After Jacob had stayed many years with his uncle Laban, he was blessed with large herds of animals and many children and servants. He decided that it was time for him to go back to Canaan, though he still feared his brother, Esau, whom he had cheated out of his father’s blessing.
As they neared Canaan, Jacob sent many gifts of livestock ahead to Esau to try to gain his favor before they arrived. His messengers returned telling him that Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men. Jacob was afraid, and prayed to God, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may bless you,’ I am not worthy of all the deeds of steadfast love and faithfulness you have shown me. Please deliver me from the hand of Esau. I am trusting in your promise to make my descendants as many as the sand of the seashore.”
When they reached the Jordan River, Jacob sent his wives and children across the river, and he stayed there for the night alone. While he was there, a man wrestled with Jacob throughout the night. At daybreak, when the man did not defeat Jacob he touched his hip so that it was out of joint, and he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
Then the man said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed. Jacob said, “I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.”
As soon as the angel left, Jacob saw Esau. He bowed humbly before him, and Esau received him with mercy and forgiveness, amazed at the way God had blessed Jacob.
Jacob acknowledged God’s grace toward him in blessing him with children. And Jacob gave Esau him a gift of animals, saying, “To see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. Please accept this for God has been gracious to me.” After this, Jacob and Esau lived peacefully as neighbors for many years.