Jacob Meets Esau: Planning, Prayer & Struggle
Genesis 32-33
The Christian life is a mysterious mixture of God's work and ours, his gracious provision and our effort. Sometimes we are perplexed over who should make the next move.
GROUP DISCUSSION. In what situation have you felt called to combine prayer and planning for an important activity?
PERSONAL REFLECTION. How has God revealed his will to you through a special set of events?
Jacob felt the tension of how to follow God's will as he returned to his father's house after a twenty-year absence. Read Genesis 32:1-21.
1. What effect would meeting the angels of God have on Jacob as he nears his encounter with Esau (32:1-2)?
2. How would you describe the tone of Jacob's message to Esau (32:3-5)?
3. How does Jacob react to the report in verses 6-8?
4. How does Jacob's prayer reflect his relationship with God (32:9-12)?
5. In what ways can Jacob's prayer be a model for our own praying?
6. To what extent do you think Jacob's plans are consistent with his prayer?
7. Read Genesis 32:22-32. How does this struggle with the unknown man give insight to Jacob's personality?
8. In what ways does Jacob emerge both stronger and weaker?
9. How does the change of name from Jacob to Israel indicate the development of his character?
10. What speaks to you from Jacob's experience about your own struggle to trust and obey the Lord?
11. Read Genesis 33. How does this meeting between Jacob and Esau contrast with the last time they saw each other (33:1-4)?
12. When Jacob settles in Shechem (33:18) he builds an altar. How do you think his encounter with Esau helped him understand the faithfulness of God (33:12-20)?
13. In what ways can Jacob's actions toward Esau be a model for us of repentance and reconciliation?
Ask God to show you how Jacob's story can help you face a difficult relationship in your own life.
Now or Later
Reflect on an experience in your own life that helps you appreciate God's faithfulness.
The Christian life is a mysterious mixture of God's work and ours, his gracious provision and our effort. Sometimes we are perplexed over who should make the next move.
GROUP DISCUSSION. In what situation have you felt called to combine prayer and planning for an important activity?
PERSONAL REFLECTION. How has God revealed his will to you through a special set of events?
Jacob felt the tension of how to follow God's will as he returned to his father's house after a twenty-year absence. Read Genesis 32:1-21.
1. What effect would meeting the angels of God have on Jacob as he nears his encounter with Esau (32:1-2)?
2. How would you describe the tone of Jacob's message to Esau (32:3-5)?
3. How does Jacob react to the report in verses 6-8?
4. How does Jacob's prayer reflect his relationship with God (32:9-12)?
5. In what ways can Jacob's prayer be a model for our own praying?
6. To what extent do you think Jacob's plans are consistent with his prayer?
7. Read Genesis 32:22-32. How does this struggle with the unknown man give insight to Jacob's personality?
8. In what ways does Jacob emerge both stronger and weaker?
9. How does the change of name from Jacob to Israel indicate the development of his character?
10. What speaks to you from Jacob's experience about your own struggle to trust and obey the Lord?
11. Read Genesis 33. How does this meeting between Jacob and Esau contrast with the last time they saw each other (33:1-4)?
12. When Jacob settles in Shechem (33:18) he builds an altar. How do you think his encounter with Esau helped him understand the faithfulness of God (33:12-20)?
13. In what ways can Jacob's actions toward Esau be a model for us of repentance and reconciliation?
Ask God to show you how Jacob's story can help you face a difficult relationship in your own life.
Now or Later
Reflect on an experience in your own life that helps you appreciate God's faithfulness.
posted by Christinewjc at
5:23 AM
3 Comments:
Genesis 32-33
The Christian life is a mysterious mixture of God's work and ours, his gracious provision and our effort. Sometimes we are perplexed over who should make the next move.
GROUP DISCUSSION. In what situation have you felt called to combine prayer and planning for an important activity?
There are numerous examples that I could give. When I was considering being an AWANA leader, then director with the club. Did that for 3 years.
The time when I knew that my dad was dying from cancer and I wanted to share the gospel with him. I prayed and gathered Scripture during the 5 hour plane ride to my parents home.
When I decided to confront volatile issues on my website, message boards and blog with Biblical Christian viewpoints and ethics.
PERSONAL REFLECTION. How has God revealed his will to you through a special set of events?
