God's Prince

God's Prince

Text: Genesis 30-33

Focus text: Genesis 30:25-27; 31:1-3, 13, 44, 52; 32:9-12, 27, 28

Our Key Verse:

Gen 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: [for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed].

The title prince means, according to the Webster Dictionary:

In a general sense, a sovereign; the chief and independent ruler of a nation or state.

In the Bible we can see some uses of the title prince.

1.) Prince, a title of God:

Dan 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

2.) Prince, a title of Christ:

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

3.) Prince, a title of Jesus:

Act 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

4.) prince, a title of false priests:

Isa 43:28 Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.

5.) prince, a title of the Roman emperor:

Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

6.) prince, Satan, prince of this world:

Joh 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

You see Satan is not a prince of any part of Heaven.

7.) prince, Satan, prince of the power of the air:

Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Satan will tossed from here, the second heaven, to begin the tribulation period.

Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

And Jacob prince of Israel.

The beginnings of a new nation. The Twelve tribes of Israel.

1.) Reuben, Jacob's first son meaning-----"See ye a son"-----Jacob later prophesied: unstable as water, referring to the three forms of water and most likely the boiling water.(Mother was Leah)

No great act, no great prophet, no great judge, nor a hero ever sprang from the tribe of Reuben.

2.) Simeon, Jacob's second son meaning----"hear,hearing heard"-----Jacob later prophesied: they would be scattered in Israel because it's sins caused the group to be so small they could not defend their assigned territory. (Mother was Leah)

Their most prominent time was probably the time of Hezekiah.

3.) Levi, Jacob's third son meaning-----"joined, to adhere"-----It was Levi and Simeon that avenged the outrage of their sister Dinah. It was also these two Jacob their own father called instruments of cruelty. The tribe of Levi would also be scattered throughout Israel. (Mother was Leah)

It was from the tribe of Levi that Moses was from.

4.) Judah, Jacob's fourth son meaning-----"praise,celebrated"-----It was Judah that would intercede for Joseph. It was Judah that took the lead in family affairs, It was Judah that prevailed above his brethren. Jacob prophesied that the scepter would never part from Judah. (Mother was Leah)

It is from the tribe of Judah that our Lord Jesus chose to be a part of.

5.) Dan, Jacob's fifth son meaning-----"Judge, God hath judged me"-----Somewhat like Lot they succumbed to the evil influences of the Philistine and never emerged to standout in Israel. (Mother was Bilhah)

Samson came from the tribe of Dan.

6.) Naphtali, Jacob's sixth son meaning----"wrestling" ----they were mighty in war and quiet at home where not much is known of them. (Mother was Bilhah)

Barak and 10,000 Naphtali answered Judge Deborah's call to arms in her day for a victory for Israel.

7.) Gad, Jacob's seventh son meaning----"a troop cometh, good fortune comes,"-----This was a fierce warlike tribe, it is said their faces were like lions and they were like roes in the mountains. (Mother was Zilpah)

Jephthah of Gilead was from the tribe of Gad.

8.) Asher, Jacob's eighth son meaning-----"blessed"----- They also produced no hero nor a judge. (Mother was Zilpah)

It is said in the Bible that Asher would be favored among his brethren and would be dipping his feet in oil.

9.) Issachar, Jacob's ninth son meaning-----"the hired one, reward, recompense"----Jacob prophesied Issachar as a strong donkey crouching between two burdens. This could mean that they were more content with agricultural things rather than politics.
(Mother was Leah)

10.) Zebulun, Jacob's tenth son meaning-----"dwelling, habitation"-----this tribe is not known for any evil yet nor any good. Not much is known of them at all. (Mother was Leah)

In the eyes of Deborah(Jdg 5:18) they took a stand for good and would die for what they believed.

11.) Joseph, Jacob's eleventh son meaning-----"increase, addition"-----It was at the birth of Joseph that Jacob decided it was time to leave Syria and go to his own country and make his own place in Canaan land. (Mother was Rachel)

Joseph was a dreamer of God's providence for the children of Israel. Joseph could also with God's help interpret dreams that others had.

