who wrestles

247
00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:53,200
Speaker 1: with his children and blesses them, just as you blessed

248
00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:56,680
Speaker 1: Jacob for clinging to you. May you bless us as

249
00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:59,480
Speaker 1: we turn to you. Trust you and never let go.

250
00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:04,520
Speaker 1: Thank you for this beautiful story of unification between brothers

251
00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:08,520
Speaker 1: and the hope that shines through into our broken relationships.

252
00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:11,159
Speaker 1: Help us to trust you to go before us at

253
00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:14,440
Speaker 1: our relationships, just as you did for Jacob and Esau

254
00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:21,720
Speaker 1: in Jesus name, Amen, Thank you for listening to today's

255
00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:26,080
Speaker 1: Bible in a Year podcast. I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas.

256
00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:29,199
Speaker 1: Download the Prey dot com app and make prayer a

257
00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:33,080
Speaker 1: priority in your life. If you enjoyed this podcast, share

258
00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:35,919
Speaker 1: it with someone you love. By sharing this podcast, you

259
00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:38,760
Speaker 1: can make a difference in someone's life. And if you

260
00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:41,840
Speaker 1: want more resources on how to tap into God's power

261
00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:46,040
Speaker 1: for successful Christian living, be sure to visit Jack Graham

262
00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:55,359
Speaker 1: dot org. God bless This episode is sponsored by Medashare,

263
00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:59,760
Speaker 1: an innovative healthcare solution for Christians to save money without

264
00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:01,120
Speaker 1: sacrifice and quality