January 23 Daily Devotional

Genesis 32–33

Jacob did not tell Laban that he would leave. While Laban was absent, Jacob gathered together his wives and children, also all his sheep and cattle and camels, to leave for Canaan. When Laban heard that Jacob had left, he was not pleased at all; for he wanted him to take care of the things he owned. He knew Jacob managed better than he did, and God blessed his work. After they were gone for three days, Laban and some other men started after them. They overtook them at the mountain of Gilead. But God had told Laban to be careful and not to threaten Jacob. Jacob and Laban made a covenant with each other. In the morning Laban took leave from his daughters and grandchildren. He returned to his country, and Jacob continued his journey.

Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau in the land of Seir, to say to him, “Let me find grace in thy sight.” The messengers returned and said, “We came to thy brother, and he cometh to meet thee with four hundred men.” When Jacob heard this he became very much afraid that Esau might have the intention to kill him, his wives and little children. What could he do? He turned to God and prayed, “O Lord which saidst to me, Return unto thy country … I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies and of all the truth which thou hast showed thy servant … deliver me I pray thee, from the hand of my brother.” He chose presents from his herd and flock and sent them to his brother Esau.

After that Jacob sent all his people across a brook that was in his path, and remained alone. And there wrestled a man with him. It was the angel of God. It was an awful struggle in a dark night, so that the hollow of his thigh was strained. Towards morning the heavenly visitor said, “Let me go, for the day breaketh.” But Jacob said, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” “What is thy name?” he was asked. When he replied, “Jacob,” he said to him, “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 he blessed him there.

Jacob lifted up his eyes and saw his brother coming with four hundred men. And he divided his children to Leah and Rachel. Then he went to meet Esau. He bowed his face to the ground several times, as people do in those countries when they meet someone of higher rank than their own. Esau ran to meet him. He embraced him, fell on his neck and kissed him. And both brothers wept. Esau saw the family of Jacob. He returned on his way to Seir. Jacob found his father still living at Mamre near Hebron.