1
00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,080
Speaker 1: And he said, thy name shall be called no more

2
00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:07,680
Speaker 1: Jacob but Israel. For as a prince, hast thou power

3
00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:13,239
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
00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:22,880
Speaker 1: thank you Lord for the gift of reconciliation and forgiveness.

6
00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:26,920
Speaker 1: Thank you that even in my wrong doings you produce

7
00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:31,440
Speaker 1: grace moments for me. Like Jacob and Genesis thirty two

8
00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:34,360
Speaker 1: and thirty three, I choose to believe the words of

9
00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:38,880
Speaker 1: your angels that declare that here is the Lord's place.

10
00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:43,800
Speaker 1: I declare that my life is the Lord's place. I

11
00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:47,199
Speaker 1: declare that my business is the Lord's place, and that

12
00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:52,840
Speaker 1: my relationships are in the Lord's place. Therefore, I will

13
00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:55,640
Speaker 1: not be afraid of seasons. When I feel I am

14
00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:59,040
Speaker 1: wrestling for a new identity, a new blessing, and a

15
00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:04,040
Speaker 1: new beginning, I confess that I will hold on to you,

16
00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:08,120
Speaker 1: God until I receive my newness, and I will not

17
00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:12,920
Speaker 1: let go even after you bless me. You are my

18
00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,240
Speaker 1: way maker, and you are the God that makes old

19
00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:20,440
Speaker 1: things new. Thank you, Lord, that even in the midst

20
00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:24,600
Speaker 1: of dysfunction, you still allow your glory to settle my

21
00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:30,080
Speaker 1: differences and bring restoration to my life. Thank you for

22
00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,480
Speaker 1: a new name of victory and a new purpose for

23
00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:42,200
Speaker 1: my life, filled with all your many blessings in Jesus name. Amen,

24
00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:47,280
Speaker 1: Thanks for making prayer a priority in your life. To

25
00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:50,160
Speaker 1: hear the Bible come to life. Stay tuned for the

26
00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:53,280
Speaker 1: Bible in a Year brought to you by Bible in

27
00:01:53,320 --> 00:02:04,760
Speaker 1: a Year dot com.

28
00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:09,760
Speaker 2: You are Israel. Before this story, we learned of Jacob

29
00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:13,240
Speaker 2: fleeing the service of Laban. He packed his family and

30
00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:17,320
Speaker 2: traveled back to Canaan. However, Laban would not let Jacob go.

31
00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:21,960
Speaker 2: Jacob and Laban bore their souls before one another, sharing

32
00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:26,120
Speaker 2: the anger that rested in both their hearts. Eventually, the

33
00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:29,760
Speaker 2: two made peace and Laban sent Jacob on his way.

34
00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:33,920
Speaker 2: Now we will learn about Jacob entering into his homeland

35
00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,240
Speaker 2: once again. Although he feared the wrath of his brother

36
00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:41,720
Speaker 2: Esau wrestling with God, Jacob will cling to the blessings

37
00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:45,680
Speaker 2: of God and get his name changed. Inspired by the

38
00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:47,080
Speaker 2: Book of Genesis.

39
00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:51,239
Speaker 3: I'm so glad you've joined us on the Bible in

40
00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:55,680
Speaker 3: a Year podcast today, But before we get to today's episode,

41
00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:58,240
Speaker 3: I want you to know that I would absolutely love

42
00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:01,480
Speaker 3: to send you my daily devotion that will give you

43
00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:06,320
Speaker 3: fresh encouragement every single morning and day from the moment

44
00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:09,000
Speaker 3: we wake up to the moment our head finally hits

45
00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:13,240
Speaker 3: the pillow. There are thousands of things demanding our attention,

46
00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:16,120
Speaker 3: but it's in the midst of all this crush and

47
00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:19,000
Speaker 3: hustle and bustle that you and I need peace and

48
00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:21,960
Speaker 3: truth in God's Word. That's why I want to help

49
00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:25,919
Speaker 3: you spend time each day growing in God's life giving,

