What do you think of when you hear about the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? What does this mean?
Look up 1 Corinthians 1:27–29. How does God work in history? What are his principles? How could this help us understand why God chose Jacob, not Esau?
Why is it important to us as individuals that God keeps his promises to Israel? What difference does it make?
Look up Genesis 32:24–30. What does ‘Israel’ mean?
What is God’s response to Jacob’s insistence to be blessed by him? Does Jacob’s attitude surprise you? Does God’s response to Jacob’s attitude surprise you?
What does it mean for us to ‘strive with God’ today?
Does the meaning of ‘Israel’ also characterize you?