Gen. 32:1-121And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim. 3And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now: 5And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight. 6And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. 7Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands; 8And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape. 9And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: 10I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. 11Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. 12And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. (Genesis 32:1‑12)
WHEN JACOB recounted all the hardships and trials of his past twenty years, he might have thought how he had actually brought these difficulties on himself and remembered that God had been with him in spite of his waywardness. But, if he had any such thoughts, in the presence of Laban he did not make any such confession. After Laban and his company departed, Jacob moved onward with his band.
“And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.” It was only Jacob’s confidence in himself and his never-ceasing desire to “make his own way” that interfered with his enjoying God’s mercies and leaving the future with Him. At Mahanaim it seemed that God was speaking to him in a very special way. A host of angels appearing out in the wilderness must have been a glorious and amazing sight. Their very presence would tell him that God had not forgotten the promise “I will be with thee.” It was near this same place that Jacob, twenty years earlier, had seen the vision of angels and heard God’s promises expressed so plainly. Now it was not by a dream, but by actual sight that these heavenly messengers appeared to encourage and assure him of God’s preservation.
It is strange that this experience was so lightly passed over by Jacob, but immediately after he returned to his scheming, as he realized he was soon to meet his brother Esau. How would Esau receive him? Had the years since his flight from home softened his brother’s heart toward him? These were important questions and he sent messengers ahead to explore the situation. The men soon returned with the ne that they had met Esau and that he was coming out with a company four hundred men.
“Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands: and said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.” vv. 7,8.
Confronted with the fear of his brother, and aware of his own weakness, Jacob turned to God and prayed: “O God of my father Abram, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which Thou hast showed unto Thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. Deliver me, I pray Thee, from the hand of my brother... for I fear him.” vv. 9-11.
“The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them.” Ps. 145:18,19.
ML-11/20/1966