50
00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:31,000
Speaker 3: life changing Word by sending you my free daily email devotional,

51
00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:35,760
Speaker 3: PowerPoint Today. So visit Jagraham dot org to sign up

52
00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:41,640
Speaker 3: for your PowerPoint Today devotional. That's Jackraham dot org. Jack

53
00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:45,880
Speaker 3: Graham dot org. Previously, we heard the story of how

54
00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,680
Speaker 3: Jacob fled from Laban, a man who had wronged and

55
00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:52,920
Speaker 3: deceived Jacob for many years. In the end, the two

56
00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:55,880
Speaker 3: men made peace and Laban let Jacob go to Canaan,

57
00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:59,560
Speaker 3: the land of Jacob's father, the land of Promise, and

58
00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:04,480
Speaker 3: Jacob took with him his wealth and a large family. Today,

59
00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:08,280
Speaker 3: we'll see how Jacob enters his former homeland and seeks

60
00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:12,840
Speaker 3: reconciliation with his brother Esau. If you remember their story,

61
00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:15,240
Speaker 3: it was Jacob who was the cheater and trickster in

62
00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:19,440
Speaker 3: that relationship, and when he fled more than twenty years before,

63
00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:24,880
Speaker 3: Esau was filled with rage and murderous intent. As you

64
00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,680
Speaker 3: listen to this passage of scripture, imagine the fear with

65
00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:32,680
Speaker 3: which Jacob stepped into this dangerous territory to face his

66
00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:37,280
Speaker 3: brother Esau. Before he encounters Esau, He's going to face

67
00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:40,560
Speaker 3: another man. But this is not just any man, and

68
00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:44,359
Speaker 3: he isn't a stranger, as Jacob will discover. It is

69
00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:48,200
Speaker 3: an encounter Jacob must have before he faces Esau, and

70
00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,800
Speaker 3: it will be a life changing turning point in his

71
00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:56,320
Speaker 3: life and future. So pay close attention as Jacob and

72
00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,920
Speaker 3: Esau finally face each other again, will there be bittern

73
00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:05,040
Speaker 3: and bloodshed or renewal and reconciliation. Let's listen to God's

74
00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:06,159
Speaker 3: word and find out.

75
00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:11,640
Speaker 2: A familiar breeze blew through the valley below Jacob. The

76
00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:16,000
Speaker 2: sweet summer air caressed the plains, causing the grass to dance.

77
00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:20,479
Speaker 2: Jacob smiled and turned his face towards the sun. He

78
00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:24,400
Speaker 2: was home again, still a few miles away from Canaan.

79
00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,359
Speaker 2: He then turned towards the hill he had set camp on.

80
00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:32,080
Speaker 2: Angels of the Lord had met him there Already, Jacob

81
00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:36,080
Speaker 2: knew that something holy and peculiar was taking place. This

82
00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:41,440
Speaker 2: is God's camp, Jacob acknowledged. The last time Jacob was there,

83
00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,600
Speaker 2: he had run away in fear of his brother Esau.

84
00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:48,440
Speaker 2: Esau had vowed to kill Jacob, so he left in

85
00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:52,880
Speaker 2: hope that his brother's anger would subside. Jacob sent messengers

86
00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:56,000
Speaker 2: to go before him, saying, I have sojourned with our

87
00:05:56,080 --> 00:06:01,760
Speaker 2: uncle Laban, and have been there until now. I have oxen, donkeys, flocks,

88
00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:05,120
Speaker 2: servants that I wished to share with you. I say

89
00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:10,640
Speaker 2: all these things to find favor in your sight. Jacob's

90
00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:13,719
Speaker 2: servants had sent Esau the message and waited on the

91
00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:17,120
Speaker 2: outskirts of his land to see what his response would be.

92
00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:21,640
Speaker 2: Around the corner of the canyons, the messengers saw Esau

93
00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:25,479
Speaker 2: coming out to meet with Jacob. Only behind him was

94
00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:30,080
Speaker 2: four hundred armed men. A great fear fell upon Jacob.

