Jacob at the Jordan by Brother Duke Hansen

         We are going to be reading from the book of Genesis this morning. To be more specific, it will be about the later years of Jacob after he has made a covenant with his uncle Laban. Earlier chapters in Jacob's story tell of Jacob having a hold of Esau's ankle at birth. We read Jacob getting Esau's birthright over a pot of stew. We read Jacob receiving Issac's, his father's blessing with deception by his mother. Jacob traveled to his uncle's Laban's home where Jacob married 2 sisters while Esau went to Ishmael's land to obtain his wives. This morning's text will be in chapter 32 of Genesis and we will begin in verse 1.

        And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

        2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Ma-ha-na-im.

        3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Se-ir, the country of E-dom.

        4 And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stated there until now.

        5 And I have oxen, and donkeys, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants, and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.

        6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.

        You had to know that you were blessed by God leaving Laban. In meeting his twin brother, Esau, we see a study of opposites. Look at the descriptions in scripture regarding the twin's build, look, and countenance. Let's read on.

        7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;

        8 And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other compant which is left shall escape.

        9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Issac, the Lord which said unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred and I will deal well with thee:

        Most people do not like that phrasing at the end of verse 9, We are not exempt form being dealt with God. This is why God gives us moments and opportunities to work on our character. When God treats you better than you deserve, it changes you. You want ot know who God is if he his dealing with you.

        After the hand moved on Jacob and the blessings were bestowed on him, Jacob knew who God was. Man today argue and confused of who God is in their life, despite all the tools and information right in front of him.

        There are 12 sons, 12 tribes, 12 bloodlines established by Jacob's life. A 13th tribe was the Nazarene. Set apart, peculiar, and different was the Nazarene. We live in a time where people need constant affirmation and approval that they are still saved, yet ignoring or excusing their sin. There's coming a time that God is going to deal with you. The purpose of this is for you to wake up spiritually and fight your flesh.

        10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.

        11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.

        12 And thou says, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

        13 And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;

        Jacob knew what he did to his brother and his father. This explains Jacob's hesitance. Jacob devised a present to give to his brother Esau. Verses 14 and 15 is the listing of the inventory. We are going to drop down to verse 18.

        18 Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.

        19 And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him.

        20 And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventrure he will accept of me.

        24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

        God did this on purpose. Jacob had the same mind but his body was changed after wrestling with an angel. Your flesh is move than a vessel for your spirit. It is the enemy of God. It's created enmity with the creator.

        25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

        God can come to earth and not violate the rules and principalities he established on the earth.

        26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

        Let us go to Matthew 11:12 for a second.

        12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

        John the Baptist was preaching a message that was causing a commotion. When Jesus showed up one day, John said that is the man. Jacob was violent in his moment with God in wrestling. Let's go back to Genesis 32 at verse 27.

        27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

        28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

        29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. 

        Jacob was wanting to know God's name before he departed. Yahweh is a name for God, or Jehovah, El Shaddai, Elohim. There are many other names throughout history that described God but it isn't his actual name.

        There are things which are scripture that aren't meant to be found physically yet doesn't mean it isn't true. We could look at a man who was a king and a priest, no beginning and no end. Melchezadek. It was the first recording of a tithe.

        30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel; for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

        Jacob had no doubt it was God who he had wrestled with in the previous verses. Jacob reckoned that he was a liar and a thief, now reconciling himself to these hard truths. God gave Jacob the name Israel. Chapter 33 details the reunion between Jacob and Esau. The humility Jacob shows Esau is astonishing. Let's read some of their interaction starting with verse 3.

        3 And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

        4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

        8 And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.

        So, which person in the scripture do you think you are similar to? Let's look at verse 9. Esau said he had enough in cattle and provisions. It wasn't long lasting though. Esau was indeed blessed by the world's standards, but not blessed by God. Let's pick up reading at verse 10.

        10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.

        11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.

        Jacob was righting a wrong from stealing earlier in his story. Payment for his deceit. Much like this we will reap what we have sown. In paying Esau this debt, Jacob was finally free.

        God doesn't want your money. He wants your obedience. He knows your heart isn't in the walk if you hoard your money. All money and possessions are his. Jacob had the right mindset. God loves a cheerful giver. Some people will avoid their Esau. Those people they've stole or deceived in the life. Everything, great and small, matter in heaven. How many of you have been given something and urged to take it? To receive something tears your flesh, your pride, your being.