Although twenty years had passed since Jacob’s flight from Canaan he had never forgotten the fear that had driven him to Haran. And the memory of that fear still troubled him—what if Esau should never forgive him?
God knew about Jacob’s fear, and he sent a company of angels to meet him. After this Jacob felt more courageous and sent some messengers to his brother to announce his coming. He felt that unless Esau should welcome him home he could not be happy in Canaan.
But Esau no longer lived in Canaan. He had moved with his family to the country of Edom, which lies south and east of the Dead Sea. There the messengers found him and told him that Jacob was returning to Canaan. He sent word back with the /messengers that he would come with four hundred men to meet Jacob.
This news from Esau troubled Jacob greatly. He thought that Esau was intending to kill him and his wives and children. He quickly divided his company into two bands and sent one before the other.
But first he sent a valuable present of sheep and oxen, camels and asses to his brother, hoping thereby to arouse a kindly feeling in Esau’s heart. After nightfall he moved his camp across the brook, and then returned alone. Then in the darkness a strange man took hold of him and wrestled all the night. Jacob wrestled earnestly, and neither of them gained advantage of the other. When the morning began to dawn Jacob saw that he had been wrestling with the angel of God. “The angel said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob answered, ”I will not let you go until you bless me.” Then the angel asked, “What is your name!” and he said, “My name is Jacob.” The angel told him that his name should thereafter be Israel, because he had wrestled with God. Israel means, “A prince of God.” When the angel departed, Jacob was crippled in his thigh, for the angel had struck his thigh. Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, which means, “The face of God,” because there he saw God face to face and received the blessing that he sought.
When the sun arose, Jacob crossed the brook and joined the company of his family again. And soon he saw his brother Esau coming to meet him. No doubt his heart beat fast as he arranged his wives and children in separate groups and then hurried forward to be the first to greet Esau. According to the custom of those people he bowed himself to the ground in a very humble manner as he approached his brother. Seven times he bowed thus, as those people do when they meet some great person. Then Esau rushed forward and embraced Jacob very affectionately and kissed him). The two brothers wept for joy, and all the bitterness of the past seemed to be forgotten.
Afterward Jacob presented his wives and their children to his brother, and told him how God had blessed him while he lived at Haran. Esau inquired about the animals that he had met, and Jacob told him that they were his present. Esau at first refused to accept them because he, too, had much Wealth; but finally he consented to take them jas a gift from his brother.
After their short visit together, Esau returned again to his home in the land of Edom, and Jacob journeyed on to Canaan. At Shechem he bought a field, where he built an altar and worshiped God. He felt very grateful because God had given him a safe journey from Haran. Later he moved to Bethel, at God’s command, and built another altar in memory of the promise that God had given to him when he slept at that place while fleeing from his brother. God appeared to him again, and once more told him that he should be called Jacob no longer, but Israel. God also enlarged the promise that he had made concerning Jacob’s descendants, and told him that kings should be born among them in the coming years.
From Bethel, Jacob and his family moved southward toward his old home at Hebron, where his father, Isaac, still lived. Many years had passed since he had traveled that same road, alone and afraid; now he was returning to his father’s house bringing with him enough servants to form two companies, besides his own family. Surely God had blessed him; and his heart was glad.
But before they arrived at Hebron a sad thing happened. Rachel died, leaving a tiny baby boy, whom she had named Benjamin. Jacob buried her at Bethlehem, and set a pillar upon her grave. Afterwards he came to Hebron.
Isaac was now a very old man, and for many years he had been expecting to die. No doubt he rejoiced when Jacob returned safely from his long sojourn at Haran, bringing with him twelve sons and a daughter. But Isaac did not live much longer after this time, and when he died—at the age of one hundred and eighty years—Esau came and helped Jacob bury him.