95
00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:33,680
Speaker 2: He remembered how wild of a man Esau was, filled

96
00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:37,240
Speaker 2: with power and tact Jacob did not have the strength

97
00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:41,560
Speaker 2: nor the men to defend himself. Jacob prepared for the worst.

98
00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:45,240
Speaker 2: He divided his camp into two parties and sent them

99
00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:48,720
Speaker 2: on opposite ends. Of one another. If Esau came to

100
00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:51,560
Speaker 2: destroy one of the camps, the other would be spared.

101
00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:57,000
Speaker 2: Jacob trembled before God. Fear was overcoming him, and he

102
00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:00,920
Speaker 2: looked to heaven and said, God of my fathers, Abraham

103
00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:04,760
Speaker 2: and Isaac, you have told me to return. You desired

104
00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:06,880
Speaker 2: for me to be here so that you might bless me.

105
00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:12,160
Speaker 2: I am not worthy of your kindness or your provision. Jacob,

106
00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:15,800
Speaker 2: for perhaps the first time in his life, felt the

107
00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:19,840
Speaker 2: full weight of God's love for him. You have shown

108
00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:24,680
Speaker 2: me steadfast love and faithfulness. I began with nothing to

109
00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,760
Speaker 2: my name except to staff, and now I have two

110
00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:32,440
Speaker 2: camps that rely on me. Tears hit Jacob's trembling hands.

111
00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:37,920
Speaker 2: Please deliver me from the revenge of my brother. I

112
00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:41,560
Speaker 2: fear him, and I fear for all the people here

113
00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:45,600
Speaker 2: under my care. But you promised to bless me and

114
00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:51,679
Speaker 2: to expand my offspring. I will trust you. Jacob lingered

115
00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:55,080
Speaker 2: there for the night. He sent out droves of gifts

116
00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:58,800
Speaker 2: of cattle, goats, and other livestock before him to gain

117
00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:02,640
Speaker 2: favor with Esau. Yet there was no predicting how he

118
00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:06,440
Speaker 2: saw would receive his gifts, for he pursued Jacob with

119
00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:12,240
Speaker 2: four hundred men behind him. That same night, Jacob arose

120
00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:15,360
Speaker 2: with his wives and eleven children and sent them across

121
00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:18,960
Speaker 2: the stream of Jabok. He sent them away to be safe.

122
00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:22,800
Speaker 2: With everything else he had in his possession, Jacob was

123
00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:26,360
Speaker 2: left alone until a man sprang up from behind him.

124
00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:29,640
Speaker 2: Struggling in the mud and gravel, Jacob wrestled with this

125
00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:32,680
Speaker 2: man in the dead of night, sweat and blood dripping

126
00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:35,240
Speaker 2: from his body. Jacob fought for his life under the

127
00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:39,240
Speaker 2: weight of this unknown stranger. The night drew on, and

128
00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:43,280
Speaker 2: the sun was beginning to rear its head between the hills. Jacob,

129
00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:47,080
Speaker 2: while endeavoring with this man, became increasingly more aware of

130
00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:51,360
Speaker 2: his divine nature. His wrestling match was not an assault,

131
00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:57,880
Speaker 2: but an invitation. This is God's camp, echoed in his memory. Jacob,

132
00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:00,920
Speaker 2: the once timid tent dweller, found him himself grappling on

133
00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:06,080
Speaker 2: the ground with God himself. Dawn peeked through the trees.

134
00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,360
Speaker 2: The man saw that he would not prevail against Jacob.

