Home Page

Genesis 32

1.      How would you describe your walk with the Lord?  Please explain.

2.     Jacob has just left one difficult situation, and now he faces another.  What do you think he was feeling?

Jacob must have been having conflicting feelings.  He wanted to return home, but he was also reluctant.  Why?

How long has Jacob been gone?

Do you think it shows a lack of faith on Jacob’s part that he “fears” returning home?  Please explain.

Do you think he has shared with his wives and children what happened with Esau?

3.     Verse 1 tells us that the angels of God met Jacob as he continued on his way, but it does not tell us why.  Why do you think God sent His angels to meet with Jacob?

Why do you think He sent more than one angel to meet with him?

Do you think God still sends His angels to meet with us?  If so, please explain why.

As a result of his meeting, what does Jacob name the place?  Why does he give it this name?

Sometimes angels come in human form.  Can you give an example?

Sometimes they come as angels, like this encounter with Jacob.  How do you think he recognized them as angels?

Why do you think God sometimes sends angels in human form and sometimes not?

4.     Where is Esau now living?

Why do you think Jacob sent messengers ahead of him?

This is interesting.  The word for “angels” in verse 1 and for “messengers” in verse 3 is the same word:  malak.  Do you think there might be a connection?  Please explain.

What was Esau’s frame of mind the last time the two brothers were together?

Look carefully at Jacob’s instructions to his messengers.  What specifically are they to tell Esau?

What title does Jacob use in referring to his brother?  Why do you think he does this?

Why do you think Jacob wants to tell his brother that he has cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, menservants, and maidservants?  Is he bragging?  Please explain.

What is the main reason for his sending the messengers to Esau?  (See verse 5.)

5.     What do you think of Jacob’s plan?

What changes can we detect have occurred in Jacob from his plan?

What advice would you give someone who wanted to heal an old family rift?

6.     We do not know how long the messengers were gone.  What do you think was Jacob’s state of mind?

The messengers bring a very simple message to Jacob.  What is it?

If you were Jacob, how would you interpret Esau’s actions?

Jacob now has a family.  How would this add to his concern?

7.     What does verse 7 tell us?

What does being in “great fear” and “distress” mean to you?

What does Jacob decide to do?

Why does he do this?

Do you agree with his reasoning?

Again, if you were Jacob, whom would you put in the first group?

Do his actions show a lack of faith or a shrewd mind?  Please explain.

8.     Jacob has encountered the LORD at least twice, yet this is the first time we are told that Jacob prayed.  Why do you think he prayed now?

What do you think lies behind people’s first prayers to God?

How does Jacob address God? 

Next, Jacob reminds God of God’s promise to Jacob.  Why does he do this?

The Bible tells us that God never forgets.  How do you feel about Jacob’s reminding God of what God said?

Have you ever done this?  If so, please share why?

When Jacob does this, he shifts responsibility for his safety to God.  Why does he do this?

9.     Read verse 10.  What is taking place in this verse?

Read James 4:6-10.  How do these verses apply to Jacob?

What does it mean to you to humble yourself before God?

Is it easy for you to do this?  Please explain.

Now read Deuteronomy 6:18.  How is Jacob reflecting the truth in this statement?

10.   What does Jacob ask in verse 11?

What does it mean to you that we are to be honest in our prayers?

Have you ever struggled in your prayers because you were searching for the “right” words so as not to offend God?

11.    What does Jacob pray in verse 12?

In what way could this part of his prayer actually increase his faith?

Read 2 Cor. 1:20.  How does this verse address Jacob’s prayer?

12.   Read Matthew 6:9-13.  What parallels can you draw from Jacob’s prayer and from Jesus’ prayer?

What can we learn about praying to God from Jacob?  Please be specific.

Why do you think some people are hesitant about praying out loud?  Are you?

13.   The next day after praying, what does Jacob decide to do?

What was the purpose of these gifts?  (See v. 20.)

What gifts did Jacob send to his brother Esau?

Look carefully at these gifts.  What would make them so valuable?

What message were his servants to deliver?

Jacob tells his servants “to be sure” to tell Esau what?

Remembering the prayer and what Jacob asked of God, are these gifts a sign of a lack of faith or a wise move?  Please explain.

Imagine a storm is approaching Coalgate.  A tornado is sighted.  You pray for God’s protection.  Do you still go to the storm cellar?  Please explain.

How do faith and prudent actions interact?

14.   Why do we give gifts?

While in office, the President of the United States receives many gifts from leaders around the world.  Why do you think they send or bring these gifts?

When President Bush recently visited the Pope, the President gave the Pope a walking stick carved with the Ten Commandments.  Why do you think he did this?

Not long ago, our insurance commissioner had received thousands of dollars worth of gifts from companies he was supposed to regulate.  He stated that these were gifts.  What do you think?  Please explain.

Were Jacob’s gifts truly gifts?  Please explain.

15.   Jacob sends the gifts to Esau, but he stays behind.  What does he do that night?

Can you locate the Jabbok?

When he discovered that the river could be crossed, what did he do with his family?

Why do you think Jacob stayed behind?

What does verse 23 tell us?

16.   Now begins one of the more interesting events in the Bible.  Verse 24 is very simple, yet, at the same time, very profound.  What does verse 24 tell us?

Much has been written about this event.  Twice before Jacob has had visions from God.  Is this event a vision or did it physically happen to Jacob?  Please explain.

What is the significance of the fight’s lasting until daybreak?

Who was the man wrestling with Jacob?

In what other ways has Jacob wrestled with others for a “blessing”?

17.   What is the significant about Jacob’s not being able to defeat this man?

How does the man defeat Jacob?

Why do you think the man asked Jacob to let him go instead of just breaking away?

What was Jacob’s answer?

What does his answer mean to you?

In response, Jacob is given a new name.  What is it and what does it mean?

Whenever God changes someone’s name, it marks a turning point in that person’s life.  What has been that turning point in Jacob’s life?

In what way is this struggle symbolic of Jacob’s life?

Why does Jacob want to know the man’s name?

Why does he not give his name?

18.   What did this encounter have to do with Jacob’s present situation?

What name does Jacob give this place and what does it mean?

Based upon the name, with whom does Jacob believe he was wrestling?

19.   The next morning Jacob was walking with a limp.  How do you think he explained that limp?

What is the significance of Jacob’s walking with a limp thereafter?

Read Zechariah 4:6.  What does this verse mean to you?

How has Jacob learned the truth of this verse?

Now read 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.  Has God taught Jacob something similar?  Please explain.

20.  Was it the giving of gifts or the praying to God or both that protected Jacob and his family?