gen 32

Question	Answer	Note---10-02-2016
Why did the angels visit Jacob?	Mahanaim = "two camps"
Why was there nothing recorded which the angels spoke unto Jacob. Also if this meeting was supposed to be secret, why was it mentioned?	It seems that Jacob requested audience with the Lord and it was granted in verses 24-26. There was no need to record what was said, only that it be understood, that Jacob spoke to the angels.
		32:6 Note that Jacob sends greetings to his brother Esau, and no return message is received. Only that Esau is coming with 400 hundred men.
Was the fear of Jacob well placed?	It is not 100% clear that Esau was coming to attack, however it is clear that Jacob felt that Esau was on his way to destroy him.	32:7
		32:9-12 Jacob’s prayer
		32:13-15 Note that if Jacob separated from what he had a gift for his brother. Now he must have had a lot more than this if, he delivers this much to Esau for a gift.
		32:22 Jacob had 4 baby-mothers which he separated from himself that fateful night.
When did Jacob realize that the man with whom he wrestled was the Lord?	Maybe it was the touch (not a blow but a touch) that which dislocated his hip that alerted Jacob to the fact that he wrestled with a divine being.
32:24-26 It is accepted that Jacob wrestled with the angel during the night, however what is to be understood by wrestle? Was this a fist fight, or was this simply a scuffling.	Picture two men trying to subdue each other without using punches. The best description of this is wrestling.	32:24-26
Why did the angel ask Jacob his name?	Was it only to make the point that his name was about to be changed?	32:27
	Israel = "God prevails" In this verse the word sarah is used. Same word that is God uses to rename Abraham’s wife however it has a totally different meaning here. When the name was given to Abraham’s wife it meant Sarah = "noblewoman" however when the name/word is used in this verse it has another meaning “contend, have power, contend with, persist, exert oneself, persevere” Research shows that it is two different words (the word for the wife of Abraham has not root, whereas the word used in this verse has a root to nobility.	Gen 32:28 The verse says that Jacob was referred to as a prince. However the primitive root word for “sarah” to prevail:have power (as a prince) In this context the preferred definition would be to persevere or content with, so there is no need to make reference to him as a prince; i.e. since it is obvious to that Jacob had fought and overcome.
It seems ironic that God would rename Jacob Israel=God prevails. If it was Jacob that prevailed in the wrestling.		It is not that Jacob won the wrestling, because God won the wrestling. Instead Jacob is blessed because he persevered. Thus the reason for his name change. “You have persevered with God but God prevails”
What was the point of the wrestling? Why is it recorded that Jacob was prevailing?	There are several things which are missing from the story which we can only speculate about?
Are we to understand that God limited himself, even as a man that Jacob might win?	We do not know when the wrestling started? We do not know why the wrestling started
Was there to be an object lesson from the wrestling; if so what was it?	We do not know if Jacob had been pressing the Lord about a matter during the night and consequently recognized him as divine prior to the wrestling.  as day was about to break,
What was the reason the Lord enquired of Jacob for his name?	It is possible that was meant to be a spiritual awakening. By Jacob calling his name, he was to be awakened to his present spiritual condition, so that what the Lord was about to do for him would be noticed, in his new name. It seems also that the new name was also a new purpose, which would be fulfilled in the life od Jacob.
	It seems that Jacob had been in dialogue with the Lord in the night. Jacob did not get the answer that he wanted from God. The lord was about to leave and Jacob held on to him. The Lord tried getting away from him, but Jacob would not let go. (Test of his faith) God could have just disappeared out of jacob’s sight and grasp, however as a test he remained there to see how long Jacob would hold on. Then he dis-located his hip, still Jacob held on to God. His faith was proven.
	By continually holding on to the Lord even in the midst of excruciating pain, it was clear that Jacob desired the Lord more than his life. This is the point that we all should get to, where we treasure our encounter with the Lord.
	Meaning of prevails seems to be=persevere. Jacob never gave up.
Why does Jacob enquire after the name of the divine being?	Could it be that Jacob recognizes that this is a divine/super-natural being, and is seeking confirmation by obtaining a name; and if so what is the significance of knowing the name  of a divine/super-natural being.
		32:28 Jacob had risen to the challenge of both God and Laban. Hence God now recognizes him as a victor; as one who has prevailed.
What was this separate blessing?	The word used for blessing is also the word for kneeling. It could be that the subject/object was not clear and the interpreters thought that is was the angel blessing Jacob, when it was Jacob who was kneeling and [raising God after having his name changed.	32:29 Note that the dislocating of the thigh was not the only thing that the angel did unto Jacob. The scripture is clear that Jacob was blessed there as well.
	Penuel or Peniel = "facing God"