Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Jacob continued on his journey. As he walked, he met angels of God. Seeing them, he said, "This is God's host," and named the place Mahanaim.

He sent messengers ahead to Esau, his brother, to the land of Seir, where the Edomites lived. They were instructed to say this: "Your servant Jacob says, 'I've been living with Laban, and I've stayed there until now. I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and servants - men and women. I'm sending you a message to find favor in your sight.'"

The messengers returned and told Jacob, "We met Esau, and he's coming to meet you with four hundred men." This news terrified Jacob, who was very afraid. He divided his people, livestock, and camels into two groups.

If Esau attacked one group, the other would escape. Jacob remembered God's promise: "Return to your homeland, and I will deal well with you," which Abraham and Isaac had received. Jacob also recalled that he had been shown mercy and truth by God, who had increased his family from a single staff to two large groups.

Jacob prayed to God of Abraham and Isaac, the Lord, saying, "Please deliver me from my brother Esau's hand. I'm afraid of him because he might attack me and my children." He remembered God's promise: "I will make your descendants as numerous as the sand on the seashore."

That same night, Jacob took some gifts for Esau - 200 goats, 20 rams, 200 ewes, 20 lambs, 30 milch camels with their colts, 40 cattle, 10 bulls, 20 donkeys, and 10 foals. He gave them to his servants, instructing them to put a space between each group as they crossed the river.

He told his first servant, "When Esau meets you, ask whose family these are, where they're going, and whose animals they belong to." The response was, "They belong to your servant Jacob. He's sending you a gift, and he's behind us."

The second and third servants were instructed to say the same thing: "Your servant Jacob is following with his families and gifts. I'm trying to appease Esau with this present before me, so when we meet, he might accept it." Jacob went ahead of them that night.

Early in the morning, he took his two wives, their servants, and his eleven sons across the river Jabbok at a shallow point called Peniel. He sent his family over first, but then turned back to cross himself.

As he wrestled with an unknown opponent through the night, Jacob realized he couldn't overpower him. Eventually, he touched the man's thigh, causing it to become lame. The man asked Jacob to let go at dawn, but Jacob refused until he was blessed.

The man asked, "What is your name?" and Jacob replied, "Jacob." In response, the man said, "From now on, you will be known as Israel because you have power with God and people, and you've overcome."

Jacob then asked the man for his name, but he refused to answer. Instead, he blessed Jacob.

After this encounter, Jacob named that place Peniel, saying, "I've seen God face-to-face, and my life has been spared." As he continued on his journey, the sun rose over him, and he was limping because of the injury to his thigh.

Because of what happened at Peniel, the Israelites have never eaten the sinew that shrinks from the hollow of the thigh. This is a reminder of Jacob's encounter with God, where he touched the man's thigh in the sinew that shrank.