The time that I got sick directly after refusing to witness to a neighbor who died shortly afterwards. It was then that I realized that the Lord was leading me to go over there and share the gospel with he and his wife. I used many excuses not to do it. I let my own feelings affect me (inadequacy, were not close in friendship with them, was too busy etc.)and I did not heed the call of God to minister to a neighbor in need.
After that experience, I didn't hesitate to do as the Lord wanted me to do, even if I did feel inadequate. It was then that I experienced how God can equip even the most fearful, lazy, inconsiderate believer into action.
Jacob felt the tension of how to follow God's will as he returned to his father's house after a twenty-year absence. Read Genesis 32:1-21.
1. What effect would meeting the angels of God have on Jacob as he nears his encounter with Esau (32:1-2)?
An extraordinary event like angels of God meeting Jacob would indicate the God was with him in his journey.
2. How would you describe the tone of Jacob's message to Esau (32:3-5)?
I think that he must have feared that Esau still wanted to kill him (Genesis 27:41). I'm sure that Jacob hoped to buy Esau's favor by sending a messenger ahead with gifts.
3. How does Jacob react to the report in verses 6-8?
He became very distressed when he learned that Esau was coming to meet him and bringing 400 men! He probably thought that he was coming to start a war between them.
4. How does Jacob's prayer reflect his relationship with God (32:9-12)?
He went to God in prayer first. He acknowledged who God is and the promises he had made to him. Jacob admitted that he wasn't worthy of the kindness bestowed upon him by God. He asked for the Lord to save him and the people Jacob brought with him. Jacob recounted the promise God made to make him prosper and make his descendants numerous like the sand of the sea.
5. In what ways can Jacob's prayer be a model for our own praying?
Acknowledge God for who He is. Give Him praise and worship. Confess sin and ask for forgiveness. Ask for help and/or safety in difficult circumstances. Remember God's promises and have faith that they will be fulfilled.
6. To what extent do you think Jacob's plans are consistent with his prayer?
I think that Jacob knew that he couldn't really face this upcoming situation with Esau alone. He needed God's strength in his life so he "wrestled with God" and insisted that God would bless him.
God encourages persistence, especially in our spiritual lives. Strong character develops when we struggle through tough conditions.
(Share Charlie's baseball experience).
7. Read Genesis 32:22-32. How does this struggle with the unknown man give insight to Jacob's personality?
Jacob's character changes as a result of this incident. Formerly, he was a deceiver. Now, he became a person willing to struggle with God and overcome.
8. In what ways does Jacob emerge both stronger and weaker?
He became stronger because his persistence paid off. Weaker because God touched the hip of Jacob and it was wrenched as a result.
9. How does the change of name from Jacob to Israel indicate the development of his character?
God gives new names to people in the OT to indicate a change in character. Jacob's character change was for the better.
10. What speaks to you from Jacob's experience about your own struggle to trust and obey the Lord?
Galatians 6:8-10
8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
"For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."*
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
11. Read Genesis 33. How does this meeting between Jacob and Esau contrast with the last time they saw each other (33:1-4)?
Esau was happy to see his brother again. He embraced Jacob, kissed him and wept. Quite a contrast from the last time they saw each other. Esau had a change of heart.
12. When Jacob settles in Shechem (33:18) he builds an altar. How do you think his encounter with Esau helped him understand the faithfulness of God (33:12-20)?
All of his fears were erased once this positive encounter with Esau happened. All of Jacob's anxiety was for naught because God is faithful and comes through for us.
13. In what ways can Jacob's actions toward Esau be a model for us of repentance and reconciliation?
We need to go to God first to ask for forgiveness. Time allowed the bitter wounds to heal. Relationships are more important than possessions. Obviously, Esau had already forgiven Jacob and was prospering on his own.
Ask God to show you how Jacob's story can help you face a difficult relationship in your own life.
Now or Later
Reflect on an experience in your own life that helps you appreciate God's faithfulness.
By
Christinewjc, at 6:23 AM
Thank you for this post. I am going to meet my brother - who I have not seen in thirteen years. I view this experience in my life as a parallel to the Scripture of Genesis 32 - 33. Your openness and willingness to share your thoughts has strengthened me. Be blessed.
Andrew
By
Anonymous, at 9:29 AM
Andrew -
I am glad to hear that this study and my personal answers to the questions have helped and strengthened you! I hope and pray that things went well with your brother!
God bless,
Christine
By
Christinewjc, at 7:26 AM
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