Genesis 32
Next Jacob had to face his brother, Esau. Though twenty-one years had passed since they had last seen each other, the memory of Esau’s threat to kill Jacob had never left him (v. 11). Jacob sent messengers ahead of him with gifts, instructing them to tell Esau that he was following after. The messengers returned to Jacob, telling him that Esau was coming to meet him along with four hundred men.
Esau had built up a considerable following, amassing an army of 400 men (Gen. 32:6, 33:1). Obviously, over such a short time, these men could not all have been Esau’s direct descendants or even all his servants. We can deduce their identity by assembling the clues found in Genesis 36:2, 8, 20, and 24. Evidently, Esau’s wife “Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite” (verses 1, 24) was also a Horite, who were the people who “inhabited the land” of Seir (verse 20). When Esau migrated to Seir (verse 8), he essentially went to live with his Horite wife’s family, aristocrats of the area (verses 29-30). Many of the 400 men, then, were probably Horites, relatives of Esau’s wife.
Afraid that Esau was coming to destroy him, Jacob divided his family into two groups, hoping at least one group could escape attack. Jacob prayed for God to save him, reminding God that He had sent Jacob back to the land of Abraham and had promised to make him prosper and his descendants numerous (Genesis 32:9–12).
Jacob selected more gifts for Esau as peace offerings, which he sent ahead with servants in waves, hoping to pacify Esau. That night he sent his wives and sons away from him as well. While alone, in the middle of the night and afraid for his life, Jacob wrestled with a man who he later learned was God (Genesis 32:22-31). The man touched Jacob’s hip, putting it out of socket, but at daybreak Jacob still refused to let the man go. He asked for a blessing and was told, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome” (v. 28). Jacob asked the man his name and then understood that He was God. Jacob named the place Peniel, recognizing that He had seen the face of God and yet God had spared his life. This wrestling match and name change marked a new beginning for Jacob.
Now, a changed man, Jacob is ready and must face his brother Esau. Though having reservations he goes to meet him.