135
00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:12,840
Speaker 2: He touched his hip socket and jammed his hip out

136
00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:16,680
Speaker 2: of its joint. A Jacob screamed and released his legs

137
00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:19,600
Speaker 2: from around the man, Yet he'd clung to him with

138
00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:23,960
Speaker 2: his arms refusing to let go. Let me go, for

139
00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:28,920
Speaker 2: the day has broken, the man said. Jacob, who had

140
00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:32,240
Speaker 2: spent his entire life making his own luck, was face

141
00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:36,440
Speaker 2: to face with the end of himself. He had deceived

142
00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:39,679
Speaker 2: his brother into selling his birthright, he had tricked his

143
00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,120
Speaker 2: father into blessing him, and he had swindled Laban into

144
00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:46,920
Speaker 2: making him richer. Yet now Jacob was faced with God

145
00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:50,720
Speaker 2: himself and had no means to trick his way into victory.

146
00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:55,959
Speaker 2: Jacob's eyes closed tightly, and he flexed his arms firmly

147
00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:58,800
Speaker 2: to the legs of this man, and said, I will

148
00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:02,760
Speaker 2: not let you go unless you bless me. A slight

149
00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:06,760
Speaker 2: smile came across the man's face. What is your name,

150
00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:11,960
Speaker 2: he asked, Jacob, he shouted in pain. You shall no

151
00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:16,320
Speaker 2: longer be called Jacob, he said, but Israel, for you

152
00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:21,079
Speaker 2: have wrestled with God and with men and prevailed. Please

153
00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:25,679
Speaker 2: tell me your name, Jacob asked. Now a full smile

154
00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:29,720
Speaker 2: filled his face. Why is it that you ask my name?

155
00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:33,679
Speaker 2: He said, and he blessed him. So Jacob called that

156
00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:38,240
Speaker 2: place penial, saying I have seen God face to face,

157
00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:42,240
Speaker 2: and yet my life has been spared. The sun's rays

158
00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:45,760
Speaker 2: reflected off of the stream beside Jacob, and the warmth

159
00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:48,280
Speaker 2: of the day began to dry the blood and sweat

160
00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:52,040
Speaker 2: off his body. Limping back to his camp, Jacob felt

161
00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:56,200
Speaker 2: ready for whatever would come next. With the sun behind him,

162
00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:59,880
Speaker 2: Jacob gazed upon the fields below. He could see e

163
00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:03,760
Speaker 2: he saw and his four hundred men creeping closer and closer.

164
00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:08,840
Speaker 2: Still filled with an exhausted euphoria, Jacob hobbled towards his brother,

165
00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:12,920
Speaker 2: with his family traveling behind him. As the two drew nearer,

166
00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:17,720
Speaker 2: Esau began running towards Jacob. He ran with fervor and power.

167
00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:22,760
Speaker 2: The years had not taken away Esau's strength. Before Esau

168
00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,520
Speaker 2: could catch Jacob, he fell to his knees and bowed

169
00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:29,720
Speaker 2: before him as a bear wood. Esau wrapped Jacob up

170
00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:33,800
Speaker 2: in his arms and embraced him. He kissed his neck

171
00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:37,000
Speaker 2: and wept at the sight of his twin brother. The

172
00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:40,560
Speaker 2: years had wiped his bitterness away, and all that remained

173
00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:45,200
Speaker 2: was the affection of two twin brothers united after decades apart.

174
00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:50,000
Speaker 2: Esau lifted his eyes past his brother towards Jacob's family.

175
00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:55,199
Speaker 2: Who are these with you? Esau said. Jacob then introduced

176
00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:58,959
Speaker 2: his family to Esau. And they embraced his kindred spirits.

177
00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:03,680
Speaker 2: Have you sent so many gifts? Esau asked to earn

178
00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:08,600
Speaker 2: your forgiveness, brother, please take them. Esau refused them at first,

179
00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:12,600
Speaker 2: but Jacob insisted. Jacob knew that he had truly wronged

180
00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:16,800
Speaker 2: his brother and felt the depths of what he had done.

181
00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:20,800
Speaker 2: The two of them embraced again, and Esau forgave Jacob.

