God has come to Jacob telling him to return back to the land of his father...
Jacob and his family set out on their trip back to Jacob's homeland. In doing this, Jacob knows that what he has dreaded for so many years WILL happen. He will finally come face to face with the person that he had stolen from, his brother Esau. He has a great fear of what may happen when he sees his brother again, even after being gone for many, many years... rightfully so!
This fear can be seen through many things in this reading.
First, Jacob sent messengers ahead of him with a message for Esau... The message that Jacob sent shows his fear. (Not the fact that he sent it. But, the way that it was sent and even the content of the message itself.)
"This is what you are to say to my master Esau: 'Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, menservants and maidservants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.'"
Yes, the fact that Jacob sent the message could be looked at in two different ways.
- The message could have been out of courtesy... letting a family member know that he was "passing through", that he was close by. It could have been a message intending to be cordial.
- It could have been a message sent out of fear.
Also, Jacob makes it known in the message that he has been settled somewhere, with Laban... a relative. He has not been wandering... on the run so to speak. He makes it clear that he has established himself. He has "cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, menservants and maidservants". To me, if Esau saw that Jacob had been scared and running all of those years it could have been like when an animal senses fear, they attack. Jacob may have been sending a "subliminal message"... "I have been OK, so everything is OK" (walk softly... don't stir anything up... it will be OK).
The next indication of Jacob's fear in the message is not just an indication of fear. It could also be seen as an indication of repentance (to me). It is when Jacob says, "I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes". This is the most direct indication of fear yet. But, here Jacob is also asking for favor. This could also be seen as an act of humility, an attempt to defuse anger and hostility. I actually see him in my mind's eye as being bowed down when saying this. It is almost like an "I am sorry" without the "I am sorry". If you know what I mean.
Big picture...
I am going to send messengers to go to my brother, to let him know I am coming home. They are going to tell my brother, "Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, menservants and maidservants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes." Hopefully, after hearing the message, he won't be angry anymore.
Shucks! Might not have worked like I thought...
The messengers come back saying, "We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him".
Having received the news, Jacob sees the worst. His brother is coming after him! IN GREAT FEAR AND DISTRESS Jacob divided the people, flocks, and herds that were with him into two groups in an effort of preservation.
Genesis 32:7-8
In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well. He thought, "If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape."
He then prayed to God... God, you told me it is time to go home. You said that you would make me prosper. I know, if I am to prosper, I have to be here to prosper... he can't kill me. God, I am not worthy of your kindness and faithfulness. I left home with only my staff and I am returning tremendously blessed. God, protect me from my brother's anger! Again, God, I know that you said you would prosper me and my descendants would not be able to be counted.
When all else fails... buy your way out of it...
Even with GOD'S promise, he still remains afraid. He selects a "gift" for his brother...
two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty female camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. He sent them ahead of himself in three groups, with space between them. Each group was told that when they encounter Esau and he asks to whom they and the animals belong, they are to respond, "They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau, and he is coming behind us."
Surely, after my brother, Esau, has passed all three of the groups of my servants, each one having gifts for him, THERE WILL BE NO WAY THAT HE COULD STILL BE ANGRY AT ME!
Jacob sends the gifts ahead, but he stays behind.
That night Jacob sent his wives, his 11 children, his two maidservants, and all of his possessions across the stream...
Jacob was left alone.
During the night Jacob had a visitor...
Jacob wrestled with a man until daybreak. When the man realized that he was not going to prevail over Jacob, he touched Jacob's hip so that it was wrenched as he wrestled. The man told Jacob to let him go because it was daybreak. Jacob said,"I will not let you go uness you bless me". The man asked Jacob's name. When Jacob responded, the man told Jacob that he would no longer be called Jacob. From that point forward, he would be called Israel, "for you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome".
It is in the time of our fear, the time of our distress, the time when we are left all alone...
It is then that we wrestle with God...
It is then that He touches us...
It is then that He changes who we are!
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