Jacob had been nervously planning for his meeting with his brother. He realized that he had cheated him of his birthright and that his brother, Esau had planned to kill him after their father passed so he was humbling himself, deciding what to say and what to present to his brother as gifts. His prayers were fervent as he called upon God reminding Him that He had advised him to come back to his father's land and had promised to bless him. He sent three servants on ahead with gifts of cattle and messages of his repect and servitude to his brother while he stayed the night in camp. He prayed that his brother would forgive him.
During the night he took his two wives, eleven children and two maid servants and crossed the ford of Jabbok. There he encountered an angel. When he encountered him they were all alone. They wrestled till dawn with Jacob not relinquishing telling the angel he would not let go without the angel's blessings. He struck Jacob in his hip socket hurting his sciatic muscle which caused him to limp and the angel, out of respect, changed his name from Jacob to Israel. Israel renamed the place they fought at Peniel meaning "I have seen God face to face yet my life has been spared."
Thank you so much for visiting me today. May God richly bless you and the reading of His word.
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