“Genesis 32:1-8”

Friday, February 21, 2020

“Now as Jacob went on his way, the angels of God met him. Jacob said when he saw them, 'This is God’s camp.' So he named that place Mahanaim. Then Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. He also commanded them saying, 'Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: “Thus says your servant Jacob, 'I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed until now; I have oxen and donkeys and flocks and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.'”' The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, 'We came to your brother Esau, and furthermore he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.' Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies; for he said, 'If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the company which is left will escape.'

---End of Scripture verses---

“Now as Jacob went on his way, the angels of God met him.” (verse 1) Twenty years earlier the Lord had encouraged Jacob with a dream about a ladder (or staircase) standing upon the earth and reaching into heaven, and angels were ascending and descending upon that ladder. Now God sends a host of angels to “meet” him and encourage him. Neither a description is given of them nor is a word spoken by these heavenly messengers, but their silent tidings sent a powerful message. The angelic visitations directly before and after Jacob's lengthy ordeal with Laban constitute a promise and a reminder of the Lord's continuous safekeeping. “For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:9-11)

“''This is God’s camp.' So he named that place Mahanaim.” (verse 2) “'This word is a dual form meaning, "two hosts" or "bands." The visible band was Jacob and his servants; the invisible band (momentarily visible to Jacob) was that of the angels.' 'Mahanaim was later a distinguished city, situated just north of the Jabbok, and the name and remains are still preserved in a place called Mahneh.' The two great enemies confronted by Jacob were Laban in the land of his long servitude, and Esau in the land to which he returned. The visions at the beginning of each confrontation assured Jacob of God's blessing and protection.” (James Burton Coffman)

“Then Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.” (verse 3) Emboldened by the celestial epiphany, Jacob took the initiative to arrange for a meeting with his estranged brother, Esau. It had been two decades since he had fled from the fury of his older brother after having stolen his paternal blessing, but as far as Jacob knew, Esau still harbored a grudge toward him. Jacob intended to make it clear that he was actively seeking a friendly reunion, and that he had amassed a great fortune of his own, that he required nothing from Esau or the family estate, and in fact, was now in a position to greatly compensate his slighted brother for his prior losses. Jacob informed his “messengers” to tell his brother, “I have oxen and donkeys and flocks and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight”' (verse 5)

“The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, 'We came to your brother Esau, and furthermore he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.'” (verse 6) Jacob's messengers returned to inform him that they had indeed conferred with Esau, and that, as a matter of fact, his brother was presently and personally on his way to visit him—with an army!!! Not good!!! It was no wonder at all that “Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed” (verse 7)! You can imagine that Jacob expected the very worst and that horrible thoughts were rifling through his tormented mind. The last word that Jacob had heard concerning his enraged sibling was that he desired to kill him (Genesis 27:42), and now it looked like he finally had the opportunity and intentions to make good on that aspiration!

“He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies.” (verse 8) Upon the acquisition of the disquieting news, Jacob immediately proceeded to do two things. First, he divided his entourage into two companies (two camps – Mahanaim) with the hopes of secreting at least half of his family safely away from harm. Second, he prayed like crazy (verses 9-12)! Lord willing, we will see from tomorrow's reading of the words of his prayer that Jacob the deceiver had undergone great changes for the better since his last encounter with Esau.

Please read Genesis 32:9-12 for tomorrow.

Have a great day!

-Louie Taylor

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