182
00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:25,880
Speaker 2: Esau departed that same day, and Jacob settled in a

183
00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:29,199
Speaker 2: place near Sheikha and built an altar to God called

184
00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:35,040
Speaker 2: El elohe Israel, meaning the God of Israel. And Jacob

185
00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:38,120
Speaker 2: built a new life for him and his family, a

186
00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:42,800
Speaker 2: life of flourishing and love. Though sorrow would not remain

187
00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:46,679
Speaker 2: a stranger to Jacob, God's love was present.

188
00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:55,200
Speaker 3: After years of self imposed exile, Jacob is finally going home.

189
00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:59,040
Speaker 3: He's now a wealthy man and much older, and he

190
00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:02,720
Speaker 3: has a large fable. It seems that God's plan to

191
00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:05,760
Speaker 3: make a great nation from his family is beginning to

192
00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:09,880
Speaker 3: take shape. However, there matters to be dealt with first,

193
00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:12,800
Speaker 3: and Jacob is not expecting to return home to a

194
00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:18,240
Speaker 3: hero's welcome. Well his brother Esau's anger remain or even worse,

195
00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:21,800
Speaker 3: could it have grown stronger and more bitter. Jacob had

196
00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:24,680
Speaker 3: run in fear from his problems. That's what he always did,

197
00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:29,240
Speaker 3: run because he was filled with selfish ambitions and deceptive

198
00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:33,120
Speaker 3: in all his ways. We've been there, haven't we. We

199
00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:37,280
Speaker 3: know when we have disobeyed God messed up, and then

200
00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:40,440
Speaker 3: there comes the time of consequences, the fact that we

201
00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:43,280
Speaker 3: can't hide our sin any longer, and it comes time

202
00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:47,000
Speaker 3: to face the music. God wants to remind Jacob that

203
00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:51,720
Speaker 3: even in this moment, he is not alone, so he

204
00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:54,640
Speaker 3: sends angels to meet him on the outskirts of Canaan.

205
00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:58,679
Speaker 3: Jacob sends messengers ahead to let Esau know that he's

206
00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:01,760
Speaker 3: returned and that he is ready to share his accumulated wealth.

207
00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:05,200
Speaker 3: Can you imagine the fear Jacob must have been feeling,

208
00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:09,840
Speaker 3: just waiting to see how Esau would react. But notice

209
00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:14,640
Speaker 3: at this time, rather than resorting to scheming and cleverness,

210
00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:18,120
Speaker 3: Jacob goes to God in prayer. He turns the problem

211
00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:22,520
Speaker 3: over to God. Jacob acknowledges God's presence and how unworthy

212
00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:26,120
Speaker 3: he was of the faithfulness and the blessing of the Almighty.

213
00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:29,800
Speaker 3: Then he made his honest petition, openly telling God of

214
00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:34,000
Speaker 3: all his fears and reminding God of his promise to

215
00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:37,520
Speaker 3: bless the nations through him. So now we're seeing a

216
00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:41,320
Speaker 3: much more mature and reverent Jacob than we've seen before.

217
00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,600
Speaker 3: He's now truly humble and knowing how much he owes

218
00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:49,800
Speaker 3: Esau for his treachery, Jacob sends three lead parties ahead,

219
00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:54,400
Speaker 3: filled with gifts of livestocks to meet Esaul. What he

220
00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:57,440
Speaker 3: does next is yet another sign of Jacob embracing the

221
00:14:57,480 --> 00:14:59,960
Speaker 3: mantle of leadership and role of protector of his faith.

222
00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:03,640
Speaker 3: He guides him across the river and then returns alone

223
00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:09,880
Speaker 3: to Kem. It's only him, now exposed and vulnerable. That

224
00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:12,800
Speaker 3: very night there is a battle, but not with his

225
00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:19,600
Speaker 3: strange brother. The Lord himself wrestles with Jacob. Jacob stubbornly

226
00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:23,200
Speaker 3: refused to quit or to give up. Even after God

227
00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:25,840
Speaker 3: touched his hip and threw it out of socket, Jacob

228
00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:29,080
Speaker 3: would not relent or let go of his opponent. This

229
00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:32,520
Speaker 3: is one of the most fascinating scenes in all the Bible.