12.) Benjamin, Jacob's twelfth son meaning-----"the son of my right hand"----Born near Bethlehem, Rachel died giving him birth. With her last breath named him "son of my pain". (Mother was Rachel)

The tribe of Benjamin remained with the tribe of Judah after all the other tribes formed their own nation.

The gate of Benjamin on the north side of Jerusalem is called by Jeremiah "the gate of the children of the people".

The Bible says:

Psa 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Psa 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Psa 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psa 127:4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Psa 127:5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Our text:

Gen 30:25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.
Gen 30:26 Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.
Gen 30:27 And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.
Gen 30:28 And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.

Gen 31:1 And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory.
Gen 31:2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.

Jacob had served Laban the fourteen years it had taken to pay the debt he owed for Rachel. In that time he had fathered eleven children. Jacob had decided it was time to go home. Jacob is at least 54 years old at this time and was promised the inheritance of his father Isaac before he left in search of a wife and to escape the hands of Esau.

The words "my own place" really means to rise up from a low place to a standing position. Jacob meant it was time for him to stand on his own two feet and make his own living for his family and not to depend on another to sustain him and his family.

It was time to return to the land of promise and fulfill God's covenant.

Jacob had worked hard for Laban and Laban had become rich from that service.

Gen 30:30 For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?

Remember all that Laban had, a young Rachel had been able to manage his flock alone.

Gen 29:6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

You see Jacob was a plain man:

Gen 25:27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

Jacob learned the trade of his grandfather and his dad of raising animals. We know Abraham had gotten rich and riches at that time was mostly based on how many animals you owned. Isaac had received all of Abraham's riches.

Gen 25:5 And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.

Of course we must give glory to God for blessing him as he had promised and God would also bless Jacob.

Laban had seen with his own eyes how he had prospered through the work of Jacob but we can see that Laban had learned by experience the blessings that followed Jacob from Jehovah God.

We can also see that Laban felt it would be better for Jacob to stay even if he had to pay him wages. Remember Laban was a schemer he had no intention of living up to any bargain with Jacob.

Jacob refused any wages but he offered a means for payment. What Laban agreed to was to let Jacob have any future blemished animals. Laban immediately separated the animals. This gave no chance of inter breeding of them. He went so far to separate them by three days journey and gave his sons charge over them.

Jacob took the more perfect animals to care for. Jacob started with no animals. Laban had not taken into consideration the expertise of Jacob in raising animals and more importantly that God would be on the side of Jacob.

We need to make one thing known. Jacob and Esau had separated at the threat of death over the inheritance of the family possessions. We can see now that these were not that important to Jacob. He wanted to make his own way. Jacob had been with these flocks of Laban for 14 years. He had spent forty years around the flocks of his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac. He knew all the tricks of the trade.

It was the sons of Laban who first noticed that something was just not right in their eyes and Laban's herd was not growing but actually getting smaller.

Gen 31:2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.

We find out in verse 7: "And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me"

Jacob had given the glory to God for his increase and we can see Laban had deceived Jacob ten times during these six years.

verse 9: "Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me"

*****Our text:

Gen 31:3 And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.

Gen 31:13 I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.

Gen 31:44 Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.

Gen 31:52 This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.

The phrase "the Lord said" is used 219 times in the KJV Bible. It was time for Jacob to hear what the Lord had to say.

The Lord God Almighty used many different ways to speak to people throughout the Bible. He now uses His Written Word to speak to us all. It is best we listen to what the Lord says.

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 [Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son], whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and [the express image of his person], and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Heb 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

There is only one Lord and only one Son of God:

2Jn 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, [from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father], in truth and love.

My God is Jehovah. He is not Allah! He is not Buddha! He is not any other false thing called a god! It is the Son of God, God in the flesh, the Messiah, The Christ child, "Jesus" who I will worship, for He is God! The World has chosen their way and I have chosen mine. "Whosoever will" can join us if they choose!

1Jn 2:22 [Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?] He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

No matter what the World says we cannot set aside these Words of God, He wrote them to us so that we could know.

