Bible Study Lesson 29: Genesis 32, Jacob Wrestling with God

Bible Study Lessons – Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

“Behold I will do a new thing…” Isaiah 43:19. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new,” II Corinthians 5:17. “A new creature,” Galatians 6:15. “For the former things are passed away… Behold I make all things new,” Revelation 21:4 & 5.

Look up each Bible verse and write it out. Underline or highlight what speaks to you. Reflect on how each lesson affects your current life situation.


Bible Lesson Twenty Nine: Genesis 32 Jacob Wrestling with God


Read Genesis 32. Write down what strikes you about this chapter.




What strikes you about verses 1 and 2? Does this happen to us today? Read Hebrews 13:2 (Mahanaim means two hosts or two camps.)



What is Esau’s country called? Verse 3



Describe the obstacle between Jacob and his homeland.



Describe Jacob’s emotions and his plan of action. Verse 7 & 8



Describe Jacob’s prayer in verses 9-12. Re-read Genesis 31:13.




What did Jacob say he was not worthy of in verse 10?




Describe the present for Esau.




What did Jacob command his servants to do?


Who and where did Jacob move in the nighttime?


Wrestling with God/Overcoming:

Describe verse 24.




The man/angel/Jesus wrestled with Jacob until what?



Describe the persistence of Jacob.




What was Jacob’s name was changed to?



What did his new name mean?



Did God honor Jacob’s request to be blessed?



Why did Jacob call the place Peniel?




What was the result of Jacob’s special time with God? verse 31 & 32



Halted: Lamed by Wounding

The Webster’s dictionary definition of “halt” in this context is: to walk with a crippled gait, limp, hobble ~ “Lamed by wounding.”

Micah 4:6 & 7



Zephaniah 3:19 & 20



The Word of God brings to a full circle of understanding, or redemption, of resolution of all things. God’s promise in Micah and Zephaniah has been fulfilled as shown in specific passages in the New Testament. But first, let’s establish who the Bible is referring to in regards to one that halts.

So what do we know about these passages about the one who halteth? It is the Jacob and his remnant that wrestles and overcomes. The Person overcame and then His people, who were given a new name, were to be gathered into a strong nation.

The remnant after the 70 year captivity mentioned by Jeremiah did return to the land in Jerusalem as explained by Ezra and Nehemiah. God fulfilled His promises to them.

Ezra 3:8, 4:1



Nehemiah 1:3; 9:21-25



The spiritual fulfillment to these promises of the Old Testament is clearly shown in the New Testament. Jacob is a type of Christ, THE overcomer.

John 16:33


He was “lamed by wounding”

Isaiah 53:5


Hebrews 2:14


The bride of the marriage feast, the New Covenant, includes the following people:

Luke 14:21



God has chosen…

I Corinthians 1:27 & 28, Matthew 25:34-45


I John 5:4


Jacob, now Israel, had 12 sons to make up the physical nation of Israel. But spiritually speaking, Jesus is the Chosen One:

Matthew 12:18 (fulfillment of Isaiah 42:1)


John 1:12



Revelation 2:17; 3:12.



Luke 4:18



Ephesians 6:12



I John 4:4



Jesus predicted that He was to give His kingdom to a nation bearing fruit:

Matthew 21:42



I Peter 2:9 & 10



Romans 8:28, 30; 9:24



Galatians 5:22 & 23



This remnant according to Romans 9-11 is the seed of Abraham and Isaac, the remnant according to the election of grace (Romans 11:5). Galatians 3:16 and 29 clearly state that the seed of Abraham is Jesus Christ and those who are IN Christ also.

The high priest prophesied the fulfillment of the gathering of God’s people into one nation:

John 11:50-52


Ephesians 1:10



Ephesians 2:13-19



The once afflicted, driven out, halteth bride is now arrayed in:

Revelation 19:7-9/II Corinthians 5:21




We have this incredible peace, eternal life, endless hope and lovingkindness due to fact of Christ’s wounding and His triumphant overcoming.

II Corinthians 8:9


He is the Heir of the kingdom:

Matthew 21:37 & 38



The Recipient of the promises given to Abraham:

Acts 3:25 & 26



And in Him, we are joint heirs:

Romans 8:17


James 2:5



Amazing Grace!

This study is a wonderful example of when using the King James Version, one can clearly see the connections and full circle of God’s intent of His Word because the same word, “halt” or “halteth” is used. But in looking at the New American Standard version, the word highlighted is different in each passage. In Genesis 32, it is “limping,” in Micah it is “lame,” in Zephaniah it is “lame,” in Luke 14 it is “lame.” If doing a word study, one would have missed the big picture of the Genesis 32 connection. Due to word changes and omissions in the new translations, often the deep treasures of the awesomeness of the Word is not evident.

Write your reflections about this chapter.