Still Depending On Himself

Genesis 32:1-24

Through out his life Abraham had depended upon God to accomplish things in his life. He left Haran because God told him to, headed for an unknown destination god was to show him. He believed God’s promise to give him the land without hesitation, and acted accordingly. While there were a few exceptions when his faith wavered, he had set such and example of faith that even his servants learned to trust God as was demonstrated by the servant who went to get Isaac a wife.

Isaac had grown up seeing the results of Abraham’s faith but because of it he had rarely needed to exhibit his own faith as openly. Like many second generation Christians, who were not old enough to understand what their parents went through, he had a strong belief in God, but because his life had fewer struggles than his parents, his children didn’t see how real his faith was.

Like many third generation Christians, Jacob viewed serving God as something their family did, but with no real faith, as demonstrated by his proposal to God in Genesis 28:20-21. “And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:…”

As a result of his not lack of faith, Jacob constantly tried to ensure he would get what he wanted by cheating and manipulation, from his trading a bowl of lentils for Esau’s birthright to stealing the blessing, to his efforts to influence the genetics of Laban’s cattle. It was an unsatisfying life, but it was not until God showed him it was God’s actions and not his scheming that had produced his wealth that he began to really worship God for what he had done.

“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.” (Genesis 32:1-2)

When Jacob built an altar and began to worship God on his way back to where he had directed him God began to reveal himself to him. Suddenly he saw the forces God had to protect him. It was a memorable sight, and he named the place Mahanaim, or ‘the double encampment,’ as of a military encampment adjacent to a civilian community.

“And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom. And 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: And 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.” (Genesis 32:3-5)

A walk with God requires there be no ongoing sin in our lives. Things we have done against others stand between us and God. Matthew 5:23-24 commands, “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” As we develop a love for God we should desire to eliminate things which stand between us and him. For the first time, Jacob began to try to straighten out his relationship with Esau.

“And 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. 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.” (Genesis 32:6-8)

Just as God had warned Laban not to attack Jacob, he had worked in Esau’s heart to produce forgiveness. When Esau heard that Jacob was coming he collected a force of four hundred to help herd his flocks and protect them. Jacob’s guilty conscience immediately assumed Esau was still angry, and began to try to figure out a way to protect himself, never recognizing that the host of God was there to protect him if needed. For the first time, he asked for God’s protection, reminding him of his promise.

“And 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: 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, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. And 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 32:9-12)

Although Jacob had finally begun to trust God, he still had the habit of trying to make things happen his way. When confronted with a similar situation, he habitually reverted to his old way. This is exactly what Paul described in his own life in Romans 7. Only as we allow the Holy Spirit to have his way do we overcome that tendency. Jacob decided to try to placate Esau with a series of gifts.

“And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother; Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams, Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals. And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.

And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee? Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.

And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him. And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me. So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.” (Genesis 32:13-21)

A sense of guilt grows as long as it is not dealt with, often taking over a persons whole life. In his book, Competent To Counsel, Jay Adams described a number of people who had taken refuge in insanity or drugs to escape the consequences of their sin. After twenty seven years, Jacob’s guilt feelings were huge. He assumed that Esau’s anger had grown in a corresponding manner. He hoped that a series of gifts would break down Esau’s wrath. He wasn’t even sure that would be enough.

“And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. And Jacob was left alone;…” (Genesis 32:22-24)

In a last ditch effort, Jacob sent his wives and children ahead, hoping that Esau would feel bad about killing the children’s father and change his mind. Fearing that Esau might even kill his family, Jacob separated them, sending the different wives and their children out with those he cared least about in front in hopes that the others would have time to escape if he attacked them. Jacob himself remained on the other side of the brook, knowing that Esau’s anger was toward himself. Only if Esau appeared to be mollified would Jacob cross the brook.