1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; [that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God].

In verse 13 we see that God gave this same assurance to Jacob.

Gen 28:15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
Gen 28:16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.
Gen 28:17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
Gen 28:18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
Gen 28:19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

He said "I am the same God" because there is only one God:

Isa 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and [his redeemer the LORD of hosts]; I am the first, and I am the last; and [beside me there is no God].
Isa 44:7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.
Isa 44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. [Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any].

We have only one redeemer. He redeemed us with His "blood" on that cross at Calvary!

When God says to get out of the land, then it is time to move! "Thy kindred" are the ones who believe in the same God. There is only one true Church because there is only way to get to Him.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Rachel and Leah also had noticed what was happening to their father Laban. He had not only deceived Jacob those ten times with his wages but he had done away with any dowry that they had. By their own words they were treated like foreigners now and not daughters.

They said whatever God said do, let's do. Boy if our families would all stand behind us when we heed to the will of God, things would be so much better.

In verse 19 we see something strange:

Gen 31:19 And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's.

Every reason she did this was the wrong reason. She knew trouble would come when Jacob left with the family. She knew God was not going to allow injury to Jacob. She did not know how her father Laban would come out of this.

In that day and time, if the owner of the images (Idols) died then the one that had the images(Idols) in their possession would also get the inheritance of that person. They were a sign of ownership in a false religion. She wanted Jacob to have all that her father had if something happened to her father.

You know we do not own anything on this Earth. It all belongs to God and He allows us to use it while we are here. We cannot take any of it with us when we go home to Heaven and who would want to. God says if you see it here it will not be in Heaven.

Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, [Behold, I make all things new]. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Verse 24: God has frequently made use of dreams in communicating his will to men. To be honest, I'm not sure God does not still use dreams to communicate His will to us at times, though I know the will of God for my life is written in His Word.

We can be sure that the safety of believers under trying circumstances is much due to the hold God has on the consciences of bad men. In the path of obedience, we may count on God’s care.

Laban immediatly has the word "stolen" in his mind. He calls Jacob a thief. A captive is one that is held against their own will. Laban then accuses Jacob of stealing his false Idols.

Just as with the time of Leah's deception Laban had surrounded himself with many men and he truly did have the power to cause Jacob harm if not for God. God had warned Laban and just as Abraham had that knife in his hand, there was an angel that would not have allowed injury to Jacob.

Gen 32:1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

We can see that they were very near. A child of God cannot be harmed in any way unless God allows it:

Psa 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

Elijah knew this well:

2Ki 6:15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
2Ki 6:16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
2Ki 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Jacob had faith in his family and those that served him that none were thieves. He had not realized that Rachel had done this dirty deed.

Laban was given the freedom to search all things in Jacob's possession and freedom to kill the one that had stolen the things of Laban.

Even Laban had some respect still for his daughter.

What is camel furniture? "Camel furniture" was a part of Jacob's traveling equipment for his womenfolk, and when such was placed in Rachel's tent, she hid the stolen idols in it. Women would often sit in large basket-like appendages which have been slung on each side of the animal. Another common arrangement for the wives of sheiks was: One made of two slabs, or planks of wood, about ten feet in length, which were fastened upon the frame of the saddle and at right angles to it. From the end of those, ropes were stretched over upright posts fixed above the middle of the saddle, to support an awning under which the women sat upon quilts and cushions. Such an arrangement served the same purpose as a western umbrella.

When no items had been found Jacob was very angry.

Jacob plainly said to Laban. "You have convinced your brethren that I was a thief now show them what I stole from you."

Of course Laban had no proof. Then Jacob expressed his plight in front of all Laban's brethren and it was known to them that what Jacob had said was all true.

Gen 31:38 This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
Gen 31:39 That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.
Gen 31:40 Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
Gen 31:41 Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.
Gen 31:42 Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.

Laban decided it would be better to make peace! He remembered Jacob was the son of his sister Rebekah and Isaac.

