Daily Devotions
Genesis
"I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications." Psalm 116:1
Text: Genesis 32:1-32
GREETED BY ANGELS
What a great welcome back to the Promised Land! What better reception could Jacob hope for than to be greeted by a band of angels!
“So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.”
GENESIS 32:1
Jacob saw angels ascending and descending where he slept, on the way to Padan Aram. He called the place Bethel (Cf. Genesis 28:10-22). Now a company of angels met him on his return.
“When Jacob saw them, he said, ‘This is God’s camp.’
And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.”
GENESIS 32:2
God knew what Jacob would have to face shortly. Thus He graciously sent a company of angels to encourage and assure Jacob that He would continue to protect and bless him in the land of Canaan. Mahanaim meant “Camps”. The angels had encamped around Jacob and his family.
AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE PEACE WITH ESAU
The very first thing that Jacob knew he had to do would be to attempt a reconciliation with Esau. However, he was not at all sure that his brother had forgiven him for the way he had been cheated in the past!
Taking no chances, Jacob decided that he would try and placate his brother. He had stolen his brother’s birthright and the firstborn blessing. The least he could do now was to overture his brother with significant gifts – to show that he was sincere about reconciliation.
“Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother
in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. And he commanded
them, saying, ‘Speak thus to my lord Esau, “Thus your servant
Jacob says, ‘I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now.
I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants;
and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favour
in your sight.’ ” ‘ ”
GENESIS 32:3-51. “Speak thus to my lord Esau”
Jacob decided that the language he would employ would be marked by abject humility. He would call his twin brother “lord”. He would speak of himself as “servant”.
2. “That I may find favour in your sight”
Jacob had returned to Canaan indeed. But he was not returning to exercise the right of the firstborn that his late father Isaac had bestowed on him. He sought only to inform Esau that he had returned home. Would Esau be happy to have him come home? Would he grant him favour by allowing Jacob to be reconciled?