Jacob Becomes Israel
Genesis 25:20-34;32:3-21
Abraham's son, Isaac, grew up and married his beautiful cousin, Rebekah. They had twin sons, Esau and Jacob.
When Isaac was old and blind, Jacob tricked his father into giving him his blessing and promising that he would be more important than his brother Esau. Then Jacob was afraid Esau would try to kill him, so he ran away to Haran, where he had cousins and aunts and uncles.
In those days a man could have more than one wife, so Jacob married two of his cousins, Leah and Rachel. He worked for their father, Laban, for may years.
Finally Jacob told his wives and his eleven sons and his daughter Dinah and all their servants to get ready to leave. They loaded their tents and all the things they owned on camels. They got their flocks of sheep and goats and their herds of cattle. Then they started for Canaan.
Jacob sent one of his helpers with a message to his brother, Esau, that he wanted to be friends. He was still afraid that Esau might try to harm him or kill his animals.
Then Jacob got word that his brother Esau was coming to meet him. He heard that Esau was bringing four hundred men. And he was afraid.
Jacob prayed, "God of Abraham and my father Isaac, you told me to return to this land," he said. "I am afraid that my brother, Esau, will kill me. But you have told me that you will do good for me. Remember that you have promised to make my children and grandchildren as many as the grains of sands in the ocean, which I can't count."
Then Jacob sent many sheep and goats and cows to Esau as a present. In the middle of the night he sent his wives and his two maids and his children across a creek called Jabbok. This creek was the border or Esau's land.
After the family and everything Jacob owned was across the stream, he was left alone. A strange man came to Jacob, and they fought and wrestled all night. When the sun was coming up, the man hit Jacob on his leg and pulled it out of joint.
Jacob still hung on to the man, "I will not let go unless you bless me."
"What is your name?" asked the man.
"Jacob," he answered.
"Your name is not Jacob any more," said the man. "Your name will be Israel now. The name Israel means "someone who wrestles with God."
"What is your name?" asked Jacob.
The man said, "that is a foolish question." He gave Jacob a blessing. Jacob said, "I will call this place Peniel. This word means "the face of God." I have seen God face to face, and I did not die!"
Then Jacob, now called Israel, went into Canaan and made friends with his twin brother, Esau. Later they went together to see their father, Isaac, who was now a very old man. Israel and Rebekah and their children became a great family.
