"Bedtime Bible Stories"

From the Book of Genesis
Chapter 30, Verse 25-Chapter 33, Verse 4

fter Jacob had kept his promise to his uncle Laban, he wanted to return to the land of Canaan, his home. By this time Jacob had become very rich. He had large flocks of sheep, herds of camels, cows and donkeys. He had many servants working for him.

He also had eleven sons.

Laban did not want Jacob to leave. He wanted to stop Jacob from taking his daughters and his grandchildren to another land. But Laban knew Jacob was a man of God and he did not want to make God angry. Laban decided the best thing to do was to make a peace pact with Jacob that said they would always be good friends besides being relatives.

So Jacob left and began the journey back to Canaan. He took his wives, his sons, his servants and all of his animals. As he came closer to Canaan, he began to worry. Would his brother Esau still be angry at him? Maybe Esau would send an army to kill Jacob and his family. He was very worried.

When Jacob reached the Jordan River he stopped and set up camp in a place called Jabbock. That night, he took his family across the river and then returned to the camp. All of a sudden an angel grabbed him and they began to wrestle. They fought until dawn. Jacob was tired and exhausted, but he was winning the fight. The angel had hurt his hip, but he still fought on.

Finally, when the angel saw the sun coming up he said, "Stop! Let me go! It's dawn."

"I won't let you go until you bless me," Jacob said.

"What is your name?" the angel asked Jacob.

"Jacob," Jacob replied, still holding the angel down.

"Not any more," the angel told him. "Your name is now Israel, which means 'one who has power with God.'" Jacob asked the angel, "What is your name?"

The angel said, "You must never ask that question." Then the angel blessed Jacob and disappeared.

Jacob realized that that had not been an angel. It was God himself. God had fought with him to show him that he was strong. Even though his hip hurt and he would walk with a limp for the rest of his life, he was no longer worried about going home and facing his brother Esau.

Jacob named the place "Peniel" which means *the face of God.*

"I have seen the face of God," he said, "and yet I still live!"

When Jacob neared Canaan, Esau met him with an army of 400 men. But there was no fighting and no battle. Esau was glad to see his brother after so many years. He had forgiven him.