A Relationship is Required

Genesis 32:9-12

Verses 1-2 - Protection

Verses 3-6 - Humility

Verses 7-8 - Fear

Verses 9-12 - Prayer

1. (32:1-2) Reconciliation— Protection— Angels: step one is seen in Jacob going forth to seek reconciliation and seeing God's protective hand surrounding him.

Apparently Jacob had gotten alone and began to seek the Lord, asking God to help him through his fear and to show him how to approach Esau. God showed Jacob that he was well protected. How? God opened Jacob's eyes so that he could see a host or army of angels surrounding him and his caravan. God had sent an army of angels to look after Jacob while he was journeying to the promised land, and Jacob was enabled to see the great protection. The event was so significant that Jacob named the place Mahanaim, which means a camp or host or a large group.

2. (32:3-5) Reconciliation— Humility— Meekness: step two is seen in Jacob sending an advanced message to the offended party. In his case this was his brother, Esau. Note what Jacob did.

1. Jacob confronted the problem head on (Genesis 32:3). He wanted Esau to know that he desired peace, that he wanted the family reconciled. So he sent a message to Esau seeking reconciliation.

2. Note that Jacob gave sincere honor to Esau: he referred to Esau as his master and to himself as the servant of Esau (Genesis 32:4). This told Esau that he was not out to hold authority or to rule over Esau.

3. Jacob also informed Esau of his condition and welfare after being away for twenty years (Genesis 32:4b-5). He told Esau that he had been with their uncle Laban for the whole twenty years, and that he had gained some wealth during that time. This told Esau that he was not out to claim any of Esau's possessions.

4. Jacob then made a humble request of Esau: that he might find favor in Esau's eyes (Genesis 32:5b). This meant that he wanted to be reconciled to Esau and that he was requesting permission of Esau to enter the land.

3. (32:6-8) Fear— Reconciliation: step three is seen in Jacob confronting his fear and apprehension.

1. The messengers sent to Esau with the appeal for reconciliation returned and reported the worst to Jacob, a report of apparent ill-will (Genesis 32:6). Esau had heard about Jacob migrating back to the land. He had no idea what Jacob's intentions were nor how many men Jacob had with him. Was Jacob coming in peace or to lay claim to their father's inheritance, including what Esau had inherited and used to build up his own wealth and territory?

Esau just had no way to know. Therefore, he had mobilized four hundred men and began to march out to meet Jacob.

2. Jacob was shaken to the core of his being: a terrifying fear and distress swept through his body (Genesis 32:7). His attempt at reconciliation had failed. Esau was apparently still out to get even by killing him. What could he do? There was only one thing: he had to pray and seek the face of the Lord.

3. But first Jacob had to save as many of his people and possessions as he could. So he divided his caravan and herds into two groups, planning for one group to escape while Esau was busy attacking the other group. He knew that his small number of workers could never stand and win a fight with Esau. Moreover, he had not come to fight, but to be reconciled with Esau and to go about the business of following God and His promises.

4. (32:9-12) Prayer— Reconciliation: step four is seen in Jacob praying and seeking the Lord's deliverance. In Jacob's mind, he was facing a desperate and hopeless situation. He had no hope other than to cast himself upon God, and this he did. Only God could help him. Note his prayer.

1. Jacob acknowledged God as the God of his fathers, Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 32:9). By doing this he was addressing God as Elohim, the true God of heaven and earth, the God of all creation and power.

But note: he also addressed God as the LORD (Jehovah, Yahweh), who had called him to return to the promised land and to his relatives, and who had promised to be with him (Genesis 32:9). By this he was declaring God to be the LORD of salvation and redemption, the very One who could help and deliver him.

2. Jacob then confessed his own unworthiness. He confessed that he was not worthy even of the least of God's mercy and kindness. He was not worthy of God's faithfulness which God had so abundantly showered upon him throughout his life (Genesis 32:10). Note, the Hebrew stresses a significant fact: Jacob was confessing that he had always been unworthy and still was unworthy (H.C. Leupold, Vol.2, p.867).

3. Jacob acknowledged God's blessing: that God had taken him when he had nothing but a staff in his hand and given him everything he now had, wealth so great that he could divide it into two large groups (Genesis 32:10b).

4. Jacob cried for deliverance from Esau, cried out because he was afraid (Genesis 32:11). Note that he confessed his fear, but note why:

⇒ Because he feared for the safety of his family.

⇒ Because he feared that he would not be able to fulfill God's will and bear the promised seed (Genesis 32:12). Remember: the promised seed refers both to a great nation of people and to the very special seed, the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. (See note—•Genesis 12:2-3, note—•Genesis 12:3 for more discussion.)

5. (32:13-21) Goodwill— Reconciliation: step five is seen in Jacob sending seven gifts of goodwill. God obviously heard Jacob's prayer and planted within his mind a unique way to seek reconciliation with Esau, that of sending several gifts of goodwill. By doing this, Jacob would be clearly showing that his intentions were peaceful.

1. The gift of goodwill was large: 580 animals including goats, sheep, camels, cows, and donkeys (Genesis 32:14-15).

2. Note the plan and method used to present the gifts to Esau (Genesis 32:16). Each drove of livestock was to be divided and driven separately to Esau, driven at intervals some distance apart from the other herds. By doing this, Esau would receive five different gifts, five different herds of animals, at five different times. He would, so to speak, be bombarded with gifts of goodwill and reconciliation from Jacob.

3. Now, note the recognition and honor Jacob bestowed upon Esau (Genesis 32:17-21).

a. Jacob instructed each worker to address Esau as lord when they presented the animals to him, and to tell Esau that they were a gift from his servant, Jacob (Genesis 32:18).

b. Note that Jacob instructed each of the five herdsmen to use the same address.

c. Jacob also instructed each herdsman to inform Esau that his servant Jacob was coming behind the gifts (Genesis 32:20). By saying this, Jacob was acknowledging that Esau was the offended party who had to do the forgiving and accept the offer of reconciliation. Jacob had done wrong and he wanted to make peace and be reconciled, and he was doing all he could to let his brother know his heart. He wanted his brother to receive him in peace and reconciliation.

Note: after sending the goodwill gifts, Jacob spent the night in the camp (Genesis 32:21).