Jacob was on the way home a happy
man. With the tussle with his uncle over, he now had the peace of mind. He had
every reason to for he never need to deal with the manipulating uncle again. For
after all, he was a wealthy man and on the way home with eleven sons. What encouraged him further were the angels of
God whom he met on the way. It was not just one or two but a whole camp of
them. It was a sheer delight for Jacob to know that a camp of angels were
camping alongside his camp. So he named the place Manahaim, meaning two camps.
How refreshing it must have been for Jacob to experience Psalm 34:7. ‘The angel
of the Lord encamps around those who fear His name, to save them and to deliver
them from harm.’ This again was God’s abundant grace poured over him again. Just
as the grace of God pursued Jacob, that same grace will also not let us go. Let
us emulate Jacob by trusting God and walking with Him. Nothing can be more blessed
than keeping company with God. Not only are we surrounded by His love, but He
will also dispatch His angels to keep us from being hurt. Isn’t this the
promise of Psalm 91:11? “For He will give His
angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.” We can take comfort that just as God
cared for Jacob, He will also release His angels to take care of us, whom He
loves.
For years Jacob must have thought
often of a burden that weighed heavy on his heart. It was concerning his
brother Esau. Since the day he cheated him of his birthright and the blessing of
the firstborn, he had not seen him. The fact he ran to his uncle Laban’s place
was to avoid his brother. So on his way home, having had several encounters
with God, he must have thought of his unfair dealings with his brother. He had
been away from him for 20 years already. Looming large on his mind was, had Esau’s
anger subsided? How was he to know if this brother was still angry with him? He
felt that he needed to make right the relationship. So he initiated the move
and sent men to the land of Seir, the country of Edom where Esau dwelt, to test
water.
What Jacob set out to do is Biblically right. To mend
a broken relationship is something that we should do to honor our Lord Jesus. Jesus
Himself tells us in Matthew 5:23-24, that “…if you are presenting
your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has
something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go;
first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” By
God’s grace, seek to be the one to take the initiative to mend any broken
relationship. Reconciliation is our Lord’s mission. He came to reconcile us
with God. So Jacob started with a peaceful proposal to his brother. Sending a
messenger to Esau, he instructed him to say to his brother, “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.’” Jacob
was not only humble but also sincere in his approach. The mention of his wealth
was an indication that he was prepared to make generous restitution for how he
had wronged his brother. The previous Jacob, prior to his encounter with God,
would never come to this point.
What we read in verse 6 must have sent Jacob into a panic mode. The
messenger returned saying, “We
came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four
hundred men with him.” Fear stricken, Jacob first thoughts were filled
with the last words his brother had said. Esau was bidding his time till his
father’s death. Then he would take Jacob’s life. Thus his fear was not without
reason. The very thought of his ruddy, hairy brother must have sent shivers
down his spine. Overtaken by fear, he quickly divided his people into two
camps. He was in a survival mode. And he wasn’t thinking of the camp of angels
now. How quickly he forgot how God had protected him! We would have reacted the
same way too, wouldn’t we? We have the advantage of reading forward what Esau finally
did, but not so for Jacob. Hence for him to be petrified was understandable. But
for us, it leaves us with a lesson to learn to rest in the Lord, and stay trusting
when we encounter oppositions, even great ones. Remember he will give his angel
charge over us!
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