To the Church, God writes:

Jas 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
Jas 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
Jas 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Jas 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

*****The Covenant:

Remember a covenant is an agreement between these two men.

What were the conditions of this covenant?

1.) That Jacob would never take other wives that Rachel and Leah.
2.) That neither one would come pass this pile of stones in an act of aggression toward each other.

There was a heap of stones formed in an altar.

Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: This is a Chaldean word for "gather into a heap of testimony".
Jacob called it Galeed: This is a Hebrew word for"heap of testimony".

Jacob said it would Mizpah: "a watchtower". This place is mentioned 32 times in the King James Bible.

*****Our text:

Gen 32:9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:
Gen 32:10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
Gen 32:11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.
Gen 32:12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

Gen 32:27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
Gen 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Jacob having made peace with Laban next wanted to make peace with Esau. To the Church God says:

Mat 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
Mat 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Verse 32:1,2 tells us that there was an army of angels close to Jacob all the time he was close to Laban and his men.

Psa 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

The word Mahanaim means double camped. In other words Jacob says that these angels were camped around his camp, double camped.

Jacob had sent messengers to Esau explaining where he had been and why he was gone for so long. He explained that he needed nothing from Esau but safe passage. Jacob did not mention anything about the birth rite nor the blessing. He also did not ask for his brothers forgiveness for what he had done.

The news that Esau was coming with 400 men was unsettling to Jacob. He feared the worst. This is the same Jacob that had just acknowledged being encamped with the angels of God. Fear does strange things to a man.

The Bible says:

2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Because Jacob was afraid he got things out of order.

The Bible says:

Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

1.) Jacob divided his camp in hope that at least some could survive if Esau attacked.

2.) The thing Jacob should have done first he did second, HE PRAYED.

Jacob realized he could not control what was about to happen but he knew who could.

Elohim: The Supreme God, The Triune God, The Creator God.

Jacob claimed the promise to Abraham and the promise to Isaac, these same promises God had made to Jacob. These promises would be meaningless if Esau were allowed to destroy the family of Jacob.

You know we can also claim the promises God makes to us in His Word but keep in mind, we can go boldly into the throne room of God but we need to be humble when we get there.

God will always do what He says He will do even if we think we are in our darkest hour.

The supplanter, the schemer, is at his wits end. Jacob has become dependant on the Word of God to come out of this alive.

He says "I'm not worthy"! "Deliver me and my family"!

Jacob reminds the Lord again: "And [thou saidst], {I will surely do thee good}, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude."

The Apostle Paul wrote of such an occasion as this and of himself:

Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

If you are a child of God you had this same question when you were lost. There is only one answer. There is only one deliverer for the Church!

Psa 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Psa 18:3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

The words of Jesus:

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

There is only one deliverer for Israel!

Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

We can rest sure in the promises of God and therefore fear not what this world has for us. It is the things of this world that try to choke out the truth of the word of God.

The Word of Jesus:

Mar 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Jacob then decided to give Esau a gift. What is a gift? A present; any thing, the property of which is voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation; a donation. No strings attached.

The wrestling match:

Jacob moved his family across the river and remained alone:

Jesus said:

Mat 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Jacob was in a spiritual crisis. He needed to fully rely on the Lord. Every born again child of God has been at this same place at one time or another.

DO WE BELIEVE THAT GOD CAN SAVE US? You have to answer that as a yes to be saved!

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

To see this better:

Rom 10:9 That if (insert your name )shalt confess with (insert your name)mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in (insert your name)heart that God hath raised him from the dead, (insert your name)shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

It had taken twenty years for Jacob to come this point in his life. As daylight approached and Jacob was still struggling, God finally broke him. The Lord dislocated Jacob's hip and he could no longer wrestle, HE COULD ONLY CLING TO THE LORD.

There are two things we should learn from this:

1.) His name was changed from Jacob (the crooked heel-catcher) to Israel, which means "one who has power with God". The "prince" of God.

2.) He never walked the same after this session with God.

These same two things should happen to every child of God once they are saved!

To the Church:

1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1Pe 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Let's pray!