6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.” 7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, 8 thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.”

9 And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps.

11 Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. 12 But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”

Genesis 32:6-12 (ESV)

Messengers return

Yesterday, we saw that Jacob sent messengers to his brother Esau in the land where he was living on the other side of the Jordan river. He hoped for peace with his brother but he was aware there could be conflict. Now the messengers return and the news is not good. Jacob is not a little fearful.

“Before Jacob left home, after his brother swore to kill him, Rebekah told Jacob until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him; then I will send and bring you from there (Genesis 27:45). Rebekah never sent for Jacob; therefore, he had every reason to believe that Esau was still angry with him 20 years later.” (Enduring word.com)

Simply trust?

In response Jacob comes up with a contingency plan. He splits his caravan into two so that at most he’d only lose half his family and possessions if Esau attacked him. I’m not sure why he thinks Esau would not go after both but this was Jacob’s plan. 

But where is faith? If he fully trusted the Lord, does he need to fear? Does he need a contingency plan?

Desperate cry

Jacob does seek the Lord. It’s a desperate cry for help. What do we see?

• A cry to the God of his faithful fathers
• Jacob reminds God that he’s being obedient to His call to leave
• A humble praise of God’s character – His love and faithfulness
• Request for deliverance from the potential danger which he admits that he fears
• A final reminder – this time of the Lord’s promise bless him – especially with children

RЯeflection

• Have you been there? The “sky is falling” around you. You are afraid of what might happen. Or maybe you’re afraid of what might not happen – like the horrible situation won’t change. What to do? Do you simply pray and trust? Or do you come up with a plan as best you can?
• Always remember the Lord and seek Him as Jacob did. Repent of any sin – including lack of trust.