Genesis 31-32 Jacob Flees and Laban Catches him. God Speaks to them both in Dreams.
Genesis chapters 31 and 32 contain a story about the flight of Jacob, a petty theft, and a joyous meeting between Jacob and his brother Esau. God speaks to both Jacob and Laban in dreams.
Also, in chapter 32 of Genesis, God himself wrestles with Jacob and renames him Israel. In that wrestling match, God dislocates Jacob’s hip, and it is for this reason that the Jewish people, to this day, do not eat flesh from the hip of animals.
Genesis 31-32 Summary
In these chapters of Genesis, God tells Jacob to flee Laban, so he does, and travels home to see his brother and father. Jacob gathers up his wives and eleven children and sneaks off while Laban is busy. It takes Laban three days to find out that Jacob has left, and he chases him. After seven days, Laban catches Jacob, but since God tells him in a dream not to harm Jacob, he does not.
However, there is another problem. Before they go, Rachel, one of the wives of Jacob, steals Laban’s household gods and puts them in her camel bag. When Laban catches up to Jacob, he diligently searches the tents for his household gods. Rachel is sitting on her camel bag and tells Laban, when he enters her tent, that she cannot get up because she is having her period.
Laban leaves the next day, after berating Jacob, and never finding his household gods, and Jacob continues his journey. Jacob wrestles with God, who renames him Israel and dislocates his hip. It is for this reason that the Jewish people do not eat meat from the hip joint of animals. Jacob’s renaming is also significant.
As the story in Genesis wraps up, Jacob (Israel) approaches the area where his brother is and finds out that Esau is coming out to meet him with four hundred men. This scares him, and he prepares a gift for Esau of 200 female goats and 20 male goats, 200 ewes and 20 rams, 15 female camels with their young, 40 cows and 10 bulls, and 20 female donkeys and 10 male donkeys.
Core Beliefs and Teachings
The main point of these two chapters in Genesis, which tell some odd stories, is that if God loves (and appears to) Jacob, God loves us. This is a very important point. No matter how you sin, or how much you sin, it is never too late for God’s mercy. We all hear in church that God is forgiving, and this is an important message.
Expressions of Faith
Amazingly, God came down from heaven to wrestle with Jacob. Jacob saw the face of God, and he lived. This episode, as recounted in Genesis chapter, is very significant. Jacob is injured by God in their wrestling match. His hip is dislocated. Jacob is also renamed around dawn, just before God leaves, and his new name is Israel. Both of these things are of great significance.
Symbolism and Meaning Today
That famous wrestling match is highly significant in modern times. First, Jacob’s injury of his hip is the reason why the Jewish people, to this day, do not eat flesh from the hips of animals. Also, God renaming Jacob Israel is because he is the father of the Jewish people. This fatherhood and the land promised to Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham, cause many contemporary problems.
Parting Shots
As Jacob prepares to meet his brother Esau, we are filled with wonder at the continued blessings that are bestowed on him and his family. Jesus is a direct descendant of this family. The main message of this fact, as we continue to read about the brokeness and sins of this family. In this case, theft.
