After 20 years, Jacob finally breaks ties with Laban. But to return home he still has to deal with an older brother who possibly still wants to kill him, and was the reason he left in the first place. Then he wrestles with an angel and claims to have seen the face of God. There is never a dull moment with this guy.

Genesis 32

Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

2 When Jacob saw them, he said “This is God’s camp” and he called the name of that place Mahanaim. 

3 Jacob sent messengers ahead to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

4 And he commanded them, saying “This is what you must say to my lord Esau: ‘Your servant Jacob says “I have been staying with Laban and remained there until now:

5 I have oxen, and donkeys, flocks, male and female servants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in your sight.”’”

6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”

7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks, the herds, and the camels into two groups,

8 And said “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company that is left shall escape.”

9 Then Jacob prayed “O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me ‘Return to your country, and to your kindred, and I will deal well with you;’

10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which you have shown your servant; for with only my staff have I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two camps. 

11 Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear that he will come and attack me, and the mothers with their children.

12 You said ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”

13 He spent the night there, and selected part of what he had as a present for Esau his brother:

14 Two hundred female goats, twenty male goats, two hundred ewes, twenty rams,

15 Thirty milking camels with their colts, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. 

16 And he delivered them into the care of his servants, each herd by itself; and said to his servants “Go ahead of me, and keep some distance between the herds. 

17 He told the first group “When my brother Esau meets you, and asks you ‘Who do you belong to? and where are you going? and whose animals are these in front of you?’ 

18 Then say ‘They are your servant Jacob’s; it is a present sent to my lord Esau: and he is coming behind us.’”

19 He gave the same command to the second, and the third, and all that followed the animals, saying “This is how you shall speak to Esau when ye find him.

20 And be sure to say ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.’” For he thought “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.”

21 So the present went ahead of him, while he spent that night in the camp.

22 He got up that night, and took his two wives, his two female servants, his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok.

23 He sent them over the brook, and sent over all that he had.

24 And Jacob was left alone; and there a man wrestled with him until the break of day.

25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against him, he touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was dislocated as he wrestled with him.

26 He said “Let me go, for the day breaks.” But Jacob said “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” 

27 The man said to him “What is your name?” And he said “Jacob.”

28 He said “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel: for you have struggled with God and with men and prevailed.” 

29 And Jacob asked him “Please tell me your name.” And he said “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there.

30 Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying “I have seen God face to face, and my life has been spared.”

31 And as he passed by Penuel the sun rose, and he was limping because of his hip.  

32 Therefore the children of Israel do not eat the tendon of the hip socket until this day, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip near that tendon.