Homiletics Genesis 32-33

12 March 2013

Contents:            Where?                  Mahanaim, Succoth, Shechem                                 Who?  Jacob and caravan, Esau

1	32:1-5	Jacob names Mahanaim when he sees angels and sends messengers to meet Esau that Jacob might find favor in his sight.
2	32:6-8	Messengers tell Jacob Esau is coming and Jacob is afraid and divides caravan into 2 companies so one might escape if they’re attacked.
3	32:9-12	Jacob prayed God would deliver him from Esau and reminded God of promises to prosper him and make descendants numerous.
4	32:13-21	Jacob slept, selected a gift for Esau, instructed his servants about greeting Esau and slept again.
5	32:22-24	He rose, moved his family and possessions across the stream, then wrestled with a man until daybreak.
6	32:25-27	The man dislocated Jacob’s thigh but Jacob wouldn’t let go till the man blessed him.
7	32:28-32	The man changed Jacob’s name to Israel, Jacob realized he saw God and Jews don’t eat the sinew of the hip because of where Jacob was touched.
8	33:1-3	Jacob saw Esau and divided the family:  maids and children, Leah and children then Rachel and Joseph, and Jacob went ahead.
9	33:4-11	Esau embraced Jacob and met Jacob’s family, tried to refuse the gift but kept it when Jacob urged him.
10	33:12-14	Jacob made excuses then agreed to meet Esau in Seir when Esau asked Jacob to journey with him.
11	33:15-17	Jacob convinced Esau not to leave people with him then journeyed to and settled in Succoth.
12	33:18-20	Jacob camped before Shechem, buying land there and building an altar: El-Elohe-Israel.

 

Divisions:

1	32:1-21	Jacob fears meeting Esau and selects a gift for him.
Principle:		Prayer is the best way to deal with fear. Reminding God of His promises to us also reminds us of those promises. The Lord gives sleep to those He loves.
2	32:22-32	Jacob wrestles with the Lord and gets a dislocated hip and a new name.
Principle:		Intense interaction with God leads to great blessing. Wrestling with God empowers us for frightening encounters.
3	33:1-20	Jacob meets Esau, introduces his family then settles in Succoth and Shechem.
Principle:		When we take our eyes off God and put them back on circumstances, fear returns. Following the Lord is the surest and safest path. God is the God of Stacey at all times, not just when I feel safe because perceived danger is out of sight.

 

Subject Sentence:

Jacob fears Esau, wrestles with God and settles in Shechem.

 

Aim (Christian and Non-Christian):

TCMCATK that God is always God, hears our prayers, is our Protector, our Savior and our Power, and His promises are valid for us today.

 

Application:

1	How do you deal with fear? What part does prayer play in your daily life? How do you rest in God?
2	In what way has your interaction with God been intense lately? What great blessing have you recently received? When did you last wrestle with God and what were the results?
3	What can you do to keep your focus on God and not on your circumstances? What experience have you had with following God or following your own path and what have been the results in your life? When have you followed God through a questionable situation but been absolutely safe because of His presence? What was the moment when God became your God?