We are not told who the Man was. But the capital letters in Bible versions let us know where the translators stood on the matter. They believe He was Divine. Obviously He was either Divine or angelic.

A “Man”, actually three of them, appeared to Abraham at his tent. One was the Lord. Two were angels. So either Divinity or angels can appear as men. Then the King of Righteousness and Peace, and the Priest of God Most High, Melchizedek, a man, appeared to Abraham later in the story. Second precedent for God looking like a man. The evidence points to the Divine here, for sure.

Did Jacob know? Somewhere in the middle of the fight it became apparent to Jacob that he was wrestling with God. We know this, because humans do not ask humans or even angels to bless them. But that is what Jacob asked. From the stories of his grandfather, to his own encounters with seriously Heavenly beings, including hosts of angels on at least two occasions, Jacob knew that his life was not an ordinary one, but that Divine intervention could be expected from time to time.

He knew.

But my first question is perhaps the most intriguing and the most instructive for our purposes. God, in whatever form He appears, is so far greater in power and might as not to be even casually compared. Oh my! No contest! What is going on here?

Almost immediately the discussion wants to come to our own encounters with this God. He has called on us to seek Him with the whole heart, though He is immediately available anywhere anytime. He asks us to fight battles with and for Him, when He can so easily fight all these battles without us. He asks us to intercede, when he is totally aware of the needs of all those for whom we are praying.

What is this?

This is grace. This is condescension. This is training. This is preparation for another world soon to come. This is partnership of the most undeserved variety. “Come let us reason together,” He says, when His own reasoning and planning and performing will easily carry the day!

David: “What is man, that you are even mindful of him at all?”

That is the question, and for it, and for the question above, I have absolutely no answer. Do you?

2. Genesis 33:12 ff. Did Jacob ever go to Mt. Seir as promised? Why or why not?

No, he never did. What a strange series of events. The night before, a wrestling match with God as Esau approaches. So afraid, but little time to wallow in fear as the Man keeps his attention during the night hours.

By morning his thoughts are more centered in the victory graciously allowed him, notwithstanding the pain in his thigh. And here comes Esau. He knows exactly what to do, if he lives. And if he dies, probably not a problem either.

His meeting with Esau turns out to be friendly enough. So friendly that Esau invites him to come home with him, in Mt. Seir. Later, Edom in the Scriptures. Now, Edom is much farther south than Jacob is planning to go.

Nevertheless, to make nice with his brother and the accompanying 400-man militia, he promises he’ll certainly be there. Esau offers to guide him, even to leave some of his men to help along the way. Jacob politely refuses. But promises dutifully to show up at his house, later.

He then proceeds to go to Succoth, then to Shechem, then to Bethel, three locations definitely not even near Edom. Next time we see Esau, he is at the funeral of their father Isaac. I wonder what kind of meeting that was.

Why did Jacob decide not to go to his brother’s home? Perhaps he was afraid that Esau still meant him harm, and would feel more bold in executing that harm on his own turf? Perhaps the Man who wrestled with him had instructed him regarding his relationship with Esau, that it could never be close, that God had a plan for him in Canaan, and he must stay on track with that plan.

3. Genesis 35:28. How old was Isaac when he first blessed his sons, with a vision problem? (See Gen. 25:26, 26:34). How old was he when he died? (Gen. 35:28). How explain his feelings in 27:1-2?

We are led to believe that Isaac was about to die, on that fateful day when he sent Esau out for some deer meat. We know that he was about 100 years old, since the twins were born when he was 60, and they were at least 40 when this incident occurred. So, 100 years and failing eyesight gave him the feeling that it was about over for him, that he would be “gathered to his people” sooner than later.

But the text above clearly states he was 180 when he died! Not a serious question, perhaps, and an easy answer, but also a lesson for us in it? Like, don’t give up on your life here, until it’s over!

4. Genesis 37:2, 21, 26. Who was the mother of the two sons that saved Joseph’s life?

It seems that the children of Israel, the originals, were already dividing up into groups. The first verses of the chapter indicate that the sons of Zilpah and Bilhah were one such division, and were perhaps causing the most problems. Joseph reported their deeds to Dad regularly. No mention is made of the sons of Leah, nor of his full brother Benjamin.

The plot to kill Jacob outright, was first thwarted by Reuben, first son of Leah. Later Judah seconded that motion. Judah was the fourth son of Leah. They were all agreed that the son of Rachel had to go, but the boys born from Jacob’s first wife ruled the day.

The whole episode speaks to the awful consequences of not obeying God and practicing his best plan for us. But of this bunch of divided men came Israel, the people of God chosen from the foundation of the world.

One can’t help fast-forwarding nearly 2000 years to another rag-tag bunch of ordinary men, 12 of them too, who by God’s grace and only by God’s grace, changed their world and instituted yet another living organism of God in the earth, the Holy Church of Jesus.

What might He do with you and me?

5. Genesis 38:1-2. Abraham and Isaac made it clear to their sons that they were not to marry a daughter of a Canaanite. How could Judah have missed this precept? And Dinah?

The Bible of course gives no answer to this one. But as one of a group of brothers who could so easily rid themselves of a brother, even if only a half-brother, we can imagine that the precepts which come from a godly heritage were not being well received. The hardness of their heart is picked up even before the treachery with Joseph, as they could not perceive spiritual truth in the form of Jacob’s dream.

Perhaps they considered the faith of their fathers to be mixed with much hypocrisy. Jacob loved and cared for four women. The family was evidently filled with strife and jealousy. Favoritism and rejection and all the ills of dysfunctional families had set in. And this was a family of God’s choosing? They were something special? Yes, Dad had had his encounters, but what of it? They had not had any of their own. Life seemed very normal, and difficult. Where was God now?

So unbelief set in and carried Judah to his own way of life, apart from his brothers and father for a while. Later Scripture tells of changes in him.

6. Genesis 41:45. Is the nation of Israel from purely Hebrew blood?

Judah married a Canaanite. His offspring were therefore mixed. We look at this as a serious aberration on Judah’s part, but simultaneous to this is the giving of an Egyptian wife to Joseph. His two famous sons, heads of two major Israelite tribes, were half Egyptian! It is a little-told tale, but God has included Gentiles in His plan for quite some time!

7. Genesis 44:14. Who had become the leader and spokesman of the “children of Israel”?

Either the author knows what is coming, or in fact “Judah and his brothers” is the way all were looking at things now. Joseph is truly God’s man of the hour, but it is the Lion from Judah who will prevail. See the character of God being formed in this man even now. Offering his life and eternal blame if anything goes wrong. (As opposed to Reuben’s offer of his two sons.) Even offering to stay in Egypt in place of Benjamin, when Joseph demanded that Benjamin be his prisoner. Sent by Jacob ahead of the group that went to Egypt eventually, to lead the way.

Judah, the spokesman. Judah, showing the compassion, the caring. Why not “Reuben and his brothers”? Reuben is the firstborn of the legal wife. Why the fourth-born? Because God has his hand on Judah, and his descendants. David and the great kings of the tribe of Judah. And Jesus Himself.