230
00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,960
Speaker 3: He doesn't recognize this stranger he is wrestling with is God,

231
00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:40,840
Speaker 3: but he knows there's something very special about him. In

232
00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:42,840
Speaker 3: the Gospel of Luke, we find a story of the

233
00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:46,560
Speaker 3: Risen Christ walking on the road to Emmaeus. His traveling

234
00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:49,640
Speaker 3: companions did not recognize him for who he was, the

235
00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:53,400
Speaker 3: Risen Christ, but their hearts were strangely warmed. They knew

236
00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:59,640
Speaker 3: something was different. Was Jacob's heart also warmed. Jacob agrees

237
00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:02,000
Speaker 3: to own we release his opponent if the man will

238
00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:05,479
Speaker 3: bless him. He cries out for the blessing of God.

239
00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:09,320
Speaker 3: But before God gives him the blessing, he gives him

240
00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:12,800
Speaker 3: a new name. And this new name has great significance.

241
00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:17,200
Speaker 3: Jacob the Cheater will now be called Israel, the Prince

242
00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:20,360
Speaker 3: of God, because he wrestled with God and did not quit.

243
00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:24,320
Speaker 3: Jacob leaves that encounter with a brand new name, but

244
00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:27,960
Speaker 3: also a limp as a reminder of that night. Forever,

245
00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:31,720
Speaker 3: when we truly encounter God, it will change us in

246
00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:35,880
Speaker 3: ways that we cannot understand or even possibly sometimes imagine,

247
00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:40,240
Speaker 3: and it will bless us in ways we cannot foresee.

248
00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:44,960
Speaker 3: That very day, Jacob finally meets Esau and reconciliation occurs.

249
00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:49,520
Speaker 3: The Lord God had gone before Jacob now Israel. It

250
00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:52,320
Speaker 3: was not the shower of gifts that softened Esau's heart,

251
00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:58,040
Speaker 3: but God's grace. Jacob is now humble and repentant, making

252
00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:01,800
Speaker 3: no excuses for his actions. Esau, for his part, makes

253
00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:05,560
Speaker 3: no attempt to take advantage of his upper hand. There's

254
00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,959
Speaker 3: no more need for hate, no more need for running,

255
00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:14,000
Speaker 3: no more need for separation. Now there is peace. The

256
00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:21,400
Speaker 3: two brothers embrace, and Esau forgives Jacob. As Esau departs, Jacob,

257
00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:26,040
Speaker 3: Israel builds an altar to remember God's faithfulness. The altar

258
00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:28,640
Speaker 3: is called the God of Israel, for that is who

259
00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:33,200
Speaker 3: God is, dear God of Israel and of all nations,

260
00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:37,200
Speaker 3: the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Thank

261
00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:39,960
Speaker 3: you for being the God who wrestles with his children

262
00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:44,040
Speaker 3: and blesses them, just as you bless Jacob for clinging

263
00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:47,360
Speaker 3: to you. May you bless us as we turn to you,

264
00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:51,119
Speaker 3: trust you and never let go. Thank you for this

265
00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:54,959
Speaker 3: beautiful story of unification between brothers and the hope that

266
00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:59,800
Speaker 3: shines through into our broken relationships. Help us to trust

267
00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:02,280
Speaker 3: you to go before us in our relationships, just as

268
00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:08,160
Speaker 3: you did for Jacob and Esau. In Jesus' name, Amen,

269
00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,359
Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast.

270
00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:15,600
Speaker 3: I'm Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas, and before we go.

271
00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:17,679
Speaker 3: I want you to know that I would love to

272
00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:21,600
Speaker 3: send you my daily devotional to give you fresh encouragement

273
00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:25,280
Speaker 3: every single day. So visit Jack Graham dot org to

274
00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:29,439
Speaker 3: sign up for your PowerPoint Today devotional that's Jack Graham

275
00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:30,520
Speaker 3: dot org