Lesson 70 Genesis 32:1- 21. Bible Camp- Mahanaim

The Angelic Reception

32:1-5

English Standard Version (Chapter 32)

Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 And when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he called the name of that place Mahanaim. 3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, 4 instructing them, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, ‘I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. 5 I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.’ ”

Jacob parts ways with Laban and as he travels , the angels of God come to meet with him. That’s pretty impressive. Immediately he calls the place and the angels, God’s host or God’s camp. That means this was a place where they came at Jacob in a place where they assembled in a circle or a square. Jacob was surrounded. It became an administrative post during the reign of Saul. It also carried with it the distinction of being in the region of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joseph’s son. It can also be the place of the “two camps.” Either God’s and his or close to where Jacob and Laban parted. This band of angels that stopped him is significant because of the tension and drama associated with Jacob returning to the scene of his crime of swindling his brother.

Ancient rabbi’s have said that the two camps are really two camps of angels. And, that this place is the hand-off of angels that accompanied him in the land of Babylon and Laban to this new group of angels who will go with him to greet Esau.

Emissaries are sent. vs. 3-5

The messengers that Jacob sent was from this group of angels. The word messengers is talking about an angelic or supernatural being. After all, Jacob has no other people traveling with him other than family and those that he needs for his defense. They are going to lay the groundwork for Jacob’s return to Seir, Esau’s ancestral home: Edom. Can you believe Jacob is even instructing the angels on what to say. When he calls Esau lord, it is not a worshipful Lord it is a respectful lord, recognizing Esau’s rightful place as the elder. He then calls himself Esau’s servant who has stayed with Uncle Laban until now. Then he lists his entourage as if he needs to have a show of force in case there is a fight. The list: oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, female servants, and not to mention my wives and kids! All because he wanted to find favor in the sight of his brother. Oh man, may this be a day when brothers find favor in each others sight. In other words , give me some brotherly love and grace!

The Report about Esau .Vs. 6-8

English Standard Version (Chapter 32)

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.”

The message from the emissaries is not clear. But part of the message is plain. Esau has 400 men coming to meet him. Jacob takes the report as aggression. And, why not? His emotions are laid bare for us, greatly afraid and distressed. He divides his group into two camps, so that Esau is on the charge an overtakes one group, the other one will escape. Isn’t that special? The mighty man of God still lives in a realm of uncertainty.

Jacobs’s Prayer vs. 6-12

English Standard Version (Chapter 32)

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.’ ”

Fair enough. Jacob has a healthy fear of his brother, and for his wives and children. We get that! But, never forget! Faith must proceed fear. vs 9. This prayer beautifully begins with his statement of faith’s promise from the God of Abraham, Isaac and O Lord, you who spoke to me! He adds, I am not worthy of any of the deeds of goodness you have shown to me. He then tells us a small tidbit of info that helps us understand his haste in leaving, Verse 10 says

English Standard Version (Chapter 32)

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.

The tidbit is that he crossed this river when he left with only his staff but has returned in two large groups/camps. Some of these tidbits may be added details from God but they show us that Jacob was a needy man when he went to Laban’s land.

He continues to intercede for his wife and children and reminds God that he said he would do good for his sandy sea offspring and his unnumbered multitude. Good points Jacob! God’s promises are a great thing to remember and pray in tight situations, any time or any season!

Pray the promises of God back to him to increase your faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. You need to establish God’s promises in your own mouth, ears, heart, mind, and soul by prayer. Memorize His Word so that you can say them by heart in the heat of near battle. Because in this instance, the faith part secures the victory without a battle.

Now we have to consider the drama: which is the greater threat? Is it the one behind him or the one in front of him?

These two instances have some extraordinary pressure and trial in the life of God’s man. Has he put himself in this spot or has God helped shape his life to come to this moment of truth? It is in these trials of fire and trauma, that His leadership skills,6+ and, his spiritual mindset will all be developed.

Jacob’s Gifts to Esau. 32:13- 18

English Standard Version (Chapter 32)

13 So he stayed there that night, and from what he had with him he took a present for his brother Esau, 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 thirty milking camels and their calves, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. 16 These he handed over to his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass on ahead of me and put a space between drove and drove.” 17 He instructed the first, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, ‘To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And whose are these ahead of you?’ 18 then you shall say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a present sent to my lord Esau. And moreover, he is behind us.’ ”

These animals are a very valuable gift to appease his wounded brother. I’m taking the liberty to round off numbers and do some guesswork of an average cost: Sheep- male and female $220 and 200 = $44,000

Goats - 220 x $400 = $88,000

Camels - 30 x$12000 =$360,000

Cows - $3000 x 40 = $120,000

Bulls - $3500 x 20 = $40,000

Donkeys Female- $3500 x 20 =$70,000

Male donkeys $1000 x 10 = $10,000

The total value is $732,000 or about 3/4’s of a million dollars. I’d say that is putting a pretty big price on the value of his brothers relationship. How much are you willing to spend in order to get right with a family member?

Consider this, our brother Jesus gave his life so that we can be reconciled to Him. Pretty magnificent isn’t it. Why not be reconciled to Him today?