Jacob had seen God and been given a new name, but the benefits of his experience didn’t appear immediately. Sometimes he acted like Jacob (“the heel-catcher”) and sometimes like Israel (“the prince with God”). Many of God’s people fail to live up to their new life in Christ because they don’t claim what they have by faith. God had to give Jacob a limp to encourage him to walk by faith.
雅各见过神，又被赋予了新的名字，但我们并没有看见他马上转变。有时，他仍旧是雅各，有时，他是以色列（“与神同在的王子”）。许多神的子民并没好好活出他们在基督里的新生命，因为他们不按信心行事。神需要使雅各瘸脚，以鼓励他要凭信心行事。
In his attempt to appease Esau, the old schemer used several devices: bowing (vv. 1–7), bribery (vv. 8–11), outright lying (vv. 12–16), and then moving off in another direction (vv. 17–20). Esau went south and Jacob went east! Princes are not supposed to bow, and what about God’s promise in Genesis 25:23 and 27:29?
为要安抚以扫，雅各那老阴谋家试图使用几个伎俩：鞠躬（1-7节）、行贿（8-11节）、说谎（12-16节），然后往另一个方向移动（17-20节）。以扫往南，雅各就往东！王子是不应该向别人低头的，不然神在《创世记》25章23节与27章29节的应许算什么？
One mistake often leads to another. Jacob ceased to be a pilgrim, purchased the land already given by God, built a house, and settled down. He built an altar and called on “God, the God of Israel” (note the new name); but that didn’t prevent him from getting into trouble with the neighbors. Far better had he pressed on to Bethel.
一个错误往往导致另一个错误。雅各不再是一个客旅；他购买了神所赐的土地，盖起了房子并安顿下来。他筑了一座祭坛，并称它为“神，以色列的神”（新的名称），但是这并没有避免他与邻居发生冲突。他若能直接到伯特利，那便好。
Praying the Scripture用经文祷告
- Jacob had seen the angels (32:1–2), and he had even seen God face-to-face (v. 30), but when he saw Esau and his four hundred men, he seemed to lose all the spiritual progress he had made and returned to his old self. It’s one thing to be blessed on the mountaintop with God and quite something else to carry that blessing down into the valley. Let’s pray that we are not mountaintop Christians but able to face day-to-day challenges with the strength God gives us.
雅各见过天使（32:1-2），甚至与神脸对脸（30节），但当他看到以扫和他身后的四百人时，便似乎失去了所有属灵上的成长，返回到以前的自已。在山顶上受到神的祝福是一回事，但把这祝福带山下又是另一回事。让我们祈祷，叫我们不是山顶上的基督徒，乃是凭着神给我们的力量面对每一天的挑战。
- The fact that Esau ran to his brother, embraced him, kissed him, Jacob was given an opportunity to talk with Esau about the past and get family matters straightened out. But instead of confessing his sins and giving witness to God’s grace in his life, Jacob spent the time begging Esau to accept his gifts. Jacob had seen God face-to-face, but he said nothing to Esau nor did he give God the glory. Let’s pray that we are brave enough to share our spiritual awakening to our family rather than insincere and cheap talk.
事实上，以扫跑向弟弟、拥抱他、亲吻他时，那是雅各向以扫厘清过去，重振家庭的良机。然而，雅各没有承认自己的罪，没有见证神在他的生命中的恩典，反倒花大把时间求以扫接受他的礼物。雅各曾与神脸对脸，但他什么也没有对以扫说，也没有把荣耀归给神。让我们祈祷，叫我们有足够勇气与家人分享自己的属灵觉醒，而不是说一些虚伪、毫无意义的空谈。
- God’s command was that Jacob return to Bethel (31:13) and then to his home where Isaac still lived, which was Hebron (35:27). Instead, he tarried first at Succoth and then settled near Shechem. (33:18) At Succoth, the pilgrim who was supposed to live in a tent (Heb. 11:9–16) but he built a house for himself. When he moved near Shechem, Jacob purchased a piece of property and became a “resident alien” in the land. He was settling down in the land. It’s obvious that Jacob wasn’t in a hurry to obey God and return the Bethel. We commend him for erecting an altar and giving public witness of his faith in the Lord, but sacrifice is no substitute for obedience (1 Sam. 15:22).
神的命令是要雅各返回到伯特利（31:13），然后才回到以撒仍然居住的希伯伦（35:27）。不过，雅各先到疏割，然后在附近的示剑城定居（33:18）。在疏割，这位客旅当为自己搭建帐篷（来11:9-16），但他却为自己盖房子。当他搬到示剑城时，雅各购买了一块土地，并成为当地的“永久居民”。他想要在这里安顿下来。很显然，雅各不急于服从神的命令返回伯特利。我们赞扬他竖立了一座坛，并公开给予他对主信心的见证，但祭物是不可替代顺服的心（撒上15:22）。
