1. Jacob Returns Home

2. God Told Jacob to Return Home
Genesis 31:1-13
Laban ceased to believe God blessed him because of Jacob
God told Jacob to return home
Jacob told his wives, noting Laban’s change of attitude along with frequent changes in pay for service rendered in the 6 years since he paid for Rachel
God protected him by causing the flocks to bring forth abundantly the new type of animals designated for pay

3. Jacob Left
Genesis 31:14-21
Rachel and Leah agreed they should follow the Lord’s direction
They saw God had provided for them even when their father had not
None of the money from Jacob’s 14 years of service for them was left, though they would have customarily received a portion as personal dowry
While Laban was shearing sheep, Jacob and his family packed up and left
Rachel stole her father’s household idols

4. Laban Pursues Jacob Genesis 31:22-30
After 3 days, Laban was told of Jacob’s departure
He and his men overtook Jacob’s company on the 7th day in the mountains of Gilead
God warned Laban the night before not to hurt Jacob
Laban questioned Jacob as to why he had stolen away and why he had taken his household gods
As head of his family, Laban could have acted violently, but he noted God had warned him not to hurt Jacob

5. Jacob Responds to Laban
Genesis 31:31-42
He said he feared he would have taken away his wives if he told of his plan to leave
He said he had not taken the idols
He promised the one in whose possession they were found would be slain
Rachel hid them under her saddle and sat on it
Laban found nothing and was rebuked by Jacob for pursuing and accusing him
Jacob reminded him that he had served faithfully for 20 years

6. Jacob and Laban Made a Covenant
Genesis 31:43-55
Laban claimed he would not hurt his own family
Laban asked Jacob to make a peace covenant
Jacob had his brethren gather stones into a pile
He and Laban named the place “heap of witness”
Jacob prayed and they both promised not to pass the heap to do one another harm
Jacob made a sacrifice and shared a meal
The next morning, Laban kissed his family and returned home

7. Preparing to Meet Esau Genesis 32:1-21 Along the way, angels met Jacob
He called the place Mahanaim, or two camps
Jacob divided his group into 2 camps
He prayed God would deliver him as he promised
He sent a gift of goats, rams, milk camels with their colts, cows, bulls, donkeys and their foals to Esau
Each group was made its own drove and the servants were to tell Esau it was a gift from Jacob

8. Wrestling with God Genesis 32:22-32
After taking his wives and children over the brook, Jacob remained in the camp alone
He wrestled all night with an angel
The angel dislocated Jacob’s hip
Jacob clung to him and asked for a blessing
The angel said he would no longer be known as Jacob, but Israel, or “one who strives with God”
He called the place Peniel, or “the face of God”
The children of Israel do not eat the sinew of animals’ hips because Jacob was made to limp

9. Reunion with Esau Genesis 33:1-11
Jacob divided his family into 3 groups
The handmaids with their children, Leah with her children and Rachel with Joseph
Bowing to the ground 7 times before Esau showed Jacob’s humility
Esau embraced and kissed him
Israel identifies his children as a blessing
Israel said seeing Esau’s forgiving face was like seeing God’s face
Israel insisted Esau keep the gifts he had given him

10. Jacob Settles at Shechem
Genesis 33:12-20
Israel declined Esau’s offers
They would not journey together since the cattle and children would be slow
They would not need help from Esau’s men
He would settle and come to Seir to visit
Israel journeyed on to Succoth
Later, he moved to Shechem
He bought a piece of land from the children of Hamor
He built an altar and worshiped God, calling the place El Elohe Israel, or “God, the God of Israel”