Genesis 32:1-2 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
1. What does Mahanaim mean?
2. Now that you know what Mahanaim means, can you surmise while the angels were there?
Genesis 32:3-6 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom. And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now: And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight. 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.
1. Do you remember the intentions of Esau which forced Jacob to seek out Laban? (Gen.27:41).
2. What was the message Jacob sent to his brother?
3. Who took the message to Esau?
4. What was Esau's answer?
Genesis 32:7-8 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; And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.
1. How did Jacob react to the answer brought back by the messengers?
2. Did he devise a plan? What was it?
Genesis 32:9-12 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: 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. 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. And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.
1. In Jacob's prayer did Jacob remind God of promises made?
2. Did Jacob mention his worth in his prayer?
3. Did Jacob asked to be delivered? If so, from what?
Genesis 32:13-15 And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother; Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams, Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.
1. How many total goats and sheep did Jacob plan as a gift for his brother?
2. How many camels, cattle, and asses total?
3. What was the total number of all the animals Jacob was giving his brother as a gift?
Genesis 32:16-20 And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove. And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee? 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. 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. 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; peradventure he will accept of me.
1. After praying, Jacob devised another plan, what was it?
2. What was Jacob hoping the result would be?
Genesis 32:21-23 So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company. And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.
1. Jacob sent his gifts 'over' what?
2. When Jacob rose up later that night what else did he send over the river?
Genesis 32:24-30 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 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. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 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. 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. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
1. Did Jacob go over the river with everyone else?
2. Who was left on the same side of the river with Jacob? (Gen.32:1-2).
3. Who did Jacob wrestle with?
4. How long did they wrestle?
5. Did Jacob have the upper hand? (verse 26).
6. What was the blessing given to Jacob?
7. What is Jacob's new name?
8. What does 'Israel' mean in Hebrew?
(Note: A study of the name Israel is very interesting.) 9. What does Peniel or Penuel mean?
Genesis 32:31-32 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.
1. What happened to Jacob's thigh?
2. Do you think this is significant, if so why?
(Note: The thigh is considered the pillar of a man's strength.)

Bonus Questions: 1. Was Jacob a taker even at birth starting with his brother's heel?
2. Do you surmise that working for Laban taught Jacob anything about himself?
3. Was Jacob used to adversity, struggling?
4. Was he used to standing alone?
5. After wrestling the stranger, will he now need support or to lean on others? If so, why and from whom?
6. During Jacob's encounter with the stranger did Jacob show determination and tenacity? If yes, why do you think so?
7. Do you think Jacob realized, at the injury to his thigh, that he was at the mercy of the stranger and so recognized his reliance on God, thus the request for the blessing?