Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Changed from Jacob to Israel with new faith

Genesis 32:1~33:17
Jacob afraid his brother Esau will come and attack him, so he divided his people and his flocks, herds and camels into two groups.
Jacob prepared gifts to his brother Esau, and divided into three groups go ahead of him.
Jacob wrestles with God. The man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."
Jacob put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
Jacob said to his brother Esau and called himself your servant.
So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir. Jacob, however, went to Succoth, where he built a place for himself and made shelters for his livestock.
Although Esau has settled in Seir in the far south, the meeting between the two brothers in inevitable. The news that Esau is coming at speed, and with a force, strikes terror into Jacob. This time, though, he plans and prays.
Why?
Alone, and sleepless, Jacob's life time struggle against God culminates in this strange wrestling-bout. He is neither the first or the last, in some crisis, first to fight God, then to hold to God with new faith.
Jacob emerges from the encounter crippled, but a new man. The next altar he erects will not be to the God of his fathers, but to 'God, the God of Israel'
Esau's welcome to the brother who had wronged him is amazingly generous.
Jacob's gift, and Esau's acceptance of it, seal the reconciliation.
Jacob has no intention of going to Seir as the ext stage of the journey shows. Even now he cannot be straightforward about it.
How?
First to fight God, then to hold to God with new faith, Jacob changed to new life with new name Israel.


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