Laban begged Jacob to stay with him several more years after their "contract" expired, for he said, "I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake" (Genesis 30:27).

      An agreement was made concerning the sheep, goats, and cattle.   Jacob was to have as his wages all of the speckled and spotted cattle and goats and the brown sheep that Laban already had.  Besides this, he was to have all that were born with the same characteristics in the future.

       According to the testimony of Jacob (Genesis 31:6-9), Laban kept changing the wages, hoping to get the better of Jacob.  Nevertheless, Jacob was blessed of God, and wound up with most of the animals.  Finally, it was necessary for Jacob to leave his father-in-law's house, because of the anger of Laban's sons.  It was at this time that God spoke to Jacob and told him to return to the land of his kindred, and He would be with him. (Genesis 31:3, 11-13)

      Later, Laban, who had been away shearing sheep when Jacob left, pursued after Jacob.  However, God warned him in a dream not to harm Jacob.  A hot argument did take place, but finally a covenant was made between the two men.  A pillar or stone was set up as a witness of the covenant, and stones were also heaped up as a landmark.   Neither man was ever to go past the heap of stones to do harm to the other.  Then Laban returned to his home in peace. (Genesis 31:19-55)

      Jacob, on his journey home, had to pass through his brother Esau's land, Edom.  (Edom means "red." Esau means "hairy."  If you recall, Esau was born "red and hairy."  Thus, the origin of the two names.)  Jacob sent messengers on before him to let his brother know of his coming, and probably also to find out what his brother's attitude was towards him.   Fresh in his mind was his brother's threat to kill him after the death of their father.

      The messengers returned with alarming news!   Esau was on the way to meet him with four hundred men.  This did not sound like a friendly welcoming party.  Jacob was greatly afraid.  He divided all the people and animals into two bands.  If Esau smote the first band, the second could escape.  Then he sent both bands on ahead. (Genesis 32:1-23)

"And Jacob was left alone..." (verse 24).

      What significant words!  We often reach a point in life when nobody on earth can help us--not even the closest of friends.  How comforting and assuring it is at such times to know the true and living God!  Jacob had already had his "Bethel" experience.  He knew the reality of God.  So it was to God he did pray in his hour of need!

      The Bible says, "...there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day" (verse 24). This was no ordinary man, for Jacob later called him "God" (verse 30).  This was God manifested in angelic form.  In the Old Testament times, God often took upon Himself this manifestation.  In the New Testament times, God took upon Himself a body and came into the world in the person of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:16).

      Jacob "wrestled" with God in prayer, and would not give up until God promised to bless him.

"And he (God) said, 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" (Genesis 32:28).

"And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved" (verse 30).

      Can you imagine how happy Jacob was to have a new name?  His old name meant "deceiver," or "cheater," but his new name meant "prince of God!"

      Jacob arose from the place of prayer to go meet his brother.  The thrill of God's presence had no doubt taken the fear out of his heart.  He did not know how his brother would receive him, but he did have the assurance that "everything would be all right."

"And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men....

And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept" (Genesis 33:1, 4).

      The time Jacob spent with God was greatly rewarded!  Earnest prayer does produce miraculous results!  What about you? How long has it been since you really stayed on your knees in earnest prayer until God has blessed you, renewed your strength and courage, and given you the determination to continue your journey towards the promised land (heaven)?

"And Dinah...went out to see the daughters of the land" (Genesis 34:1).

      When Jacob came to Shalem, a city in Canaan, he decided to settle down there for a while. He purchased a piece of land from Hamor, the father of Shechem, who owned or controlled the city.  He then pitched his tent towards the city, an act that reminds us of the wrong choice of Lot.

      The people of the land were idol worshippers, and were evidently not of good moral character.  However, one wonders how much trouble Dinah invited upon herself by her desire to become acquainted with the people of the land.  Shechem took Dinah and lay with her (thus defiling her).  He evidently thought that since he was the prince of the country he could get by with it--but he was wrong!

      The sons of Jacob were ready to get quick revenge for the defilement of their sister. Shechem came requesting that Dinah be given to him for his wife.  He also asked that all the children of Israel be allowed to intermarry with the people of the land.  The sons of Jacob pretended to like the idea, but insisted that all the males be first circumcised.  Then on the third day "when the males were sore," two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, came upon the city boldly and with their swords slew all the men. (Genesis 34:2-25)

      Before they left the city, they rescued Dinah, and then took spoils from the city: sheep, oxen, donkeys, wealth, women and children, and all that was in their houses.

"And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.

And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hands, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem (Genesis 35:1-4).

      Evidently there were still some among Jacob's household who were still idol worshippers. Jacob had become totally convinced that there was only one true God, and this God could not be represented by gold, silver, brass, iron, or wood images.   He commanded his household to put away such things!

      Even today some people find it difficult to believe in a God that they cannot see.   David wrote about such people, who, because they cannot see our God, ask the question, "Where is now their God?" (Psalm 115:2).   David answers the question in the next verse, "...our God is in the heavens."  Then he wrote about gods created by the hands of men:

"Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

They have mouths, but they speak not: Eyes have they, but they see not:
They have ears, but they hear not: Noses have they, but they smell not:
They have hands, but they handle not: Feet have they, but they walk not:
Neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them;
So is everyone that trusteth in them" (Psalms 115:4-8).

      Perhaps if Jacob had never had his own personal experience with God, he would have also been an idol-worshipper, despite the religious beliefs of his father.   Every person needs their own encounter with the true and living God.   The Lord is always ready to reveal Himself to those who truly seek His face!

"But if...thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul" (Deuteronomy 4:29).

significant . . . . . important, meaningful

defilement . . . . . here it means the condition of having been made impure,
                            having experienced loss of virginity

circumcised . . . . . haviing the foreskin cut off

characteristics . . . . . a trait or feature that makes a person or thing different than others

   1.   Why did Laban beg Jacob to continue working for him?

   2.   What agreement or covenant did Laban and Jacob make with each other
             (after Jacob left Laban)?

   3.   The word "Edom" means _____________, and the word "Esau" means _____________.

   4.   Why did Jacob send messengers on before him?

   5.   What news did the messengers return with?

   6.   Why did he divide the people and animals into two bands?

   7.   What did Jacob do in his hour of need?

   8.   How did God often manifest Himself to people in Old Testament times?

   9.   How did He manifest Himself in New Testament times?

10.   What was the meaning of Jacob's old name?

11.   What new name did Jacob receive from God?

12.   What was the meaning of the new name?

13.   Tell of the reunion of Jacob and Esau:

14.   How does this show the power of prayer?

15.   How did the sons of Jacob get revenge upon the men of the land
            for defiling their sister?

16.   What command did Jacob give to his household?

17.   How did they show their obedience?

18.   What question do idol-worshippers sometimes ask those who believe
            in the living God?

19.   Describe five characteristics of gods that are created by the hands of men:

20.   What was of special interest to you in this lesson?