Date - March 10, 2021 Tonights Lesson - Involving By Rick Bowen Scripture - Genesis 31, read 32

1.’s Prosperity - Another 6-7 years goes by in which God provides prosperity through Jacob’s strategies. Even though this was agreed upon, Laban and his sons were developing animosity toward Jacob. So >>

2.Jacob flees and heads south. Laban catches up with him and the controversy is settled at Mizpah (watch tower). Genesis 31:27 (Maps)

3.Jacob arrives at Mahanaim(two camps)in the place that would later be in GAD, good fortune. This is on the Jabbok (emptying) river. Here the states succinctly, he was met by the angels. Notice when he left home 21 years ago he had the vision of the ladder with the angels going up and down at Bethel (Psalm 121:8). So the mention of angels should not go unnoticed or without deeper consideration. They keep appearing throughout Holy Writ. There was a camp of angels and a camp of humans. (Map) Remember Jesus had angels minister to him in the wilderness in preparation for his ministry. He had angels accompany him to heaven. Ask yourself what were the angels doing for 21 years while Jacob was gone?

4.Jacob is relieved but now he has another conflict brewing he believes. A.Sometimes what you worry about never happens. Worry is a thief of the future. Nevertheless, this is a place of uncertainty and strategy.>>> So Jacob divides his belonging and wives into two groups to send ahead to Esau. He sends gifts, then the two wives and their entourages separately. This way if he meets with misfortune then some have the opportunity to escape. He also quotes scripture to God. This is a good way to pray. God is not offended when you bring his WORD to Him as a petition (1 John 5:14,15)

5.He fords the stream and is by himself to pray about the situation. In the middle of the night this shows up. Did this angel come from the group of angels that he met when he arrived at Mahanaim?! Hosea 12:2-6 Here Hosea is using an ancient illustration to call on the descendants of Jacob/Israel to repent. Hosea points out a contrast of how Jacob/supplanter had the heal of Esau in the womb that illustrated that in spite of the call of God, initially Jacob was blessed in spite of his method yet with consequences. He was not yet ready for spawning the nation till his nature was changed. A wrestling match ensues and apparently lasts the better part of the night (Dark). Also notice the Messianic prophesy was a bruised heal. Therefore a double entendre implies that if Israel will get a hold of the bruised heal of Jesus (God) they will be blessed with a name change. Look out now! As morning approaches the angel wants to leave, but Jacob will not let him go. He wants to be blessed. With a nature change comes a name change. There is a new name written down in glory. Don’t forget that Jacob went away with a limp. He was not SICK. He was injured. The injury suggested that from now on he was humbled and as a human needed to acknowledge his need for God. He needed to lean on God. He needed to catch hold of the bruised heal of the Savior (prophetically)! Further remember that Jesus met of Tarsus on the road to Damascus to change his nature. Some similar imagery pops up. After Paul realized he was fighting God…God began to fight for him (The battle is the LORDs). So it was with Jacob. Finally God has blessed America often in spite of her collective efforts often in the flesh. Now there is a wrestling taking place. If America can come to grips with the fact that it has been God that has blessed her, then she can continue to have a future. This future is one with a great revival and perhaps causes her ally Israel to have wings like and eagle to fly into the wilderness for 3 1/2 years?!

6.Jacob’s name is changed to Israel (God prevails). This is where we must recognize that Psalm 91 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. We see that Michael is the prince of Israel and stands up for them in Daniel 12! We see that angels are employed to fight for Israel from that time forward…as long as they make the El - Elyon (The Most High) their habitation.

7. What is your name??? Most the time when you meet someone and tell them your name the other person reveals their name also. But the Angel of the LORD was not going to reveal the name at this time. Later that name would come with the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem. Matthew 1:21,23….He would be called Jesus (Yeshuah), the name above every name (Acts 4:12). The name was practically equal to character. I’ll bless you with a new name, Israel. You can name this wrestling arena, Peniel. But, Israel will have to wait on that ONE that came down through 42 generations. JESUS!